Excelsior College

gdnurse · Apr 1, 2004

I did not know Illinois would not allow you to practice either! I just heard back from my State Board and they said they accept EC graduates and allow them to take the boards and be licesened here.

Thanx for all the input.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Apr 1, 2004

Soon-to-be EC grad here from KY. gdnurse, Indiana does accept EC grads and allows them to take the NCLEX- you'll be just fine. The program does require a lot of studying, and there is a lot of content in each exam, but it's doable. And you'll find a lot of support from other students, and faculty as you go along. I averaged about an exam a month, but I too studied at every available moment. Join the Yahoo study groups to have access to study aids and contact with other students. The electronic peer network on the EC website for students has scheduled chats with faculty periodically, so you can ask them questions about anything. There is also a weekly chat for prospective/new students as well- I used it a few times when I first signed up. I'm very happy with the program, and feel like I have accomplished something big by being able to finish school independently. I already have a job, and will stay where I am. I've only heard 1 person in my study groups complain of not being able to get a job, but she hadn't graduated or taken boards yet, and she wasn't already an LPN. I've also got 8 years of LPN experience, and it has been a huge help. It'll be a big help to you, too- as long as you don't have a ton of bad habits to overcome. Good luck!

Sheri257 · Apr 3, 2004

I read on the Excelsior web page that Ca has brought to the Board the decision to not allow RN's practice in CA who have gone through this program recently? Is this true? Excelsior has a blurb on their web page to not apply if you are planning to work in CA as an RN.

Yes, it's true. California no longer accepts new Excelsior grads. Pretty much for the same reasons Shotzie cited:

I know that when I worked as a nurse recruiter my hospital and all the others around us did not consider that a valid degree and would not hire these graduates, even with a nursing shortage going on.

Besides Illinois and California, Georgia and Vermont do not accept Excelsior. Florida and Washington only allow LPNs to go through the program. Just FYI.

:eek:

Brownms46 · Apr 3, 2004

Yes, it's true. California no longer accepts new Excelsior grads. Pretty much for the same reasons Shotzie cited:
Not true! CA will not accept EC grads who enrolled AFTER DEc 5th 2003.
Besides Illinois and California, Georgia and Vermont do not accept Excelsior. Florida and Washington only allow LPNs to go through the program. Just FYI.

Alabama State Board evaluates Excelsior College graduates on an individual basis.

Georgia State Board only accept Excelsior College graduates through reciprocity. Georgia only made this decision November 20-21, 2003.

Louisiana, Washington, Florida, and Rhode Island State Boards accept all LPN's. All others should contact your state board for current regulations.

I forgot...Washington state requires 200 hours of preceptors practice, which can easily done. There are some states that require a lab be done with micro, and many community colleges have this lab only course.

Illinois State Board does not recognize Excelsior College ASN degrees, but does recognize Excelsior College BSN degrees.

RN34TX · May 9, 2004

Just curious...
Are those of you who have graduated now working as a nurse? What kind? How hard was it for you to get a job?
I'm only asking because anyone who is considering this type of degree needs to know that they might find it hard to take boards and get a job with a degree from EX.
I know that when I worked as a nurse recruiter my hospital and all the others around us did not consider that a valid degree and would not hire these graduates, even with a nursing shortage going on.

What area did you work as a recruiter? I am a recent Excelsior graduate and every hospital in the Houston area I sent my resume to wanted to interview me for the specialty of my choice. I took an ICU position and have had no problems as of yet. Why did your area hospitals not consider this to be a valid degree? It is accredited by the National League for Nursing which has the highest authority in nursing education on a national level. Schools of nursing go through pains taking measures to keep that accreditation just like hospitals need Joint commision accreditation. Why California thinks it's above the NLN for approving schools of nursing is beyond me. They have enough nursing problems without without deciding that certain programs don't meet their standards.

Rnn2003, MSN, RN · May 10, 2004

Hi Brownms46: Georgia has always accepted EC graduated thru reciprocity... My sister-in-law graduated EC 14 years ago took boards in South Carolina obtained Georgia lic thru reciprocity....I took Mississippi boards July of 2003 applied for Georgia lic had them in less than 4 weeks... the best advice to all EC soon to be grads is to check with Rosemary Casale at EC and then check with your state board of nursing.....Best withes to all who are coming thru EC's nursing program it truely is a rewarding program:nurse:

Alabama State Board evaluates Excelsior College graduates on an individual basis.
Georgia State Board only accept Excelsior College graduates through reciprocity. Georgia only made this decision November 20-21, 2003.
Louisiana, Washington, Florida, and Rhode Island State Boards accept all LPN's. All others should contact your state board for current regulations.
I forgot...Washington state requires 200 hours of preceptors practice, which can easily done. There are some states that require a lab be done with micro, and many community colleges have this lab only course.
Illinois State Board does not recognize Excelsior College ASN degrees, but does recognize Excelsior College BSN degrees.

Sheri257 · May 10, 2004

Why California thinks it's above the NLN for approving schools of nursing is beyond me. They have enough nursing problems without without deciding that certain programs don't meet their standards.

In short, some of the hospitals complained, namely Kaiser, among others. So did the California Nurses Association and other nursing groups. Excelsior couldn't meet the state's standards for verifying clinical experience. Just FYI.

:uhoh21:

mobileLPN · May 10, 2004

So, CA decides to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Why not try a Washington style 200 hour preceptorship requirement? The best nurse I ever worked with is an EC grad who is now a DON. He's the reason I'm doing this program.

"civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state becomes lawless and corrupt"- Gandhi

Sheri257 · May 10, 2004

So, CA decides to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Why not try a Washington style 200 hour preceptorship requirement? The best nurse I ever worked with is an EC grad who is now a DON. He's the reason I'm doing this program.

If I'm not mistaken, Exclesior proposed some additional clinicals, but it was all voluntary, not mandatory. I assume that was at least part of the problem, since clinicals were the main issue during the controversy.

:coollook:

mobileLPN · May 10, 2004

Why didn't the BRN just require it unilaterally. In washington the board simply requires grads to work with a preceptor for 200 hours before taking NCLEX. It's no big deal, I've never heard of any complaints. Apparently hospitals are perfectly willing to precept because they have a good chance of retaining the nurse as RN staff. I encourage all interested parties to call the CA Board of Registered Nursing at 916.322.3350 and let your opinion be known.

"you must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

eugenia · May 10, 2004

this school is a total was of your time if you truly want to learn and be confident in your abilities as an rn go to either an adn program or bsn program. there is a reason way this school was banded in ca. you have no guidance and you truly arent't given the skills you need to be successful as a nurse.

anyone have any comments, ideas, thoughts, info or know anything or anyone who has gone through this program? i just lack my advance nursing classes and micro to obtain my asn. i was in a bsn program but had to leave the college i was going to so my hubby could finish his degree. the nearest college that offerred an rn program was 2 1/2 hours away. being poor college kids with a 1 year old at that time,that was not an option for me. so, i went ahead and got my lpn with the goal of finishing my degree when hubby graduated. 8 practicing years later as an lpn, i am trying to find an asn program. i have 2 years of college and my 1 year lpn education behind me. i want to get going and finish this. my local tech school stinks to no get out! they give us all run arounds and it is getting frustrating. they don't even have a test (net) anymore for entering nurses in to the program! they are thinking of a new test, so right now, they are not accepting applications into the program. whatever!
anyways, any help or thoughts would be wonderful! i especially wonder about the clinical aspect of it. i would have to t...ravel 1-2 states away to do my clinicals. i heard the rue clinicals are near to impossibel to pass. are these clinicals the same way?
help?????????

mobileLPN · May 10, 2004

Perhaps you'd like to share some facts to back up your assertion. NCLEX pass rates perhaps? Maybe numbers of board disciplinary actions? Do you have any of those numbers? Have you ever looked at excelsiors material?

"You cannot simultaneously prepare for war and hope to preserve peace"

- Einstein