Good Experiences with Excelsior??

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Substance Abuse.

:mortarboard: I have heard so many horror stories about the CPNE. That it makes me wonder if this is the best course of action in obtaining my RN license. I'm not giving up, but would love to hear about some good experiences with Excelsior. I used to work Customer Service with a major retail chain and it was always said that an unhappy customer makes much more noise than a satisfied one. That seems to hold true is this case also.

So any happy Excelsior students; Share your good experiences with those of us who are still having doubts..

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I really had very little interaction with them except for the final CPNE. I did all my own studying according to what was laid out in the guides.. didn't interact with the counselors or study groups.. I work better on my own.

I must say, that I was very pleased with the program. I have zero complaints to offer. The CPNE is fine as long as you know your material and what THEY expect of you... and all that IS emphasised in the final CPNE study manual. It's all in the DETAIL in CPNE, and things that we think are trivial are NOT to them... take the manual seriously and do it THEIR way, and you'll be FINE.

Again... best thing I ever did for myself. Allowed me to continue to work full time, while persuing my lifetime goal.

Hats off to Excelsior... AND to ME ! :D

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because of excelsior, i'm an rn in the states i want to work in (florida and new york). i'm tickled to death that i found the excelsior program :). no complaints at all here!

the caveat: there is no spoonfeeding, and you've got to be a self motivated learner.

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Another satisfied customer here. Almost everyone that I met from Excelsior, at the CPNE or outside the CPNE, was very pleasant. The primary thing that makes the CPNE difficult is stress management. When you have a large sum of money invested and you know that failing could result in a 4-6 month delay, it can work on your head. But I'm glad I did it. Would never have become an RN otherwise.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Ditto here. As with any program, you get out of it what you put into it. You are the teacher AND student.

With regard to the CPNE, all good advice mentioned already. Take it one step at a time and do it THEIR way, not your way. Be organized and be motivated.

It's terrifying to hear about it until you start actually studying for the exam and the mystery disappears.

Good luck!!

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I thoroughly enjoyed the Excelsior program. Excelsior allowed me to move along at my own pace. I completed the program in one year.

I took the CPNE this past March in Amarillo, TX. I thought the site and the examiners were excellent. I actually felt the CPNE was more "bark then bite". I believe those students that fail the CPNE (for whatever reason), pass along the "horror" stories about the CPNE. For example, an acquaintence of mine took the CPNE in Sept. 2005 in Atlanta. He failed. His excuse - the examiners were "out to get him". Emailed somebody else who took the exam at the same site on the same weekend - she passed and had nothing but great things to say about the site and examiners.

I graduated this past April. I interviewed at two different hospitals and was offered internships (in the area of my choice) at the end of each interview. I am now in an internship in cardiovascular ICU at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

On a final note, I always received courteous service when I needed to speak to someone at Excelsior. As another poster stated, I did not need much help from Excelsior. I also tend to study better on my own.

Hope this gives you another perspective on Excelsior.

Mark

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I also had a good experience with EC. I finished in July of 2005 and have been working as an RN on a med/tele unit since December . I think I was just as prepared as any other new grad . The CPNE was stressful and I spent alot of time preparing for it . I found that a great resource when preparing for it was the half hour phone sessions they offer to ask questions and clarify things. I really used that alot . The clinical examiners at the CPNE were very fair . I really never felt that any of them were out to get me even though I did fail one lab and one patient care scenerio. Good luck to you. It really helped also to read the good expereinces and the bad experiences . I learned alot from both . There was a website ....alittlesarcasm.com ..where people posted ...I am not sure if it is still up....but that website helped alot.

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Specializes in ICU.
There was a website ....alittlesarcasm.com ..where people posted ...I am not sure if it is still up....but that website helped alot.

alittlesarcasm.com was a huge help to me, but it is no more. I don't know what happened to it.

I did the CPNE in Plano. It was an exceedingly stressful experience. But, I perservered. Now that I've done it, I realize it wasn't half as difficult as I made it out to be. Pay attention to detail, read the CPNE book, and do it their way ONLY. Absolutely forget you are an experienced LVN - you are a STUDENT nurse, doing it the STUDENT nurse way.

It is not an insurmountable obstacle.

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Someone recently posted on here that the content from alittlesarcasm.com was still available on another website. Maybe anyone who is interested could try a search of this site.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Substance Abuse.

:Melody: Thanks everyone. Your comments have been music to my ears. I figured that there had to be some happy graduates. It helps me to stay determined to follow through. Just waiting to find the $$ to get going.:bugeyes:

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Another happy camper here. Had the CPNE January 2005 in Racine. I had the entire study guide memorized when I began that weekend. Have said before, and will continue to say.. I felt like I was in a well reheorificed play. They would say their lines on cue (word for word what the study guide said they would say) then I would respond w/ the "action". Every CE I dealt with was very professional and once they seemed to realize that I knew what I was doing, they relaxed enough to be almost friendly. Go for it. I have no regrets. Good luck.

Also, make sure you will be eligible to sit for boards in your state prior to beginning this program.

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Specializes in Peds stepdown ICU.

You take from Excelsior what you put into it. If you have work experience in one of the qualifying professions for entry into Excelsior, then you can do well. The program is not difficult if you apply yourself. The CPNE is very basic. I would have rather attended traditionally but life didn't allow it at the time--that is why Excelsior was a good alternative. Be aware of what states you want to practice in so you know there will be any problems getting licensed.

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