Excelsior?

Ayvah, RN · Dec 20, 2006

Excelsior is not considered an accredited nursing program in all states. Look into your own state board of nursing's requirements to see if this would even qualify before taking any additional steps towards Excelsior.

Jabramac · Dec 20, 2006

Excelsior is not considered an accredited nursing program in all states. Look into your own state board of nursing's requirements to see if this would even qualify before taking any additional steps towards Excelsior.

I have heard that before, but I guess I don't understand what that really means. Are grads from Excelsior not allowed to sit for the NCLEX? Not granted a license? What are the reporcussions from getting a degree there?

(I ask out of curiosity, already have my RN from elsewhere)

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

Thread moved to the Distance Learning/Independent Study Forum for more responses.

Some states do not allow EC graduates to sit for the NCLEX, while others allow EC grads to test in another state and endorse in.

In some states, it depends on the educational background of the graduate - whether the candidate was previously an LPN vs. a paramedic or other allied health provider.

Other states license Excelsior grads in the same manner as other applicants.

budnut · Dec 22, 2006

You can't get onto EC's site because you aren't a student yet, but I can. I am preparing for the "final exam"--the only hands-on-patient experience we will have, the CPNE. It is 2.5 days of patient care and skill testing with exacting criteria and 100% accruracy to pass. Here is one student's writing after spending about $4500:

"Hi everyone, That's right, I failed this weekend in Atlanta. Talk about pathetic. I'm sure this post wont stay on this site very long, but I would definetely "NOT" adivce this program to anyone. I hope atleast one person will read this.

My labs started on Friday, I had this very nice CE named Bonnie. She was the Best. It's amazing how a smile and friendly gesture can reduce your stress. I passed the IV med station without any problems. Then I go to the IVP station. The CE there was a lady named Yvonne. Talk about Pissy!! I thought I contaminated my syrynge a couple times and so I disposed of it in the sharps container. When I did so about the last time, she rolled her eyes and slumped back into her chair. I couldn't get the syrynge to flush. I'm not the only one that had this problem. It would turn but not advance with a little push. The syrynges would stick, even after I had plunged it a couple times. I started pushing and doing the turning method, in which I had a 1/2 ml to give. After about 30 seconds I asked the CE if she thought any of my med had gone in. She said, I'm not sure, or something to that effect and was going to ask the CA about that. We had to wait about five minutes for the CA to get over to our station and they failed me because my time was up. My time wouldn't have been up if the CE wouldn't have asked for the CA. I DID NOT Fail any critical elements. I just had not pushed any med in and I would've started pushing if she woud've said, no, none is going in. I tried to explain the situation to the CA and she said that I shouldn't argue with her right there. She said I failed because I hadn't pushed any of the med in in that minute. As far as I am aware, you have more than a minute to infuse, you just can't be over. She said well your time expired, but again, it wouldn't have if she woudn't have taken so long to get over to us and was it my fault that the CE didn't know how to answer my question and that the CA was busy???? I don't think so.

Anyways, I was freaked out and went on to my sub Q injection. My hands were shaking like crazy. The fluid in the bottle was moving all around. I forgot to put gloves on. Yes, I know I shoud've gloved, but I was so upset about failing unfairly I wasn't even thinking about that station. You hear that they aren't out to fail you, but you know what, you would think that if they knew you were upset, they would give you a few minutes to re group yourself. Ya right.

Next day, I about failed my PCS because I had Pain Management and I reassed my pain level, but put it under the vital sign section and not under the pain management station. It was documented for pete's sake. She thought she was doing me a grand ole favor by passing me. How sweet!!

I redone my IVP and I removed my gloves after palpating the sight. Hmmmmmm...... In one of my telephone conferences, the lady told me that if anything, you would remove your gloves so you don't contaminate supplies.

This is how this whole school program has gone. You hear so many different stories from everyone, so you don't know what is actually right. Even the workshop was that way. (You put 750 dollars into the workshop, and then you get critiqued by another clueless student... Nice)

As I said before, the CA was not friendly at all. She was not a CA that was on our side.

Does it mean anything that the first four of us were done around the same time and we all failed???

I'm very disapointed with this school, the money you put into it, and then you can fail in a matter of minutes????

They say that they aren't out to fail you, but they are looking for anything to fail you.

I'm pretty upset about this and I WOULD NOT recommend this school to anyone. There are other options out there. This school doesn't help you to suceed. They don't care if you fail or you pass. You're just another number. Another way for them to make some more money.

I sure hope that those of you who are debating on whether or not to start this school, you would not do so and go to a traditional school. They do have online LPN to RN programs that would be so much better. I should've got out when I first started when I was only a few thousand dollars in debt. Now I am several dollars in debt and I have nothing to show for it. This is the biggest waste of time, energy and money."

I am not saying one way or the other about her experience, but it is something that you as a future student need to see. You will also read glowing reports from those who pass. Personally, i think the school needs to find a better way to evaluate students after we have come so far down a dark lane. The point that sent me around the bend is an example given in EC's text on the test: you can FAIL a patient care situation (and the whole weekend) for not including 1 ml of oral Nystatin in their Intake record. I'm not talking about forgetting to put it in the Med. section. I'm talking about including it with the 750ml of breakfast drinks. But you don't need to specify what kind of lung sounds a pt with COPD has--you need only choose "'normal" or "abnormal". Why? because it is easy to quantify 1 ml and harder to agree on crackles/light ronchi or bronchovesicular/bronchial . But which would you rather have you nurse be able to do?

(if anyone wants to read her post from themselves, look on the EPN Dec 16, 8 pm. "a big F in Atlanta")

Just blowing off a little steam after studying. Got to change my attitude, because i have already paid my money.

New attitude I LOVE EXCELSIOR!

curlynurseLPN1 · Dec 22, 2006

You can take this information and do what you want with it but this is one student comment out of how many students? There are like 2,000 student nurses through excelsior. I have heard nothing but great things about this school...I'm sorry that we have negative people on this board that don't look at the whole picture....I personally love excelsior I have gone through traditonal school and felt that this was more of a popularity contest more than anything. I would never return to a traditional school because I feel like it is a HUGE waste of my time and also I am raising my 1 year old baby. The CPNE is not easy by any means but if you are well prepared and go into it knowing that you are going to pass I think you will.

Please Kimmiekoo72 outweigh the positive and negatives and know yourself. Know what helps you learn more and what would help you become a better nurse.

kamon8404 · Jan 2, 2007

Excelsior is not considered an accredited nursing program in all states. Look into your own state board of nursing's requirements to see if this would even qualify before taking any additional steps towards Excelsior.

Is there a site specific to this? Or could you point me in the right direction to finding this information is?

Thanks ...

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2007

Is there a site specific to this? Or could you point me in the right direction to finding this information is?
Thanks ...

Your best bet is to check with the state board of nursing in the state(s) where you are looking to work. Excelsior also has a State Boards office which can help with some of these issues, but I don't know of any list that is available online.

awall326 · Jan 3, 2007

Hi my name is Ann and I have been an L.P.N. for over 25 years and I am just starting the Excelsior R.N. program. If this program fits your needs then go for it. I wish I had when I first graduated. Because it's been so ling for me I am starting with A&P. Man it is tough to get the old brain going. I thik the Excelsior program is good just check on your state regs to see if it is ok. Good luck, go ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!

moodychick, LPN · Jan 4, 2007

Hi!

I,too, am taking EC's LPN to RN program on-line. I would like to know if anyone who has graduated and started working as an RN is having anyone give them odd looks when you tell them where you received your degree from. We have a Nurse Manager that is disrepectful to EC Grads. She feels that this is not the way to get a degree. I almost feel embarrassed to tell my co-workers where I am taking courses. Any thoughts on this, anyone?

Thanks! :uhoh3:

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2007

I'm in it now and love it. I hate sitting in lectures and can absorb what I need from reading. As to clinicals, I'm working as an LPN and have done everything necessary for the CPNE in my daily work. And worst thing that happens is I retake it.

Most people around here have no problem with it. First off, it's a New York school and secondly, this is a rural area and there's no RN program within a commutable distance so we're happy to get all the RN's we can however we can.

Good luck! It's worth it, and you'll do well IF you are self-motivated and can get what you need solely from the texts.

The www.excelsior.edu site will tell you, when you select "nursing," whether your state accepts their degree and will let you sit for the NCLEX.

kenzy · Jan 4, 2007

oh my!!!! I just started EC and am really upset to hear all this, now I dont know if I should continue with another class or what!! I sit for human growth and Dev. CLEP on Jan 31, any one that has taken this class and can rec. the best way to study or what is most helpful to study please let me know. Until then I will be doing more research on EC. I take my test at Gannon so either way this one class will not hurt me, Thanks to anyone that can help:rotfl: