Indiana state University LPN/BSN or Excelsior College

MsPC · Apr 29, 2011

You would need to talk to both schools and see what they will accept. Just because you did the course elsewhere doesn't mean they will accept it. Also depending on what state you are in depends on which program will work best for you. Also consider if you are ever moving as some states won't accept graduates from those programs and you will have other challenges to face.

There is no one size fits all I know very little about ISU's program, but I'm in enrolled in Excelsior. I am in a state that does not accept excelsior, but I am working around that. Research both programs and make sure you find the best fit for you.

Hope that Helps

lizzyreg · Apr 29, 2011

I appreciate you which response, I got the prerequisites required by most schools from a City's community college and they are less than 5 years old so I believe the prerequisites will be accepted by most if not all schools. That being said, how long did has it taken you so far with EC, did you have your nursing prerequisites done before u started? I also understand that the program does not offer financial aid, is this true and did you have to pay all your fees upfront?

lizzyreg · Apr 29, 2011

Quick response, I meant to say.

Nervous1 · Apr 30, 2011

I appreciate you which response, I got the prerequisites required by most schools from a City's community college and they are less than 5 years old so I believe the prerequisites will be accepted by most if not all schools. That being said, how long did has it taken you so far with EC, did you have your nursing prerequisites done before u started? I also understand that the program does not offer financial aid, is this true and did you have to pay all your fees upfront?

Another perk of having an AA already is that it fulfills alot of the foundational studies at ISU (history, global/culture, foreign lang, literature, social science and a few others).

I'm getting my AA from Excelsior in Liberal studies and transferring the degree to ISU to satisfy that stuff inaddition to my LPN stuff.

MsPC · Apr 30, 2011

I appreciate you which response, I got the prerequisites required by most schools from a City's community college and they are less than 5 years old so I believe the prerequisites will be accepted by most if not all schools. That being said, how long did has it taken you so far with EC, did you have your nursing prerequisites done before u started? I also understand that the program does not offer financial aid, is this true and did you have to pay all your fees upfront?

I'm in the military and had lots of bumps in my studies. If I calculate how much time I have actually put into the program I would go with less than a year. Mind you that year was stretched out over many years due to orders, getting pregnant and having retinopathy related to a hypertensive crisis, moving, and well lots of what not mostly military interrupting things. Between January and now i've done about half of the program. I had and continued to do most of my pre-requisites through the community colleges so I could use my financial aid from that to help pay for Excelsior. You pay for things in advance because there is no financial aid. I'm actually still working on general eds, my micro and a&p through a community college. I wouldn't change the way I did that for anything. I did all but my sociology and the two mentioned before enrolling. You don't really pay everything up front you pay as you go. You pay for a test you take a test. You can pay for up to four at a time. I would still do the two exams you can before you register and then pay the registration fee. Then after you pay that fee you pay as you go. That fee kind of should act like a clock. Try to get done before your next annual fee is done. That saves you 500$ or so.

I think I answered everything if not let me know and I will get back to you. I am testing tomorrow so *if* I'm a good girl I won't be on much tonight.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · May 12, 2011

Hi there everyone, I am a LPN with an associate degree with almost every nursing prereq out there done. I just need advice and suggestions on either to go to Excelsior college or Indiana State University. Does anyone know how long it will take me in either colleges since I have an AA degree with all my prereqs out of the way. Please some one help.Thank you.

Time it takes to grad from Excelsior or ISU. It takes less time to graduate from Excelsior than from ISU. I believe Excelsior is an ADN degree and ISU is a BSN degree...which means that ISU's program will be much longer.

Here is what I know, and I am not thrilled. I have a bachelors and numerous AA degrees--which means I only need to take nursing classes. Even so, it will take 2.5 to 3 years (depending on whether there are summer classes for the classes I need) to graduate. As I said, I am not thrilled at the years it will take but Excelsior is not an option for me as my state will not recognize the program. Wish my state did recognize the program as I will be much older in 2.5 to 3 years and one never knows what will happen during those years...but then again, if I was not enrolled, those 2.5 to 3 years would pass either way.

AshSo · May 12, 2011

Ladyinscrubs... I am about to enter the program this fall and start nursing 208. I live in southern CA, Riverside area and my main concern is finding a clinical preceptor. From what I have found out it is very hard to find a clinical site. I spoke with Milli and she told me that i should not worry, but it is hard not to. I have never spoke with anyone that far into the program here in CA. Do you know if anyone here in Southern CA that is doing this program and able to find a clinical site.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · May 22, 2011

I have run across people on line who are about to finish the program. One is out in your area. I had someone fill in on a case that I am on and that person is about to graduate from the ISU DL program. However, I have not spoken to either of them directly. I am trying to get in touch with the person in my area hope to obtain more info. When I do, I will post what info I receive.

seasons · May 24, 2011

Hello LadyinScrubs, I'm was also considering ISU LPN/BSN on line. but jsut had a few questions, It would be very greatful if you could share what every info. you have...

1. At what point do I need to take the ATI/TEAS exam ? and where ?

2. The 4 challenge exams that are done on line, where or when do I schedule clinicals,lab ?

3. The two Transition and physical assessment courses, where or when do I schedule clinicals, lab?

4. If after 3 fails the RN brick mortor program is at ISU facility. Is that online still ?

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · May 25, 2011

hello ladyinscrubs, i'm was also considering isu lpn/bsn on line. but jsut had a few questions, it would be very greatful if you could share what every info. you have...

1. at what point do i need to take the ati/teas exam ? and where ? any time, but why waste money until you are certain you are ready to go forward into the isu program. if you have all your prerequisites done and are in the process of applying to isu to take the challenge exam, you are fairly certain that this is the time to take the ait exam. you take the exam through ati and it is a proctored exam. ati can tell you more about it and where to take the exam as well as the isu nursing dept. you can buy a studyguide from ati and make sure your study it as the test score will count. there are professional proctors, i.e., pearson, that can proctor you.

2. the 4 challenge exams that are done on line, where or when do i schedule clinicals,lab ? the 4 challenge exams are taken on line through the nursing department. you can take them at any time but it makes sense to take them after you have your prerequisites done. once you register with isu, get your student id, then contact the nursing dept about the challenge exams. you pay half up front, and isu must authorize you to pay the exam and they will cooperate with the registrars office. the challenge exams are a challenge of 4 courses. if you pass them, you do not have to take the courses. the challenge exams are only exams there is no clinical. the challenge exams must be proctored, and i have written about companies and colleges/universities who will proctor for a nominal fee.

3. the two transition and physical assessment courses, where or when do i schedule clinicals, lab? once you pass all 4 challenge exams and you have submitted all the nursing dept application paperwork, you will receive a letter from the nursing dept inviting you to attend the next class. when you accept, you will be given info by the dept on how to register. you then make the decision whether you want to take 2 courses or one--the transition course and/or the assessment course. only the assessment course has a lab, which you have to arrange a bsn nurse to observe you and help you understand how to do the week's assessment. once you get signed off of each week's assessment, you will do a long video of a complete physical assessment. the assessment course is done in your area and you must find a bsn to be your preceptor. essentially, the clinical is actually a lab and there is no real reason to have a bsn watch you learn to do the weekly assessment. the book is self explanatory but some need hands on help and this is what the bsn is for. by the time you have practiced and finally have a good assessment video, you will know how to do an assessment backwards and forwards.

4. if after 3 fails the rn brick mortor program is at isu facility. is that online still ? no, fail and you must take the classes at the brick and motor isu.

challenge exams: you will take one challenge exam at a time. you have 3 chances to pass and should you fail, you must pay the entire fee each time you take the exam. the fee is between $300-500. so, best advice is to not fail one of the challenge exams because it can be expensive, and you must wait one month between failing an exam and retaking it. you do not need to buy any tcn study guides but if you fail any challenge exam two times, you are mandated to buy the corresponding challenge exam study guide through tcn. if you fail any one of the challenge exams three times, you will not be given credit and must take the corresponding class at isu--there are no online classes. should you fail any one of the challenge exams, you will not be admitted into the lpn/lvn to bsn program until you pass the classes at isu.

seasons · May 27, 2011

Thank you sooo much LadyinScrubs for taking out time to explain this stuff.. But there is still one part I'm unclear about.

the assessment part.

1. How many weeks of assessment are there?

2. Who will supply the long physical assessment video?

3. Once I find a BSN and complete the assessment course, where do I get the paper work to be signed off.

will ISU send me the neccessary documents to take to the BSN to be completed?

4. Do I submitt them back to ISU for grading or do the BSN do a pass /fail type thing than i mail back to ISU ?

5. What does the ATI testing consist of ?