I was totally dissed last night

[Law of Fives]

During my shift at the hospital I work at, I was talking to several nurses who know I'm an Excelsior student. This is a unit I very much want to work in when i graduate. To make a long story short, the charge nurse walks up in the middle of the convo, and asks about the program. She asked, "what about clinicals?". When I explained how the program worked, she replied "Well I hope they don't hire you for this unit, I don't see how that sort of program can produce a competent nurse." Ouch! I know she doesn't do the hiring, and when the person that does do the hiring sees my qualifications, I'll be hired on the spot. I also knew this sort of discrimination exists, but had never experienced it first hand. Very disheartening.

[Law of Fives]

However, if you have little practice with skills in nursing then I see where people question a program like EC.

To question is one thing, but to claim that the program produces incompetent nurses is another matter.

A student with a background like mine that is lacking in skills shouldn't be able to take a program like EC and be a nurse because they wouldn't know which end of a Foley catheter to put into a patient, much less how to do it right

Agreed. But this is a matter for the student to decide for themselves since EC does not have a system in place to evaluate this prior to enrollment. If you want to debat this issue, then I would have to conceed on the basis that it would not be a bad idea for both traditional and nontraditional programs.

I am in a program that has clinicals, and since I have little hands-on experience, that's a good thing.

Good to hear you found a program that fits your needs. But face it, everyone's needs are different.

[MedictoRN]

EC nursing program online does not provide you with a quality nursing education

I assume you have some sort of secret proof? Because, regardless of the general impression conveyed by this thread, all but 4-5 of the 50 states accept EC grads without question, and that is a FACT. So to say this is simply inflamatory and ignorant.

[pedinurse05]

This entire thing is silly. Nursing programs both traditional and non-traditional graduates will always have those that work below a standard of safe care. While many Excelsior students do not take the same clinicals that traditional students do, they usually are full time employees in a clinical environment...and get much more hands on than a student. I worked as an LPN for 10 years prior to entering the Excelsior program. I gained skills that most students will never would have the opportunity to do . I had the opportunity to work with trach's, LP10 & LTV's, gtubes...and the list goes on. This experience is no where equal to clinicals where I would shadow an RN or hold a baby, assist clients to the BR, or learn basic IV skills. I have never had anyone question my skills and have gotten nothing but praises on my ability to critically think and function at the RN level. I completed orientations earlier than most new RN grads and was the ONLY new grad on my floor to ever pass a PBDS test (even those that had prior warning and prepping--of course I didn't get prepping). With that said, I have encountered a few things with traditional school students this past month at my new job that I found disturbing. One guy in my orientation had just passed his NCLEX after 3 attempts!!! Some senior nursing students on my unit reported never cathing a male patient, had only attempted 3-4 IV sticks, had never performed trach care or used the ambu bag, and various other skills. Yes, the programs are different but both have their own areas of lack. The day the senior nursing students were on the floor with us (they graduate in March), they basically just shadowed and asked questions....to me my hands on LPN experience is something that has given me a great working foundation to be a safe, clinical RN. Excelior has it's "areas of improvement" without a doubt. People who are not LPn's or paramedics should not do this program....nor should newly graduated LPN's or paramedics do this program. The program is designed for experienced people. Excelsior really needs to have documented clinical experience prior to enrollment. For those that say Excelior is an easy out because we skipped clinicals, they are very misled...I have been working hands-on in the clinical environment for beyond 10 years. Experience is something that grows with time and can't be gained (beyond the basics) in clinicals. By NO means was this an easy out for me! I worked, raised my family, and studied hours over a course of 18 months to complete this program.

Lizz, I have had no problems gaining good employment here in Southern California with my little Excelsior degree. I have been offered every hospital job I applied for ( a total of 8)...so please don't entirely mislead others. New grads with little clinical experience, it may pose a problem, but for most of us with many years experience it is basically not an issue where we went to school--as long as we have that CA RN license.

And on a quick note...those EC students who brag about getting the program done fast, that is really dumb!!! The program should be about LEARNING not speed. I guess this is a downfall of Excelsior as well, the hurry up to finish and not really study to learn concept. Excelsior is what you make it. I studied to learn with time not being a high factor in completion.

Missy

[Law of Fives]

You had me until you said:

People who are not LPn's or paramedics should not do this program

[pedinurse05]

You had me until you said:

This is my opinion--we all are entilted to one. I think you NEED that type of clinical experience to be a safe nurse in this type of program.

[Law of Fives]

Yup, your opinion. Fortunate for me and the numerous other nonLPN/Paramedic EC grads that you don't create the school's operating policy.

[pedinurse05]

Yup, your opinion. Fortunate for me and the numerous other nonLPN/Paramedic EC grads that you don't create the school's operating policy.

This is why some people question the school. Many nonLPN/Paramedic students doing the program. I know of no other bridge programs that accept nonLPN/Paramedic students to bridge to RN except Excelsior(safely). This doesn't seem right to me because you NEED those kind of skills to perform as a new grad RN. Sure you can take and pass the exams and CPNE, but hitting the floor without prior clinical knowledge could indeed be the proper ingredients for a potential disaster. Note I said potential not will happen.

[Law of Fives]

Total of 14 years as a registered respiratory therapist. Trained in every critical care unit (Neonatal, Pediatric & Adult), ER, Neonatal Transport Team, Rapid Response Team. Two years of Medical School, 9 months research emphasizing hemodynamics for Anesthesiology department at University of Texas.

See, so your nonLPN/Paramedic stance cannot be applied generally/accross the board. It is a very similar approach that those that totally oppose nontraditional nursing programs because it doesn't have clinical exposure. Some people just don't need it.

Edit: Just for the record, pedinurse05 asked for my clinical experience prior to their edit. I only offered it in response to their request.

[Law of Fives]

You edited your post. Allow me to reply to your addition:

hitting the floor without prior clinical knowledge could indeed be the proper ingredients for a potential disaster.

So, LPN/Paramedicine is the only way to get experience? Flawed premise produces a flawed argument.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

There's a lot to be said for clinical knowledge.

[Law of Fives]

Not denying that, Marie. But, there's more than one way to aquire what is requisite to be considered competent.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Compentent is also a matter of perception.