I'm Considering Excelsior to finish my RN...any experts on them?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 18, 2008

It's very likely that you'll have to repeat all of the nursing courses; those usually don't transfer.

The big question: which state do you live in? EC isn't accepted in some states.

Melinurse · Oct 18, 2008

I was in my 4th semester of an ADN program when I started with EC. They took most of my nursing courses. I only had to do Nusing Concepts 3-6 and Foundations of Nursing Practice. Of course, there is the CPNE at the end too. They did accept all of my pre-reqs and pharm etc though. I think they audit everyones transcripts on an individual basis. Good luck! I just saw you have your 2 Fundamentals and 2 Lifespans, more than likely you may have to repeat one or two.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2008

Hooefull, I didn't see that you withdrew. I am so very sorry that you were driven to that.

What state are you in? Excelsior will definitely accept you with more than half of a traditional RN program completed, and you will probably not have to complete many gen eds, esp if you have Eng, Math, Soc.

There are 8 exams now, and there is, at the end, a 3 day hands-on clinical exam called the CPNE. They've added something called the FCCA, which was after my time.

But your state is vital.

justme1972 · Oct 19, 2008

The state I currently live in does not accept Excelsior, however, the state that we plan on moving to after graduation, does...as that is where I would apply to take my NCLEX.

I have talked to my husband and he agrees that it would be worth spending $75 on an application to Excelsior just to see.

A local hospital would permit me to sign up for their extern program (I have a good friend who is over the program) to do med/surg one day per week where that could kinda-sorta take the place of a live clinical that I otherwise would have got in school to keep up my skills.

I have one student in my nursing class that has worked at the local hospital as a tech for 14 years and she knows of one guy that just graduated this past May from Excelsior, and she is going to try to get us in touch with each other so I could see how it really works.

I have a ton more classes that I have completed besides the ones that I have listed when I went to this school in a college-prep program about 20 years ago. So I have had English, humanities courses, history, political science, Biology, etc.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 19, 2008

Sounds like you'd just have some of the nursing courses, then, and the FCCA and CPNE. :) Hopefully they'll waive a couple of the nursing courses for you! And credits never age for Excelsior -- doesn't matter that they're 20 years old.

Be aware that it takes a few weeks for transcript evaluation and to receive your unofficial evaluation, and if you're in a state where EC is not accepted, the school will have you sign a waiver of understanding to cover themselves.

I am so sorry you couldn't finish your current program.

Raggedy Ann · Oct 19, 2008

:hrns&wlcm:Good Luck to you as you go through this program! Traci

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2008

I loved it, Hopefull. I hated nursing school and evil instructors.

We're here for you. Virtual classmates and graduate advisors.

:)

Raggedy Ann · Oct 19, 2008

Like Sue said. This forum is a very encouraging site. We are like family and cyber classmates combined. Excelsior is the only way that many of us can complete our RN with the demands of school and family and work. Hope it works well for you. Again, Good Luck! Traci