Excelsior

angelbear · Feb 5, 2004

I too am working on my RN through EC. However I do worry about the lack of clinical expore. I have worked as an LPN in two different settings but would love the oppertunity for further clinical experience. Why couldnt the hospitals that are leary of the EC grads offer something like a 90 day preceptership type thing where you would be paid a lower wage while you precept and learn in a clinical setting and then once you have proved yourself then you would get full RN status and pay and benifits. I for one would certainly not be apposed to such a program. Just my thoughts,

Sheri257 · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by angelbear
I too am working on my RN through EC. However I do worry about the lack of clinical expore. I have worked as an LPN in two different settings but would love the oppertunity for further clinical experience. Why couldnt the hospitals that are leary of the EC grads offer something like a 90 day preceptership type thing where you would be paid a lower wage while you precept and learn in a clinical setting and then once you have proved yourself then you would get full RN status and pay and benifits. I for one would certainly not be apposed to such a program. Just my thoughts,

This is probably a good idea. But, from what I've read, there were problems. Excelsior did propose clinical experience similar to what you describe, but they said it would only be voluntary. And Excelsior did not arrange any contracts with hospitals to implement their proposal.

But here's the real problem: There are many rules and regulations which govern clinical experience. Just to name a few: You need state certified instructors. The clinicals have to be conducted concurrently with the academic course work. And, probably most importantly, the hospitals have to be able to take more students, and that's not easily arranged.

Excelsior says they can't fulfill these requirements. If the state makes an exception for Excelsior, then tons of regulations would have to be changed. Do they change these rules only for Excelsior? If so, then other schools will probably ask for the same deal. What do you tell them? How do you argue that Excelsior deserves special treatment? Or, do you suspend these rules for everybody?

IMHO, this is the crux of the problem. I think it's a lot more complicated than just a distance learning debate. Are you really going to tell Kaiser and CNA that you're going to violate your own rules and allow Excelsior to operate? And, even if you do want to make some kind of exception, you open up a huge can of worms for the entire state nursing education system. It's just not feasible.

Maybe the board will address some of this at the next meeting, since Excelsior is back on the agenda. But I can see why it might be a very tough issue for them.

Just a quick note for Chris: Excelsior may be cheaper in Texas but Pug is right, at least about California schools. My community college is about one-third of the cost of Excelsior. I've lived in many states and California state tuition is probably the cheapest I've ever seen. Just FYI.