Getting hired as an RN EC grad

nurse1717 · May 11, 2006

i guess it varies widely from town to town. it just seems that once a company gets this attitude that computer rn grads are as proficient or take second seat to traditional grads, their opinion sticks-whether it be rn with acute experience or not. thanks for the responses though.

Sheri257 · May 11, 2006

i guess it varies widely from town to town.

I think it depends on the hospital's experience with new EC grads and, also, whether you're an LVN with lots of acute care experience ... not necessarily the town. At the hospital I'm working at now (and I'm in southern California) they had some problems with non-LVN's so they decided to hire acute care LVN's only and, also, they prefer LVN's who already work there because they already know the floor, their procedures, computer system, etc. and, consequently, the orientation costs are lower.

I know of another hospital that has this same policy but, on the other hand, I also know of one facility that has hired non-LVN's. So I think the hiring policies basically come down to what experiences they've had with new EC grads. If their experiences have been good, they probably have broader hiring policies. If their experiences haven't been so good then, it's probably tougher to get hired ... although you still probably have a good chance if you're an LVN with lots of acute care experience.

I still think you should go to a job fair and talk to the recruiters or, call the hospitals individually. That way you'll find out for sure who is and isn't hiring.

:typing

Jo Dirt · May 12, 2006

Some people who supposedly have nothing to do with Excelsior College are sure worried about what's up with Excelsior.

I'd also sure like to see these secret studies that show what bad experiences these hospitals have had with Excelsior College grads.

I expect I will be waiting a long time.

nurse1717 · May 12, 2006

i admit, there must be a very wide range of ec rn grads. to me, though, i think the hiring authorities are lumping us all together and being rather judgemental.

excelsior is not a credited institution here in california, right?

it just seems to be so misleading. we work hard to get an rn degree but are not accepted as one here in Northern Calif.

deej · May 12, 2006

Some people who supposedly have nothing to do with Excelsior College are sure worried about what's up with Excelsior.
I'd also sure like to see these secret studies that show what bad experiences these hospitals have had with Excelsior College grads.
I expect I will be waiting a long time.

Concur.

i admit, there must be a very wide range of ec rn grads. to me, though, i think the hiring authorities are lumping us all together and being rather judgemental.
excelsior is not a credited institution here in california, right?
it just seems to be so misleading. we work hard to get an rn degree but are not accepted as one here in Northern Calif.

There is a very wide range of EC RN grads, just as there is a very wide range of non-EC RN grads. The EC RN typing this right now has been teaching BLS/ACLS/PALS for a few years (12/2/2) and is amazed at the inability of some non-EC RNs to perform complex nursing tasks such as checking carotid pulses, assembling preload syringes, etc.

Unfortunately, some hiring managers (and others) tunnel in on the word "Excelsior" and lose all ability to assess someone's qualifications in a rational manner. A prudent course of action would be to look for initial employment in an area similar to where one is presently employed. An LVN working in a SNF probably won't be an attractive candidate for a med-surg position as an RN, whereas an LVN working in the ED would probably be a sure bet for an RN position there.

The first job is going to be the hardest to get. After a year or two in an acute care setting as an RN, no one (tunnellers excepted) is going to care where you went to school.

Sheri257 · May 12, 2006

I'd also sure like to see these secret studies that show what bad experiences these hospitals have had with Excelsior College grads.

Actually, it's no big secret. This thread is about hospitals not hiring EC grads. If they're not hiring do you think it's because they had good experiences? If you talk to recruiters, a lot of them will tell you why or why not they hire. And most of the time, it's because of problems with non-LVNs. But, a lot of them still hire experienced acute care LVN's. If you don't believe it, feel free to call the hospitals and ask them yourself.

:typing

nurse1717 · May 13, 2006

When I went to interview with a major hospital here in Northern California, the recruiter outright said they "didn't hire Excelsior RN grads". She did follow that with a "sorry", it was "company policy".

Incidentally, I recieved an information flyer from Excelsior in today's mail. They've some major revisions to the curriculum effective Oct. 1, 2007. Primarily, they're making it more difficult for new enrollees to get an rn degree; decreasing the credits for each nursing concepts exam from 4 to 3, increasing the exams from 7 to 8, and adding a Clinical Competency Assessment. The CPNE will still be a requirement. Of course this does not apply to those currently enrolled.

Will post Oct. 1 '07 ec rn's be given hiring preference over pre Oct. '07's? Will the hiring authority call Excelsior for confirmation of enrollment date?

How timely.

deej · May 13, 2006

When I went to interview with a major hospital here in Northern California, the recruiter outright said they "didn't hire Excelsior RN grads". She did follow that with a "sorry", it was "company policy".
Incidentally, I recieved an information flyer from Excelsior in today's mail. They've some major revisions to the curriculum effective Oct. 1, 2007. Primarily, they're making it more difficult for new enrollees to get an rn degree; decreasing the credits for each nursing concepts exam from 4 to 3, increasing the exams from 7 to 8, and adding a Clinical Competency Assessment. The CPNE will still be a requirement. Of course this does not apply to those currently enrolled.
Will post Oct. 1 '07 ec rn's be given hiring preference over pre Oct. '07's? Will the hiring authority call Excelsior for confirmation of enrollment date?
How timely.

The naysayers won't care. California doesn't accept Deaconess, either, even though it is NLN approved and features clinical hours concurrent with theory. Some hospitals won't hire you, some will. Recruiter A at a given hospital might not even call you back for an interview, whereas recruiter B at the same hospital will give you an offer.

Another option: once you get your RN, go for a BSN or MSN from a "real" school. You can bury Excelsior on your resume after that.

Sheri257 · May 13, 2006

Another option: once you get your RN, go for a BSN or MSN from a "real" school. You can bury Excelsior on your resume after that.

If you're going to go to that much trouble .... I'm also wondering if you've looked at LVN-to-RN transition programs at traditional colleges. Assuming your existing credits would transfer, it's a lot easier to bypass the waiting lists if you're an LVN. If you pass the challenge exams, you'd only have one year of nursing school left. Since CPNE isn't cheap and there can be waiting lists for that also ... it might be worth considering since, with a traditional program, you wouldn't have to worry about any of this.

I don't know about schools in Northern California but, my school is also starting a night-weekend program this fall to get people on the waiting lists into school faster. You may want to check and see if schools in your area are doing the same if you need more flexible hours.

:typing

ChesterRN · May 14, 2006

I must say that I feel there are trolls in the area. Time to put up or shut up. As an EC grad, working in CA with no history of every having one problem getting a job, I would really like to know the name of any hospital that wont hire EC graduates. Please name the hospital so I can personally verify, then forward this info to EC legal council. Otherwise, please slither away into your hole and stop providing misinformation about how EC grads can't get hired by certain facilities in California.

It's clear on the other thread that you have an agenda related to EC. Your behavior is unfair, reckless and does a disservice to every EC grad, student, faculty and every organization that employs the 6,000 + EC grads working here in California.

Sorry to be so blunt, but at least one troll has been doing nothing but slamming EC with impunity on another thread.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f125/pros-cons-excelsior-program-152169.html

Jo Dirt · May 14, 2006

Actually, it's no big secret. This thread is about hospitals not hiring EC grads. If they're not hiring do you think it's because they had good experiences? If you talk to recruiters, a lot of them will tell you why or why not they hire. And most of the time, it's because of problems with non-LVNs. But, a lot of them still hire experienced acute care LVN's. If you don't believe it, feel free to call the hospitals and ask them yourself.
:typing

Please tell us why you are so concerned about this issue.

ChesterRN · May 14, 2006

Please tell us why you are so concerned about this issue.

Is it just me or does it seem like Liz and the OP are tag teaming EC without providing authroities? Also does EC now have an LVN-RN program as reported by the OP...I've never heard of this term used with any student of EC, although I've been out of the loop for awhile.