How do the distant programs do clinicals?

You don't do clinicals with Excelsior. You take the 7 nurse concept test. Take a CPNE practice course and go to the site and check off your skills. Excelsior has a 60% pass rate on this dreaded weekend long check off with nursing personell that don't know you from Adam. I just graduated from a LPN program and after looking into the Excelsior program, I know that its not the program for me. Right now Im confused about the path that Im gonna take to get my RN so Im gonna wait and see what opportunities come up. The Excelsior program is difficult. Everytime I bring up the program to someone, they know someone who failed the clinicals at least once. I talked to a friend who's sister in law failed it twice. Its too much money to spend and not pass. I think the clinicals are almost $2000 plus travel and lodging expenses. I think the program may be ideal for nurses with alot of clinical experience.

I am currently working on a transition through Distance Learning. You actually enroll in Excelsior, but all of the material comes from the distance learning system. I have taken some of the exams, currently working on Nursing Concepts. When the test are complete, I will go to clinicals. I have spoken to quite a few people who have never worked in a medical hospital. They started their nursing career in the psychiatric field, with very little medical nursing experience and passed clinicals. The course I am taking offers a practice clinical. You are given 25 skills, 5 of which you will be checked off on. I am very nervous about the clinicals, because it is expensive, but I simply cannot go to traditional classes due to time. It can be done, and I am determined to do it. We'll see......

Nope, no clinicals in the Excelsior program. That's why they require you to be an LPN to enroll. You've already done school-based clinicals in the LPN program, and have worked in a clinical setting as a nurse. This is what appeals to me about this program. I dreaded the thought of doing clinicals after working in a clinical setting all day, I mean really dreaded it. The CPNE is known to be hard, it's just not something I see myself failing, as long as I give it 100% during preparation for this exam. Gotta think positive!

Thanks everybody for your responses, I will keep this all in mind. I don't think I would have to much trouble with the clinical exam , but it would have been nice if they would have made that a little clearer on there program descriptions. I have been a CNA for nine years and I am in an LPN program right now. So hopefully with both I will do great if I decide to go down that road, I am still not sure yet. I have two local colleges still in mind that are cheaper. But you have to work a 1000 hours as an LPN first, and I am ready to be done with school and I would prefer to move right into a nursing program versus waiting until I have the 1000 hours done. I guess I will just have to keep thinking about it. Thanks Again!!

I'm not sure about ISU but it appears as though they set you up with a local hospital to do clinicals.