Guaranteed "Free" BSN starting in 2012 or Try Excelsior NOW??

Published

Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

OK,

I'm an LPN in TN. I am REALLY wanting to get my RN, here are my options:

1. Guaranteed slot in RN program with ETSU due to being a grad of Tenn Tech Center LPN program (they got a grant to allow this), this would be essentially free as I could use my GI Bill to pay for school (close to $2000 month in cash). All I have to do is my 4 prereq classes prior to Feb 2012, and classes would start in summer 2012 and last for 16 months and I would have my BSN (accelerated program). In addition, the Veterans admin may pay for the school and my salary while I go (if approved).

2. I could start on my LPN to RN (ADN) with Excelsior NOW, but have to pay for everything out of pocket.

What I'm thinking is to do both, as in, work on my 4 prerequisites now, while simultaneously working on my Excelsior tests with the hope of having my RN by Dec 2011, but with a back up of having the guaranteed ETSU spot just a few months away with BSN written all over it.

3. Finish my prerequisites and apply at a various number of LPN to RN programs around, but with no guarantee of actually getting a slot. The quickest one would be at WCU in NC, 12 month BSN (accelerated) with application period starting in Jan 2012.

What do you all think? Drawbacks seem to be time and money. By doing the Excelsior in addition to the 4 prereq classes, I'm paying double and out of pocket to boot. But IF I could pass the Excelsior then I'd have my RN much, much sooner than a graduation date of 2013 with BSN at ETSU.

Tony in TN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had irons in the fire with more than one program back when myself. To me, it is only wise to maximize your opportunities. If something doesn't work out, you are going to be out money and time pursuing another avenue anyway. Just make certain you don't mess things up by not properly attending to all of your irons in the fire.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

why not use your GI bill for EC, the continue on with EC or another program for your BSN? It's taken me so far 7 mo and i'm almost complete with the ASN portion, and another 10-12 for the BSN portion.../hubby gave me his GI bill and i have 36mo eligibility which is plenty of time for ASN, BSN, and possibly my MSN =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
why not use your GI bill for EC, the continue on with EC or another program for your BSN? It's taken me so far 7 mo and i'm almost complete with the ASN portion, and another 10-12 for the BSN portion.../hubby gave me his GI bill and i have 36mo eligibility which is plenty of time for ASN, BSN, and possibly my MSN =)

Hey TashaLPN2006:

What materials have you used to study for your test, I am working on Health and Safety and I am a little overwhelmed at trying to find the right material to study, so far I am just using my LPN books, thinking if it may benefit to order the books EC recommends so all I have to do is read the chapters they have on their study guides.:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I thought Excelsior has a military program for financial services.

Being non-military I am not sure what its fees are or what kind of difference there is in courses and exams costs but they have that option.

Contact them to find out, it may be just as good of deal as the one in TN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

The nursing is a little different as far as the military discounts, i know the enrollment fee is cheaper by about 100-150 bucks, there are military scholarships, and supposedly if you are active duty military you can take the gen ed exams for FREE (DANTES, CLEP etch) but not sure abuot the nursing exams or not...

As far as study materials i stuck mostly to the recommended textbooks and did the recommended reading from the content guide...for some of the books (med surg, fundamentals) i got a brand new study guide workbook on ebay for a couple of bucks each. I always bought the books an edition or two previous to the one that EC recommends because there isnt much different in the chapters/material in the books.

I have also used rnbridgeprogram.com when i had the funds avalible, but to tell you the honest truth i only managed C's on the last couple of test that i used rnbridge exclusively and it was $100 bucks a month, however, because i wanted to push through a little quicker it was worth it to me in the end...i have since canceled that membership and am just using textbooks for LS3. rnbridge also doesn't have any gen ed classes only the nursing theory and they are like an online powerpoint presentation with audio lecture to go along with it. It was helpful but would have gotten better grades if i would have done both the reading and the lecture i think! =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.
why not use your GI bill for EC, the continue on with EC or another program for your BSN? It's taken me so far 7 mo and i'm almost complete with the ASN portion, and another 10-12 for the BSN portion.../hubby gave me his GI bill and i have 36mo eligibility which is plenty of time for ASN, BSN, and possibly my MSN =)

Hey Tasha- Just wondering- do you think it is possible to finish the BSN program in 10-12 months? I'm asking because I am almost done with the ASN program, as well and would like to go on for my BSN but thought it would take 2 years :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.
why not use your GI bill for EC, the continue on with EC or another program for your BSN

Tasha,

How would using the GI Bill work with EC being tests and not actual classes. I've signed up for an EC history test to give me my elusive last class for my BA in History and today I signed up for an online A&P class and an online intro to Micro class. That gives me 11 credit hours this semester, I really need to figure out how to use the GI bill. When I went to LPN school I paid for it out of pocket. But just the 2 online classes and books are going to cost around $1700.

Tony in TN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

I also used this website to prepare for some of my exams: RNBridgeProgram.com - LPN to RN Bridge Program | Parmedic to RN Bridge Program |

As far as the GI bill goes i talked to the Financial Aide VA people at EC and they told me i had to fill out a form saying exactly what exams i would test out of during the "semester" that was how they billed GI bill for it, i have NOT used it that is just how it was explained to me...I'd call the VA Financial aid people at Excelsior they are super helpful!

As far as finishing BSN in 10-12 months yes it is possible depending on the credits you will need...i know Txpas here on the board finished at Texas Tech in 6-7 mo, she had all her prereq's finished before going into the program though...I plan on CLEPing as much as possible this summer and by fall be ready to start a BSN program or else apply and go to Frontier School for Nurse Practictiner which is a 36mo ASN to MSN (however i will ahve to have one yr of RN experiance before i can apply for admission)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

Oh okay, thanks. I, too will have to take some more electives/pre-reqs :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You got C's too? I have 3 C's and the rest B's with Excelsior... with the exception of the one I failed today with a D (hoping for a waiver for next week, since FCCA starts then), and now have to redo- I will get atleast a B because I was off today (me sick, hubby deployed, son got out of 4 day stay at hospital Sunday, and daughter sick today)... but I see you have been accepted in a FNP program, I was worried these C's are going to stop me from getting in anywhere else~~ Congrats, and that is encouraging!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

As an update, I wound up doing both programs simultaneously while working full time. By the time I passed all of my tests and reached the point to sign up for the practical testing phase with Excelsior, I was within 6 months of graduating with my BSN at ETSU, so I stopped working on Excelsior and finished my BSN. I graduated in Dec 2013 and I am now an actual real life RN!! There was one guy here locally that I know of who was always 1 test ahead of me, he finished Excelsior and passed the practical phase, last I heard he hasn't taken his NCLEX yet, but he did finish with Excelsior, but in about the same time frame as I did with my BSN.

Good luck

Tony in TN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion