Excelsior

Nursing Students 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?

So, if the appeal is denied, someone could do the program, get licensed in NY, and then potentially seek license by endorsement in another state?

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Well, I imagine it would be like it is already for many who graduate from there and seek licensure in another state that does not recognize Excelsior. For example, CA does not accept the program since 2003. You can get a higher nursing degree from an accredited program, but CA won’t grant a license because the original nursing program was Excelsior. I believe there may be other state boards like that besides those states that make added clinical hours a requirement. A lot of whoopla, but for the person who couldn’t complete in their home state, it used to be a viable option. Not so much anymore. It boils down to what each state board requires in terms of program accreditation.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Excelsior WAS an innovative and high quality program back in the day. They got a lot of people thinking about how to do nursing school differently. Which was GREAT!

And then.....well, then they kind of got stuck - resting on their laurels maybe - blinders to other ways to innovate and improve - IDK.

But the fallout is tremendous -. for the school, for the program and most especially for the STUDENTS.

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Excelsior (Regents) degenerated to the degree and at the rate it became more and more “all about the money” and less and less about being a competency testing based program.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
On 5/19/2020 at 5:03 PM, turtlesRcool said:

So, if the appeal is denied, someone could do the program, get licensed in NY, and then potentially seek license by endorsement in another state?

Certainly, but the RN will have come from an unaccredited program, which could cause some states to reject licensure. The bigger issue may be furthering one's education.

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12 hours ago, Pixie.RN said:

Certainly, but the RN will have come from an unaccredited program, which could cause some states to reject licensure. The bigger issue may be furthering one's education.

That's a possibility, and I don't know how we'd figure that out until someone goes through the program and tries to apply for licensure, which seems like a big gamble. For background, I joined this thread because recently a friend posted on facebook looking for online RN programs. I told her there were none in the state, as did several other people. Because she is divorced with 2 kids, she needs to be able to continue to work FT. She was really excited about the idea of Excelsior, and seems to think (well, really, she's just hoping) it will be offered for people from our state again. Currently the state's website still lists Excelsior as a program that doesn't require additional coursework for an RN license, but I have no idea how frequently that's updated, and Excelsior isn't accepting out of state applicants right now.

I don't think furthering her education past RN is really a consideration for her (would start her nursing career in her 50s). Ideally, she wants something that will allow her to do the didactic portion all online and just go to in-person clinicals. I did warn her that Excelsior doesn't really have clinicals; it's sort of DIY for people who already have jobs with lots of clinical hours. I know she's a volunteer firefighter and EMT, but my guess is that's not going to be enough to qualify her. Even if it were enough to get her into the program, I don't know it would really be enough clinical experience to get her prepared to be an actual nurse.

So anyway, I'm trying to be supportive and realistic at the same time. Because my husband supported me when I went full time for my ABSN, I think she sees me as speaking from a place of too much privilege when I tell her that what she wants doesn't currently exist here. She's vowing not to give up.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
57 minutes ago, turtlesRcool said:

Currently the state's website still lists Excelsior as a program that doesn't require additional coursework for an RN license, but I have no idea how frequently that's updated, and Excelsior isn't accepting out of state applicants right now.

That's not entirely correct, they are accepting applicants from several states, but only those that do not require ACEN accreditation: https://www.excelsior.edu/admissions/requirements/nursing-requirements/associate-in-nursing-requirements/state-board/

She would need to be working as an LPN or paramedic to even qualify for the program in the first place. You don't say what level of EMT she is, but volunteer hours may not meet requirements either. There are clinical contact attestations that must be completed by supervisors.

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On 5/31/2020 at 12:21 PM, Pixie.RN said:

That's not entirely correct, they are accepting applicants from several states, but only those that do not require ACEN accreditation: https://www.excelsior.edu/admissions/requirements/nursing-requirements/associate-in-nursing-requirements/state-board/

She would need to be working as an LPN or paramedic to even qualify for the program in the first place. You don't say what level of EMT she is, but volunteer hours may not meet requirements either. There are clinical contact attestations that must be completed by supervisors.

Thank you. It's a bit confusing because while our state is listed as one that allows licensure by examination without additional requirements or stipulations, it is not one that Excelsior is accepting applications from. After digging around on the website, I found a list that shows Excelsior is accepting applications from 21 states. It looks like there are quite a few states in the same situation as ours, so I'm not sure if it's something on Excelsior's end or on the states' end, but it seems odd that a state would allow Excelsior grads to be licensed but Excelsior wouldn't accept applicants from the state.

In regards to my friend, I'm not sure what level EMT she is, but I also have concerns that her EMT hours would not be enough. I'm not sure what goes into the process of clinical attestations, and if some people are willing to stretch or fudge a bit on what the clinical experience entailed. I am most worried that she'd get into the program and then have a hard time finishing because her available clinical experiences wouldn't really match up with what she'd need to do. I just want her to succeed with whatever program she decides to try.

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

Dangit, sorry... I pasted in the wrong link the first time!

https://www.excelsior.edu/admissions/requirements/nursing-requirements/associate-in-nursing-requirements/

They are only accepting applications from students in those states where Excelsior has confirmed with the BONs that EC grads would be able to obtain an RN license if EC loses accreditation. It's a little up in the air at the moment as they are appealing their loss of accreditation. That first link I posted is all the states with requirements if accreditation is in place. Or for old grads like me, if I want to endorse. They were fully accredited when I graduated in 2008.

It doesn't sound like the best fit for your friend, to be honest. I did the program as a paramedic, but I was working full-time in healthcare.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Make sure you check with your individual state BON as I was able to finish my 1000 hours in Washington State when in 2019 they changed the rules on "non-traditional education". I don't know if it still stands, but check your BON's website for up-to-date information. Don't be afraid to contact them either!

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I took Excelsior.. it definitely has its pros and cons... I do think the program itself is easy to buzz through. However, CPNE wait time was frustrating.. I passed the CPNE my first try, but it was extremely stressful. 

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Specializes in LTC (LPN-RN).

So happy I went traditional. You will get no clinical time. As most LPN's don't do assessments, things like lungs sounds and seeing real trauma helps alot. Imagine only listening to sounds on a DVD.  Then the CPNE is another issue as small things cause students to fail. There is only one way to do a leg dressing?  The cost of the CPNE is another issue. No. I do not recommend.

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/For-second-time-in-less-than-a-year-Excelsior-13153391.php

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