Excelsior RNtoBSN and CPNE???

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2005

I've had my RN for 10+ years working in critical care and studying for my CCRN. I am also enrolled in Excelsior's RN to BSN program. (talk about alot on my plate!!)
Is the CPNE still required? Has anyone with the same level of experience taken the CPNE for their BSN?
Just curious if I have to review some of the "student nurse" years on the correct way of doing some things? (we won't talk about it!)
Thanks for any input!

I'm pretty sure that once you have your ADN you don't have to take the CPNE in order to get your BSN. The BSN program does how ever have two clinical componets. I'd go with an online BSN program. I graduated from Excelsior for my ADN and thought the program was wonderful but I wouldn't ever use them for my BSN. Their clinicals are very expensive and very time consuming.

medicrnohio, RN · Feb 12, 2005

I concur with the previous poster that the CPNE is no longer required if you are already an RN. There are other performance examination/clinical examination components though. I got my ADN through EC and will not be going through them for my BSN. Cost is one issue for me. The other being that I do not want to ever take another performance exam. I would contact EC and have them send you some info on the program so that you know exactly what is available. Good luck!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2005

I concur with the previous poster that the CPNE is no longer required if you are already an RN.

Yes medicrnohio, I would never go through Excelsior again because of the two clinicals involved with the BSN program. Some of the online schools let you do your clinical in your own hospital and be signed off by your nurse manager. I think you also have to spend some time at the Public Health Department. There is no charge for these clinicals. Excelsior clinicals are not only expensive but they are very nerve wracking! The whole emphasis of the program is aimed at the clinical. CPNE was worse for me than the whole program + NCLEX. I passed with flying colors but it was torture worrying about it for so long.

snking · Feb 13, 2005

Yes medicrnohio, I would never go through Excelsior again because of the two clinicals involved with the BSN program. Some of the online schools let you do your clinical in your own hospital and be signed off by your nurse manager. I think you also have to spend some time at the Public Health Department. There is no charge for these clinicals. Excelsior clinicals are not only expensive but they are very nerve wracking! The whole emphasis of the program is aimed at the clinical. CPNE was worse for me than the whole program + NCLEX. I passed with flying colors but it was torture worrying about it for so long.

I agree! I have not gone through this program myself but my mother has! The clinical is a Joke! My mother has been a Nurse for 30 years and just wanted to advance her degree. Unfortunately, she fell for the hype of Excelsior's program! She did wonderfully with the classes and was very excited, yet nervous, about going to the clinical. Just this weekend, she failed the clinical. First, I think that it is an insult to all experienced nurses, that they be required to prove their knowledge by going through these clinicals! If an experienced nurse is able to pass their classes with amazing grades and can prove that they have the experience behind them, then I think that they should be able to take the NCLEX w/o this clinical. Excelsior may be a fine college but as far as their online program goes, they stink! Any program that can fail an experienced nurse is a joke in my eyes! I would advice anyone that is looking into going through an online program, be very cautious!!! Do as much research into the clinical as you can! Search all nurse based chat rooms for feedback on this! I know for a fact that my mother wasn't the first to be disappointed by Excelsior, and she won't be the last!

:angryfire Signed,

Very disgusted with Excelsior!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 13, 2005

:sofahider

RN34TX · Feb 14, 2005

The CPNE is NOT required for ANY RN's licensed in any state who are wanting to do their RN-BSN program.

As an EC ADN grad, I would have to agree with the other posters. I almost laughed when they suggested that I go on in their BSN program.

I passed the CPNE the first time around but found the whole experience extremely nerve-wracking and they do a lot of hair-splitting with their reqiurements to pass. Never again for me.

EC does have the HAPE and another "performance exam" in their RN-BSN program and that's when I said no thanks.

The difference is that these are clinical exams, not clinical experiences and too many people can't see the difference. You are not being taught anything, you are expected to walk in and perform to their satisfaction and it's pass or fail.

Every RN-BSN program that I've looked into (other than EC) has you follow around a nurse manager or public health nurse and you basically put in your time as an experience, not an exam with some old MSN or PhD with a white coat and clipboard standing over you critiqeing your every move.

Please look into other programs like in-state schools which will be cheaper.

Many schools are going online or distance in some capacity allowing a full time nurse to get a BSN.

RN34TX · Feb 15, 2005

I agree! I have not gone through this program myself but my mother has! The clinical is a Joke! My mother has been a Nurse for 30 years and just wanted to advance her degree. Unfortunately, she fell for the hype of Excelsior's program! She did wonderfully with the classes and was very excited, yet nervous, about going to the clinical. Just this weekend, she failed the clinical. First, I think that it is an insult to all experienced nurses, that they be required to prove their knowledge by going through these clinicals! If an experienced nurse is able to pass their classes with amazing grades and can prove that they have the experience behind them, then I think that they should be able to take the NCLEX w/o this clinical. Excelsior may be a fine college but as far as their online program goes, they stink! Any program that can fail an experienced nurse is a joke in my eyes! I would advice anyone that is looking into going through an online program, be very cautious!!! Do as much research into the clinical as you can! Search all nurse based chat rooms for feedback on this! I know for a fact that my mother wasn't the first to be disappointed by Excelsior, and she won't be the last!
:angryfire Signed,
Very disgusted with Excelsior!

I have read several of your posts all saying basically the same thing.

My heart goes out to your mother as even though I am an EC grad, I too, have gripes about how they conduct their clinical exam.

It may sound odd for you to hear, but going through Excelsior was truely the best decision I ever made besides going to LPN school to begin with. Others who have graduated from EC will tell you the same thing even though yes, there are a lot of disgruntled people who did not make it through EC.

The pass rate for the CPNE runs between 65-68% which does leave a lot of failed students wondering what to do next.

People do pass the 2nd time around and your mother owes herself not to turn back since she's already come so far in her journey.

Experience helps a lot but it can also hinder. You cannot rely on years of clinical experience alone, you must perform to EC's standard of nursing, (in other words, play their game.)

There is help out there and I swear had I not taken some workshops, I would not have passed the first time around either.

She needs to get involved with other EC students and grads and get pointed in the right direction. This website is a great place to start.

Does she work in an acute care hospital setting? If not, that's where to start.

There is help out there and she can pass the CPNE and get her RN.