Excelsior Nursing Program?

there is many many threads dedicated to excelsior... however, you have to be a lvn\pn , paramedic , rt or completed at least 50% of a rn program ( there are other qualifications ..doctor , midwife) to qualify for admission. it is not a online program it is a test based program consisting of 7 nursing exams and a 2.5 clinical evaluation at the end. basically it is set up for people that have a large amount of clinical knowledge. if you visit the distance learning forum there are so many threads that can give you more information ...good luck to you....

hello,

i am just wondering if anyone has any info regarding the excelsior aas/adn nursing program. i had never heard of an online rn program (only rn-bsn/msn programs). is this program legit? it appears to be an expensive route, but wow it would be nice to be able to work a program around my schedule (i'm a stay-at-home mom).

thanks for any info you may have. :)

:nono:My Advice on the Excelsior Nursing Program is - - - don't go there!!

It never occurred to me that one could get an ADN from an online program without a basic nursing clinical component. So when we hired a newly graduated nurse from Arizona, we assumed she had basic nursing skills. We just didn't know what questions to ask!! Over her months of orientation, it became apparent that she was unable to demonstrate basic nursing assessment and the documentation that goes with it. What a waste!! She is bright and wants to give great patient care. But, her previous experience as an R.T. did not prepare her to skip the clinical component that formal colleges offer. Don't give this college the opportunity to short circuit your nursing career!

Fisherman'sdaughter (A.K.A. Nursing Educator)

:trout: FISH ON!!

In addition to Fisherman's Daughter's warning, I'd like to add that not every State accepts Excelsior as an accredited nursing program. That is, not every State will allow someone to sit for the NCLEX-RN with only the Excelsior degree in hand. Be very sure that YOUR State will allow you to take the licensing exam upon graduation from Excelsior, or you may find yourself SOL in the end. I recall one State (was it Florida?? Don't remember) that did not accept Excelsior graduates for licensure; they had to complete TWO YEARS as an RN in another State (where they COULD get licensure) before being issued an endorsement on their license for Florida (or whatever State that was).

So yes, it's "legit", but no, it isn't accepted everywhere. And as Fisherman's Daughter said, it's got limitations on the educational expectations.

Personally, I don't think Excelsior College is the best way to go. If you look at the amount of money you are paying for a correspondence course/distance learning program when you could attend class and be taught the material as well as clinical experience. I know an RN who worked as an LPN for many years and is an Excelsior graduate and she does ok with her job. Personally I would want the assessment skills and clinical experience that an ADN program provides, in terms of covering my license and livelihood. Go with where you will get the best EDUCATION, not the quickest route :)

I am an LPN going the Excelsior route. I do not have a classroom program available in this area.

As to expense, it will cost me around $6k total.

The website is www.excelsior.edu. The program is highly respected, NLN accredited, and award-winning.

As a Regent's (Excelsior) graduate, I won't argue the fact that it is not for everyone. I was an LPN for 4 years and continued with Regent's while I worked fulltime and raised my daughter. It was the only way I could have done it. It is legitimate though. I live in Florida and had no problems getting my license or passing the state boards. I have also never been turned down for a job because of where I graduated from. I am a qualified and experienced nurse. I have good clinical skills but I had most of them before I went through the program. I do not recommend it if you are a new LPN without clinical skills. You wont learn them going through Excelsior.

In addition to Fisherman's Daughter's warning, I'd like to add that not every State accepts Excelsior as an accredited nursing program. That is, not every State will allow someone to sit for the NCLEX-RN with only the Excelsior degree in hand. Be very sure that YOUR State will allow you to take the licensing exam upon graduation from Excelsior, or you may find yourself SOL in the end. I recall one State (was it Florida?? Don't remember) that did not accept Excelsior graduates for licensure; they had to complete TWO YEARS as an RN in another State (where they COULD get licensure) before being issued an endorsement on their license for Florida (or whatever State that was).

So yes, it's "legit", but no, it isn't accepted everywhere. And as Fisherman's Daughter said, it's got limitations on the educational expectations.

It wasn't Florida. I took the boards in Florida.

I know several LVNs who did it.

It's very pricey & the clinical exam is extremely nerve wracking.

I believe it's no longer accepted by the BRN in California (where I live)

If you already have your skills down (like the LVNs I know) then it's ok to do it, but it's still very pricey & nerve wracking & can take a long time to complete.

Where do you get pricey and nerve-wracking?

I've been banging out a test every few weeks. The total cost is going to come in under $6k. Where can you get your RN for less?!

Where do you get pricey and nerve-wracking?

I've been banging out a test every few weeks. The total cost is going to come in under $6k. Where can you get your RN for less?!

My friends who did it said you pay a lot for books & for each & every test & the clinical too. They said it was very expensive, but to me $6K is pricey, I paid less than $2K for my RN. The weekend clinical at the end is the 'nerve wracking' I was referring to.

fishchick, I see you're in California. Forget Excelsior. Your BON does not accept them.

fishchick, I see you're in California. Forget Excelsior. Your BON does not accept them.

they used to, that's why I know people who have done the program, I'm already an RN, not looking into it, just answering the question here......