Is a degree from excelsior.edu worth anything?

Nurses General Nursing

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I just heard about this online college and I just want to know what others think about it. I've always been skeptical about online degrees, but since I'm desperate I'll take what I can get. I don't really feel like being on the waiting list for two years before I finally get into the nursing program for another two years.

Anyway. Does it matter if you graduate this college instead of an actual college? In other words, is it any harder to get a job with an online degree.

I know I haven't done my research, but it's midnight and I'm too lazy to read anything in its unabridged version.

Thanks.

I understand what you are saying. However, I wouldn't call managers who feel this way close-minded. The fact is, Excelsior is not a real school.

....

Are we professionals or not?

Well, luckily you don't make that decision.

Oh, and as to whether we are professionals or not? That would be a big "not." Doctors and lawyers are not punching time clocks, and they didn't have to make up bogus theories so as to have "testable bases for practice." We have vocations. Honorable and skilled, but vocations none-the-less.

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I have enclosed some information about Excelsior and Florida BON. They are not accepting Excelsior students as RN's unless they were either an LPN prior to enrolling in the ADN program with Excelsior OR they got the RN license through Excelsior and practiced in other jurisdictions for a minimum of 2 years. SO, for those who are in Florida who graduated from Excelsior and do not follow into those 2 categories, they, effective immediately, are not allowed to practice nursing in Florida. You will see that Excelsior tried to sue FBON and lost in court over this. This is effective in July of this year. Students of Excelsior were sent letters, as you will see in the link, and informed of the changes in Florida laws through FBON. Through looking on the internet there are other states who are possibly considering adopting this protocol for Excelsior students. If I were you I WOULD contact my state BON and MAKE SURE that if you don't fall into one of the aforementioned categories that you have someone send you something in writing from the BON in your state saying they will accept Excelsior accreditation and you, upon graduation, can sit for the NCLEX.

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I do take exception with some on this website who make the insinuation that nurses who went to good schools, or "traditional" schools are typically bad nurses, while the nurses who went online, through diploma programs and community colleges are always outstanding.
Please link to the posts stating that BSNs are "typically bad nurses". Or that diploma and ADNs are "always outstanding".

Thanks :)

I really don't think we want to go there. Again...

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A nursing degree, period, is worthless without passing the NCLEX.

That's the bottom line right there. Once you pass the NCLEX, you're an RN just like the rest of us. I know that give some people the vapors, but it is what it is :)

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Specializes in CCU, CVICU, ER.
Well, luckily you don't make that decision.

Oh, and as to whether we are professionals or not? That would be a big "not." Doctors and lawyers are not punching time clocks, and they didn't have to make up bogus theories so as to have "testable bases for practice." We have vocations. Honorable and skilled, but vocations none-the-less.

Please do not take offense to this, but you are right. LPN's are not professional nurses. They are vocational nurses. I agree you are honorable and skilled, but not professionals. I am an RN with a BSN and am currently in graduate school. I have an extensive critial care background with specialty certifications. I am an ACLS, PALS, and TNCC instructor. I have worked very hard for my education and certifications, and am very proud of my hard work. You may have a vocation, but I am a professional, and I think most other RN's would agree with this.

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Specializes in PICU, ED, Infection Control, Education, cardiology.

I do have to disagree that Excelsior is not a real school. I live right down the street from the school and can walk in there at anytime and talk to an advisor, go to the business office, etc. I graduated from the school in the fall of '07 and passed the NCLEX my first try. I have been offered every job I have sent a resume out to. I am a safe, caring, well prepared RN. End of story. I am sure that eveyone knows that schools like NC Chapel Hill amd U of Maryland are some of the school that offer completly online RN-BSN programs. Excelsior seems to be getting away from the testing and going to online classes, which I m glad to see. In the real world I never have to defend the school I went to. If I have ever been hired as a last resort then there is a reason and sounds like I wouldnt be at the job very long anyway. I see people getting mad over this. My theory is if my patients are safe at the end of the shift my work is done and I leave the next nurse a good situiation to walk into and well informed, does it really matter what school I went to?

Thats all from me.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Kenny

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Please do not take offense to this, but you are right. LPN's are not professional nurses. They are vocational nurses. I agree you are honorable and skilled, but not professionals. I am an RN with a BSN and am currently in graduate school. I have an extensive critial care background with specialty certifications. I am an ACLS, PALS, and TNCC instructor. I have worked very hard for my education and certifications, and am very proud of my hard work. You may have a vocation, but I am a professional, and I think most other RN's would agree with this.

Can you prescribe? Treat on your own without a physician's permission? If so, I agree with you. If not, sorry, you have a vocation.

And I am not offended. Just amused at how impressed you are with yourself, and how thoroughly you have swallowed the "we are professionals" Kool-aid.

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I am sure that eveyone knows that schools like NC Chapel Hill amd U of Maryland are some of the school that offer completly online RN-BSN programs.

Kenny

I have to point something out here Kenny, there is a HUGE difference between taking online RN-BSN or BSN-MSN online classes, those are people who have already been in the trenches so to speak opposed to cold never exposed to the medical field person taking ONLY online nursing courses. HUGE DIFFERENCES. I am sure that a lot if not most of the students coming out of Excelsior are fine nurses, but the above is in NO WAY a comparison in online education.

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Please do not take offense to this, but you are right. LPN's are not professional nurses. They are vocational nurses. I agree you are honorable and skilled, but not professionals. I am an RN with a BSN and am currently in graduate school. I have an extensive critial care background with specialty certifications. I am an ACLS, PALS, and TNCC instructor. I have worked very hard for my education and certifications, and am very proud of my hard work. You may have a vocation, but I am a professional, and I think most other RN's would agree with this.
No. As much as you'd like to be a professional, you're not by definition. None of us are.

I'm an RN too. But I know that nursing is not a true profession.

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No. As much as you'd like to be a professional, you're not by definition. None of us are.

I'm an RN too. But I know that nursing is not a true profession.

Actually that is not correct. This is the DEFINITION of profession and nurses DEFINITELY fit...

pro-fes-sion (prə-fĕsh'ən)audio.gif

noun

    • An occupation or career: "One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan)
    • An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
    • The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field: members of the teaching profession.

[*] An act or instance of professing; a declaration.

[*] An avowal of faith or belief.

[*] A faith or belief: believers of various professions.

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Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Please do not take offense to this, but you are right. LPN's are not professional nurses. They are vocational nurses. I agree you are honorable and skilled, but not professionals. I am an RN with a BSN and am currently in graduate school. I have an extensive critial care background with specialty certifications. I am an ACLS, PALS, and TNCC instructor. I have worked very hard for my education and certifications, and am very proud of my hard work. You may have a vocation, but I am a professional.

Huh, one who puts others down as a professional.

Just for the record I am trained and I have ACLS, PALS,PHTLS, AMLS and many others, and oh yes, I am trained in way more then transport and vital signs. You need to get a attitude adjustment too:angryfire, the next time you or a loved one are hurt bleeding or ill, recall that Medic or EMT who takes care of them, you might think different, or maybe they should just not due their job as not being trained enough for you and just drive. You seem to be stuck in the early 60s and 70s when we ran wagons that way, Just for the record I know some Paramedic Instructors who have more education then you listed above and many more who went on to be MDs. MANY others are the ones WHO TEACH the RNs in T/CCT and Flight RNs who are nothing more then low on the pole Paramedics.

Being Professional is also how you carry yourself and not just a piece of paper.

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Specializes in Government.
did a three day clinical, took the NCLEX and presto she's and RN!

Stuff like that just scares the bejeebers out of me. I'm a fairly quick study but I have no idea how you can replace hundreds of clinical hours with 3 days. Yikes.

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