Excelsior Grads How do you explain clinicals?

[jdclac]

I am currently in the Excelsior program with 3 classes to go before I begin the Focused Clinical Competencies Assessment portion. I am a Paramedic with 8 years experience in the field. I recently got a job in the Emergency Department as a tech. My supervisor knows I am in Nursing School and was inquiring about when I will finish and where I will be doing my clinicals. I felt so foolish saying, "Well, um, I do my clinicals on line and over the course of a weekend and BAM! I am an R.N! How do I intelligently explain that this will prepare me to work as a competent nurse without sounding like I am getting my degree from a diploma mill? I frequently get strange looks from people (especially old school nurses) when I try to explain this and I don't blame them! Any advice on what to say? And, AM I going to be prepared to work with patients with such little time?

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I am an Excelsior grad and when questioned/challenged I say " My ___ years of prior nursing experience allowed me to accelerate to an intensive clinical exam that required near perfect performance with no assistance from a Masters prepared clinical evaluator" or something similar. Seems to shut them down every time. It probably helps that I don't even bother to look at them when i say it.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

Conqueror+ Congratulations!!

Do you have your ADN? Also, how is the job market for you being an Excelsior graduate? :)

I will be startin a LVN program and interested in the bridge Excelsior program, yet curious to get more information from previous grads.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I will be startin a LVN program and interested in the bridge Excelsior program, yet curious to get more information from previous grads.

You are in southern CA according to your profile. Be cognizant that the California BRN has not granted licensure to Excelsior graduates in many years. Therefore, if you plan to be employable in CA, you may wish to select another route.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

I see. Thank you for sharing because I had no clue. So to clarify, does this mean if I were to move out of state to complete the course and moved to CA I can not do that?

Any online lvn-adn courses that's approved in CA? Thanks

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I see. Thank you for sharing because I had no clue. So to clarify, does this mean if I were to move out of state to complete the course and moved to CA I can not do that?

No. You would not be able to move out of state, complete Excelsior's program, obtain a license out of state, and endorse the license back into California. The California BRN is going to look at the manner in which you obtained your initial RN licensure. If they see that you completed an ASN degree through Excelsior, they'll reject your licensure by endorsement application due to the lack of clinical practicum hours.

Any online lvn-adn courses that's approved in CA? Thanks

None of which I am aware. The California BRN stopped licensing Excelsior grads in December 2003, and a few years ago they stopped licensing LVN-to-BSN graduates of Indiana State's online program.

[caliotter3]

To keep it simple, I explain that Excelsior is a "testing" of one's base of competency. Those who criticize the lack of clinical training do not address the fact that Excelsior tests competency, it does not provide "instruction". Simple explanation.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Those who criticize the lack of clinical training do not address that fact that Excelsior tests competency, it does not provide "instruction". Simple explanation.

Your point is salient. Excelsior's critics either forget or discount the fact that its graduates have extensive real-world clinical experience as LPNs and/or paramedics.

[caliotter3]

Your point is salient. Excelsior's critics either forget or discount the fact that its graduates have extensive real-world clinical experience as LPNs and/or paramedics.

Precisely. And when the subject of CA rejecting Excelsior grads comes up, I remind them that for about thirty years, the state of CA found Excelsior grads and the Excelsior concept to be just as acceptable as the majority of other states during that time frame. If an individual is competent to begin practice as an RN as measured by passing the NCLEX, it does not matter if they had the misfortune to have been born in, or to reside, in, the state of CA.

[Moana,RN, MSN, APRN, NP]

Wow I would like more information about the 120hour clinical rotation in Arizona. It sounds interesting and might be worth the travel.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Wow I would like more information about the 120hour clinical rotation in Arizona. It sounds interesting and might be worth the travel.

It's a post graduation requirement from BoN at the expense of the student. Only applicable to AZ residents/those applying to AZ BoN for licensing

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Wow I would like more information about the 120hour clinical rotation in Arizona. It sounds interesting and might be worth the travel.

This clinical rotation is applicable only to those who intend to obtain nursing licensure in Arizona. If you do not plan to work in Arizona, the clinical rotation would be pointless for you.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

Thanks everyone. I wish the online Excelsior program was acceptable in California. I just wish california had more options available period. So it looks like I may need to go to a private lvn-rn school like azusa or university phoneix..