Is the ADN program at Excelsior Easy/Hard if you study daily

Jo Dirt · Jul 20, 2008

I went through Excelsior. If you like a lot of alone time it will be good for you.

The hardest part, by far, is the clinical, because there is no room for error before you can be sent back and lose all your money.

I think that is the big joke with Excelsior. Yes, the clinical is hard, but it's hard for the wrong reasons.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2008

If memory serves me, you can't enroll in an Excelsior program unless you have completed a minimum amount of clinical/classroom time in a conventional nursing program. A few years back, I knew it was at least two semesters, maybe three, completed before you could do Excelsior. Is this still the same? I know it was originally designed for those with medical experience in other areas to get a nursing license (such as EMT, paramedics, etc). It isn't designed to teach you nursing from the ground up.

I wouldn't expect it to be easy, not from what I've heard anyway. It's perhaps more convenient, but I used to know an instructor who tested students on skill evals at Excelsior and she was saying how much tougher it was than the students had expected. Students who study daily in traditional programs tend not to find their nursing programs easy either, so I wouldn't think that it mattered if you studied daily...you'd have to do that anyway just to survive the schooling.

I don't know that you'd be getting a better education at Excelsior (by the way, the instructor I mentioned ALSO taught at the local CC!); perhaps you should look into another school (not Excelsior)? Is there another college in your area?

Lastly, consider that Excelsior is not accepted everywhere as a valid nursing education. In NY it's accredited to allow you to sit for NCLEX and practice in NY. The problem may come in when/if you go to work in another State, and find you can't get your license endorsed there because you haven't graduated from an acceptable school. Just food for thought...I don't know where you might go in life! :)

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 20, 2008

Thread moved to the Distance Learning forum to encourage more responses.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 21, 2008

It's not an easy program, in my opinion. If I could have done a traditional program, would I have done so? Sure. I love being in a classroom! But it wasn't feasible for me, so I did Excelsior. You have to have completed a certain amount of nursing school, as someone else mentioned, or already be an LPN, RT, or Paramedic (among other things). The admission policy is here:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/School_of_Nursing_Admission_Policy

It was tough, but I'm glad I did it. :)

dakotadixie · Jul 21, 2008

Thanks for your replies. I have 3 out of 4 semesters done already in the clinical part for nursing. So that part is no problem. As for classroom time many times with the college I have been attending I end up teaching myself and that is why I am looking at this. I have to drive one hour one way for school and with the cost of gas....there has got to be a better way. I found myself studying for a minimum of 8-10 hours a day 7 days a week not including drive time and classroom time and getting burned out. For the last semester of clinicals I would be driving 1 1/2 hours to over 2 hours one way. I guess I know it is not going to be easy but it can't be any harder then what I am doing now. I have worked in the medical field for over 6 years so I have had a lot of patient contact.

Other school choices are not much better around here so I don't know what I should do..

So what do you think?

Dakotadixie

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 21, 2008

So are you one semester away from being finished, or how close are you to being done? If you're that close to finishing, I'd stick it out. I understand about the driving time ... I did the same thing in paramedic school. I lived 50 to 75 miles from my clinical sites, and had to reach them in DC rush hour traffic. Ugh.

Also, be aware that you will have to retake all the nurses classes with Excelsior, so you'd be starting all over again. That, too, is a significant expense.

I think your best bet would be to get your application in ASAP so EC can evaluate your credits and tell you what you'd need. That way you can weigh the costs/benefits and see which way you want to go.

dakotadixie · Jul 21, 2008

Well I have one semester of full classes and one class for another semester left. I am very unhappy with the instrutors. I think I had mentioned earlier that the instructors are not good. I have taught myself most of the way and I feel that I am not getting a good education. I just don't know what to do.

erinp88 · Jul 21, 2008

I would keep going with the regular school if you're that close. If I even had a chance of getting into a regular nursing program, I would have. In my area, Excelsior is not well respected and I from what I hear, the local hospitals as a general rule do not hire Excelsior grads.. Something I should've looked into prior to enrolling. I assumed that since I could take the NCLEX in Michigan, I'd be fine. An RN is an RN, right? However, at one of the hospitals, the postings for an RN state on it "Must have completed a traditional nursing program with at least 500 hours of clinical time."

So, stick it out, keep teaching yourself and you'll be done in 2 semesters!

Jo Dirt · Jul 21, 2008

If you're that close definitely stick it out the rest of the time, because Excelsior will be a lot harder than the remaining time you have left in school, I guarantee it.

akanini, MSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

I would definitely stick it out. You are so close. I understand what you said about the instructors but why quit now? I'm totally for EC and will do it myself so I'm not trying to knock the school. However, you are already IN a program. God forbid you don't pass the CPNE the first time, you will be set back.