Im and LPN who wants to become an RN! Whats the deal with Excelsior???

NursePooda · Jun 30, 2011

ok sounds good. i've already applied and sent off my transcripts. all are my prereq are done. i'm just waiting on the next step. which study materials should i focus on? i've been reading that studygroup101 and the ec practice exams are great help. is there anything else i should consider to help pass these exams on the first round?

-pooda:tku: in advance!

SETXLVN · Jul 2, 2011

ok sounds good. i've already applied and sent off my transcripts. all are my prereq are done. i'm just waiting on the next step. which study materials should i focus on? i've been reading that studygroup101 and the ec practice exams are great help. is there anything else i should consider to help pass these exams on the first round?
-pooda:tku: in advance!

you can take some of the nursing exams without being enrolled. i can't remember right at the moment which ones they are but wouldn't mind looking if needed. of all the research i've done on ec and how to study: i have gathered saunders comprehensive nclex review, studygroup101, and the 2 practice exams(taking one before you start to study and on the week of your exam). if you come across some other studying tatics please fill me in. i plan to apply and send off my transcript next week now that my summer is calming down a bit. my email is [email protected] lets keep in touch and tackle this marathon! :clown:

also on an earlier post i believe the wait times are an estimate of 5-7 months but you can but put on a list for when there are cancelations. good luck on your journey to becoming a rn :nurse:

savagetrojan · Jul 3, 2011

You can take Health Safety and Transitions to the RN exams prior to enrolling and I would highly recommend that. You never know if this is something you will be comfortable with. This can be done in less than a year. I started taking exams on March 25th and have SEVEN completed. I have to take some time off due to family issues so I haven't finished the last exam which will make me FCCA/CPNE eligible. So, with a family of 8...yes I said EIGHT...two adult daughters, two one year old grand daughters, a 19 year old son and a 12 year old son, a wife that also wants my attention and a full time job. IMHO if you have been a LPN for more than a few years and paid attention to your surroundings I would say you have at least 60% of the knowledge already. Just add some deeper knowledge and learn to be a critical thinker and it's not that difficult. THOUSANDS have done it and THOUSANDS more will do it. None are more special than any other so YOU can do this too. Good Luck

BarbaraNM, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2011

You can take Health Safety and Transitions to the RN exams prior to enrolling and I would highly recommend that. You never know if this is something you will be comfortable with. This can be done in less than a year. I started taking exams on March 25th and have SEVEN completed. I have to take some time off due to family issues so I haven't finished the last exam which will make me FCCA/CPNE eligible. So, with a family of 8...yes I said EIGHT...two adult daughters, two one year old grand daughters, a 19 year old son and a 12 year old son, a wife that also wants my attention and a full time job. IMHO if you have been a LPN for more than a few years and paid attention to your surroundings I would say you have at least 60% of the knowledge already. Just add some deeper knowledge and learn to be a critical thinker and it's not that difficult. THOUSANDS have done it and THOUSANDS more will do it. None are more special than any other so YOU can do this too. Good Luck

Damn, Savagetojan... that is really impressive! I knew you had completed a lot of exams in a short time, but didn't realize you had such a large family, too!! You can be our 'poster child' for INSPIRATION!! :) :yeah:

nursetaminator · Jul 4, 2011

Wait time for CPNE depends on a lot of things. My application was approved March 24th and I got confirmation for my date (October 14th) on June 15th. I said I'd be ready to test Oct 1 so they were waiting for the nurses October schedule to come out.

Try not to register as a student with EC until you've got all your basic requirements out of the way bc it will save you money.

And yes, don't do like I did and sign up with a publisher (RUE) bc you'll throw away thousands of dollars. You can either search online for used books (ebay, half.com) or use books you already have. Fundamentals of Nursing is a great one. The EC study guide for each exam will tell you what you need to study. Personally I think the exams are pretty easy, if you study.

CPNE is a lot of work and yes, you have to do everything exactly as they want. But it's basic nursing care. I'm in the thick of studying now so hopefully all will go ok! But don't worry about CPNE until it's time.

This is a great group and very helpful. There are some groups on facebook and yahoo. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. If you set your mind to doing this it's a great program. But you have to be self motivated and want this really bad. It is a lot of work. I love it bc I could work full time and continue school. Plus I HATE going to classes.

Good luck!

cheltoe · Jul 6, 2011

hey,

just wanted to throw in my 2cents, i know i always appreciated it when people who had actually finished posted encouragement!

i started in october 2009 then finished october 2010 after being an lpn for 1 year. i worked part time and used study guide 101. i took the cpne in mansfield, ohio. (excellent site). i took lynn's workshop and used rob's videos. one thing i was disapointed in was saunders rn nclex comprehensive review. the questions were about 10x easier than the actual nclex. i would not recomend it.

excelsior is difficult, but it is doable. hang in there.

NursePooda · Dec 14, 2011

hey,
just wanted to throw in my 2cents, i know i always appreciated it when people who had actually finished posted encouragement!
i started in october 2009 then finished october 2010 after being an lpn for 1 year. i worked part time and used study guide 101. i took the cpne in mansfield, ohio. (excellent site). i took lynn's workshop and used rob's videos. one thing i was disapointed in was saunders rn nclex comprehensive review. the questions were about 10x easier than the actual nclex. i would not recomend it.
excelsior is difficult, but it is doable. hang in there.

sounds good. thanks for the advice!

dollbaby · Dec 14, 2011

I did the LPN to RN program through Excelsior College and it was a wonderful experience. I had to sign the waiver about my state BON may not accept my degree and I also called my BON before enrolling. They tried to discourage me from enrolling in EC and warned me that I may have difficulty being licensed in my state. I enrolled anyway and it was the best decision I have ever made. I got a first class education and now I am a Registered Professional Nurse and my state BON accepted my education and prior hospital experience as sufficient to become licensed in my state. EC is the best school and the advisors help guide you all the way 'from start to finish'.

bubbles907 · Sep 3, 2012

i have so many question i would love to talk with someone regarding this i live in westchester i am an lpn and want to enroll but i am very nervous. Is there anyone in the area or even nyc? if i enroll id like to get some study buddies so we can help eachother :)

Bellaoscar · May 8, 2013

Hi bubbles,

Did you apply already? I live in NY

msa9179 · May 9, 2013

I know this is an old post, but I will chime in.... I completed my LVN-RN transition through Excelsior in 2011. It took me 14 months, including the time to study and take the CPNE. I live in Texas, and traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for my CPNE. I passed the CPNE in one attempt with no fails/repeats. Meanwhile, I worked two jobs and have a wife and kids. I did most of my studying at my home health job at night when I had lots of down time. Without Excelsior, I would still be an LVN, as I still have to work two jobs and have never been in a position to go back to a traditional classroom program since LVN school years ago. However, success in Excelsior requires absolute self discipline and motivation. I know a lot of people who started and have never finished because they are not disciplined enough to do the work. There are no deadlines set for you, and nobody is going to call and check on you to make sure you are making progress. You are on your own. The CPNE is crazy stressful, and requires extensive preparation, but is do-able. I have been an RN now for almost two years, and my primary job is ICU/Telemetry and I still do Home Health on the side. I make a ton more money than I did as an LVN. I LOVE Excelsior. hope this helps anybody who is questioning Excelsior.

g8sushma, ASN, BSN, MSN · May 9, 2013

All LPN-RN programs have good and bad aspects. I am a currently enrolled Excelsior College (EC) LPN-RN student. I am just about ready to take my final exam which is the CPNE. Here are some easy answers for you:
First and FOREMOST - Be sure your state BON accepts EC graduates. Follow this link: State Board Requirements - excelsior.edu
If your state does not accept EC graduates, I recommend a different method to obtain your RN. There are ways to get around state requirements, but why bother.
If your state BON does accept EC grads, here is my advice. EC is expensive, confusing, time consuming, and like a maze to get through sometimes. You do have a clinical exam at the very end, that is 100% pass/fail, meaning you must pass with 100% accuracy, no mistakes. The CPNE is very intimidating, and expensive. You are allowed to retake the CPNE 3x's at FULL cost ($2025) each time. If you do not pass after your 3rd try, you are out of the program. That means all your money is gone, mainly because most local schools will not accept EC credits to gain entry into their LPN-RN programs. You will have spent over $10K and end up with nothing.
That being said...If you choose EC, you will get the most bang for your buck with them over local schools. All of your exams (credits) are done by exam only. That means no sitting in class, no giving presentations, no on campus time lost, no working class into your already busy schedule. You are expected to study for each exam, and pass each exam with a C or better. D or F will not earn the credits. You CAN retake any exam you need to, if you get a D or a F. You just have to pay for each one again (abt $250 each).
Yes EC is expensive. But so are traditional nsg schools. If you pass everything first try, and enroll with at least a few college credits (EC took all of my 10+ year old college credits), EC is less expensive than most other LPN-RN programs. EC provides you with free study material for each exam, and paid practice exams for each exam. I also used internet to help me study. EC does offer scholarships, I got $1000 credit to use towards exams. But no Pell Grants, or federal assistance because it is online.
DO NOT USE RUE or COLLEGE NETWORK or anyone else trying to get you to use them as an agent for EC. I did and it was a costly mistake . All information you need, you can get directly from EC, and any tips you need for studying for an exam, you can get from us at Allnurses.com :hug: .
EC is NO EASIER than traditional nsg school. It just works better for some of us because of time and family constraints. It can be done, and when you finish and pass NCLEX, your education is accepted everywhere, just as any other RN's education is accepted.
It has taken me 3 years to finish, and I am scared poopless about taking the CPNE. But you know what? I did it. I am almost to the finish line. I am almost a graduate RN (once I pass CPNE)! Compared to going to tradition nsg school, I am glad I choose EC !

How did you get the scholarship?