How long did Excelsior take you start to finish?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

2 years.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 28, 2009

One year, one month, and one day. But I had two Associates degrees coming in to the program, so I didn't need any English/Humanities or that type of thing.

NC Girl BSN · Sep 28, 2009

It took me 1 year. I enrolled Dec 12, 2007 and finished the CPNE Dec 7,2008. I do want to tell you that finishing in 1-1.5 year is not the norm. It takes most people way longer than that because getting this degree requires alot of commitment and constant studying without the encouragment of a teacher. I talked one of my friend into doing it with me. She finished in 9 months but thats because she failed the CPNE. If she would have passed it would have take 7 months.

I also wanted to add that my friend that finished in 9 months also needed 6 general ed classes. She took 2 semesters of classes at CC while doing the program. I had all the classes completes from a previous BS and only needed Micro and Information Literature. So the motivation and support has to be there inorder to get through the program in a timely manner.

Ultimately how fast you finish depends on YOU. You have up to 7 yrs to finish and I know 3 people who are rushing to get everything done to meet the 7yr deadline this year. So it could go both ways.

MauraRN · Sep 28, 2009

1 year, but I did have a Bachelor's in another field and did not need any other courses except the 1 credit Internet course. I worked full-time and took a couple of exams within a few weeks, then took a month off, repeated the process. I could have done it faster, but $ was an issue at times.

melissakp · Sep 29, 2009

It took me 9 years but I didn't do anything for 4 years of that. So when I buckled down it took 1 yr.

2CareerRN · Sep 29, 2009

it took me 1 year and 9 months. i had few college credits going into this program.

Mudwoman · Sep 30, 2009

Started April 2004 and graduated May 2007. I took off a year because of work and family. I already had most of my general education credits. I tested out of A&P and Microbiology, Life Span, Gerontology. I qualified for the CPNE in Aug 2006 and decided to give myself plenty of time to study for the CPNE. I took a workshop, the online documentation and care plan classes offered and also got the wound kit. I took the CPNE in Plano Mar 2007 and passed no repeats.

There was a point in which I just lost my motivation and I got the bill to renew for another year. I had decided in my mind that I just didn't think I could pass the CPNE and it just was taking me far longer than I wanted and, and, and. All the excuses that your mind can come up with. Thank goodness my dear hubby went ahead and paid the tuition for another year and told me I had come too far to give up. I finished before the next tuition was due.

msrosebud28 · Sep 30, 2009

I took my first exam on 9/18/08 and just passed my NCLEX_RN 9/26/09. :clown:

dslpninla · Sep 30, 2009

What study materieals were used to study for the exams??

msrosebud28 · Oct 1, 2009

I used all the recommended text from Excelsior.

Mudwoman · Oct 1, 2009

What study materieals were used to study for the exams??

I used my old nursing text books from LVN school. I did buy the recommended skills text for the CPNE and I found the 2 recommended text books for Nursing Exam 7 on Ebay for $10 each. I also bought the recommended text book and work book for Life Span on amazon used for less than $20 for both.