Grad schools accept ec?

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 26, 2017

For the states (pretty much California) that don't recognize EC grads, advanced degrees won't matter because they look at the origin of your RN.

Excelsior College has ACEN and regional accreditation, so yes, it is accepted as a legitimate school to further your education. It's also a non-profit.

Kelly_bean · May 26, 2017

Thanks for the reply Pixie.RN!

I really can't understand why the Cali BON takes such issue with Excelsior. They only accept students who are already healthcare professionals- LPNs and paramedics- who have already been through clinical and have healthcare work experience. And, although they don't have traditional clinical rotations, everything I have read suggests that their CPNE exam is extremely rigorous and thorough, and much harder to pass with something like a 60% pass rate. That sounds to me like Excelsior definitely takes their students skill competency very seriously!!! Honestly I would prefer a nurse who I know passed the "beast" CPNE.

And I just want to make sure I have this right... so, let's say I have a DNP and 20 years of nursing experience. Cali seriously won't endorse me because of where I got my associates? That's ridiculous to me.

I hope with the shift to more alternative forms of education and growing popularity of distance learning that cali and any other states with restrictions or denials will come around. Excelsior sounds like a really good option for me because A) I'm a very organized, motivated self studier and I prefer solitary studying and work over group efforts. That's just my personality. And, B) I can plan school around my life rather than my life around school! I have a one year old. C) Option to pay as I go, D) option to completely self study and challenge test every course.

Since I live in a state that has no issue with Excelsior degrees, I think I'm gonna go for it. I would really appreciate any advice!!!

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 26, 2017

California won't recognize a program that doesn't have clinicals concurrent with theory. It's their state, they can do what they want. Don't expect it to change â€” they went to court over it and are significantly invested in their position. I continued for a BSN and two MSNs and they probably still wouldn't give me the time of day. Possibly they would give some thought to an NP because that does require additional boards, but again ... they will always look at the origin of the RN, and NPs must also maintain that RN license.

There are plenty of articles and posts in this forum, I am sure many of your questions will be answered. :)

RTRNCRNA · May 30, 2017

Hello Kelly_bean,

My goal is to become a CRNA and Texas Wesleyan University is one of my choices (since I live in Texas). Today I read as a requirement...

Education & Test Requirements

Nursing degree
- Includes clinicals and is from an institution with a traditional grading process

I emailed my contact person for Texas Wesleyan so I hope to hear back by tomorrow.

I never thought that this would be an issue because I assumed that once I pass my NCLEX-RN then that would be it since Texas recognizes ADN's from Excelsior.

I'm not sure of your nursing goals but make sure that you check with any school that you might want to do graduate work through just to be sure...

I am awaiting my CPNE date (So I am almost at the end of the road for my ADN)... It would suck and be a HUGE blow if they do not accept EC's Nursing degree.

I will not let that stop me though, I will either have to find a CRNA program that will accept EC... or just go through UT Arlington since they have a RT to BSN bridge program.

Said all that to say...just be sure so that you do not potentially waste time...Good Luck to you.

Kelly_bean · May 30, 2017

Thanks for the reply! Did you hear back from the university?

RTRNCRNA · May 30, 2017

Just heard back...

We do not accept transcripts from Excelsior College. They do not have traditional clinical rotations for their nursing degrees.

If you have any additional questions please let me know.

Have a good day,

Lisa

Texas Wesleyan

Admissions Coordinator

Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia

I will need to look at my other options. What hurts with this is that it was not mentioned on their previous requirements when I researched...it just stated RN licensure.

This could possibly be a setback but I will not let it stop me. I will check with TCU, Baylor Houston and if needed out of state CRNA programs. If they are saying the same everywhere else then I might just have to check into UT Arlington for their RT to BSN bridge program. I wonder if I can graduate from Excelsior and start working as a Nurse and somehow go to UT Arlington and do classes needed to get my nursing again... LOL that sounds crazy but I've got to exhaust EVERY option. But now you know that some graduate programs don't accept EC..."Buyer Beware"

Good Luck!

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 30, 2017

There are nurses here who went from EC grads to CRNA, so it's doable. Not sure which schools, though. I know someone who has been eyeballing CRNA programs, I will ask her what she has found. It's a good thing you did your research and didn't assume! This is the downside of attending a non-traditional program; sometimes it's tough to foresee what we might be giving up!

RTRNCRNA · May 30, 2017

There are nurses here who went from EC grads to CRNA, so it's doable. Not sure which schools, though. I know someone who has been eyeballing CRNA programs, I will ask her what she has found. It's a good thing you did your research and didn't assume! This is the downside of attending a non-traditional program; sometimes it's tough to foresee what we might be giving up!

Thanks Pixie, as you can imagine the pit in my stomach when I received that email this morning.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 30, 2017

Thanks Pixie, as you can imagine the pit in my stomach when I received that email this morning.

I can, I am so sorry.

Kelly_bean · May 30, 2017

I've read comments stating that what matters is where the RN license comes from, and that even if we go on to a "traditional" BSN, we still won't be eligible for a lot of schools. Is this true in your experiences??

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 30, 2017

I've read comments stating that what matters is where the RN license comes from, and that even if we go on to a "traditional" BSN, we still won't be eligible for a lot of schools. Is this true in your experiences??

Not in my experience, no. State boards of nursing will always consider the source to your RN, but I haven't really run across that issue myself where graduate education is concerned.