Excelsior

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Who has attended excelsior? Did anyone consider it and decide against it? Why/why not?

the fact that a few BONs won't accept the program worries me, but it sounds like such a great option for adult learners, particularly those of us with kids and full time jobs.

Opinions?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I graduated from EC twice, and was accepted into their MSN program for a third go-round. But I withdrew...needed a break from school.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.

Im in Pennsylvania and my EC journey is coming to the end of the tunnel as I am taking my CPNE in about 4 weeks. The program is real and I, hopefully, will have my RN license not long after passing my CPNE. Its not the fast way, or the say way. I started my journey in Sept. of 2015. I have a family to support so I could not take time off from work and do the traditional method.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It is neither fast, nor easy. Relatively inexpensive if you play your cards right. But yes, don't count on getting a license in a state that doesn't recognize EC. It was a great program for me as a paramedic with a full-time job because I am very capable of self-teaching. THIS IS NOT A TEACHING PROGRAM. I put that in all caps because sometimes people lose sight of that, especially as they approach the CPNE and expect the school to teach them things. This is a competency-based program.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
THIS IS NOT A TEACHING PROGRAM. I put that in all caps because sometimes people lose sight of that, especially as they approach the CPNE and expect the school to teach them things. This is a competency-based program.

This times one million. I took the CPNE in February. I failed, but was granted a repeat on appeal. I took a workshop and have been reviewing my behind off. I feel I have a little advantage as that I now know what to expect during my CPNE weekend, but must stress, this in no way will make this weekend easy. I will have to be on point 100%.

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It is neither fast, nor easy. Relatively inexpensive if you play your cards right. But yes, don't count on getting a license in a state that doesn't recognize EC. It was a great program for me as a paramedic with a full-time job because I am very capable of self-teaching. THIS IS NOT A TEACHING PROGRAM. I put that in all caps because sometimes people lose sight of that, especially as they approach the CPNE and expect the school to teach them things. This is a competency-based program.

I like how you emphasized that Excelsior is not a teaching program. This is a huge deal and it is obvious why Excelsior does not advertise that despite having to take courses with instructors, they are not there to teach you anything.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but it was always my understanding that a school, any school, was only in existence to educate (teach) students. If this is supposedly only a competency "school", then students should not have to take any classes and should be able to go right into the CPNE (without waiting a year and a half to take a final exam) to prove their knowledge of the RN skills that Excelsior does not teach.

I'm not certain how Excelsior would expect the CPNE to be a "skills check-off" when they don't actually teach you any RN skills. How are students supposed to learn these skills? YouTube?? If that's the case, no one needs to send money to this "school".

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I like how you emphasized that Excelsior is not a teaching program. This is a huge deal and it is obvious why Excelsior does not advertise that despite having to take courses with instructors, they are not there to teach you anything.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but it was always my understanding that a school, any school, was only in existence to educate (teach) students. If this is supposedly only a competency "school", then students should not have to take any classes and should be able to go right into the CPNE (without waiting a year and a half to take a final exam) to prove their knowledge of the RN skills that Excelsior does not teach.

I'm not certain how Excelsior would expect the CPNE to be a "skills check-off" when they don't actually teach you any RN skills. How are students supposed to learn these skills? YouTube?? If that's the case, no one needs to send money to this "school".

The school also emphasizes that it is not a teaching program, it is competency-based and requires the ability to self-study. The CPNE is more than a skills check-off, too. That is a misunderstanding that gets some people in a twist as they get closer and realize the scope of it.

The online courses (the 8-week-long ones) are relatively new. For many years, we only had competency-based exams in which we tested out on nursing subjects. The nice thing is that students are now able to access financial aid, whereas that wasn't an option before.

The whole point is that the program is for those who have healthcare experience already — most students are LPNs/LVNs or paramedics. The school has also made its eligibility criteria more stringent, too. New applicants have to take the TEAS and have to show proof of working in a direct patient care role.

So it's not a "school," but a school — with regional and program accreditation as well as being designated an NLN Center of Excellence for many years in a row. It's definitely not a program for everyone, but it's great for some.

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I received an email from Excelsior College that they have lost accreditation for their nursing program except in New York. They are appealing.

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On 5/7/2020 at 6:09 PM, virgomoon said:

I received an email from Excelsior College that they have lost accreditation for their nursing program except in New York. They are appealing.

I tried googling, and can't find anything about this. Can you provide more details? What does this mean for students living in other states who are currently enrolled? Any idea of the timeframe for resolution? My stepsister is interested in nursing, and was hoping something like Excelsior would be a good fit, as she is divorced and will need something more flexible than a traditional nursing program.

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It was an email sent to current students. I don't know if I'm allowed to post it here. It was on the site itself, I believe under the information on ADN program. NY is still accredited and Excelsior is appealing the decision. I don't know what it means, I posted hoping someone could tell me.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

From their website: https://www.excelsior.edu/about/accreditations/

ACEN ACCREDITATION

The bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing at Excelsior College are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The ACEN is a specialized accrediting agency for nursing recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

ACEN recently decided not to continue programmatic accreditation of Excelsior College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program. Excelsior College is pursuing an appeal of ACEN’s decision and during the appeal process, Excelsior’s ACEN accreditation remains in place. This action does not impact the bachelor’s or master’s degree programs currently accredited by ACEN.

We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.

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When I was finally able to find the specific info on the Excelsior website, this was my understanding: the entire situation affects students in certain states; current students may continue with the program while the appeal process is ongoing; at the end of the appeal, if Excelsior prevails, business as usual, if Excelsior does not prevail, the cancellation of accreditation remains in place; affected students then would have the choice to remain enrolled, based upon the rules of the BON in their state regarding graduation from a nonaccredited (by state's required accrediting body) program; it is the individual responsibility of each student to determine the stand of their respective state Board regarding licensure. Essentially, do you want to be a graduate of a nonaccredited program with the resulting repercussions, or do you want to explore licensure in a state that does not restrict their licensing in this respect?

The appeal could be decided as early as April 20, 2020, which has come and gone, so apparently those enrolled are still holding their breaths.

This might be the beginning of the end for the program, it seems to have been losing its relevancy and viability over the decades. Good while it lasted.

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