Is a degree from excelsior.edu worth anything?

Nurses General Nursing

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I just heard about this online college and I just want to know what others think about it. I've always been skeptical about online degrees, but since I'm desperate I'll take what I can get. I don't really feel like being on the waiting list for two years before I finally get into the nursing program for another two years.

Anyway. Does it matter if you graduate this college instead of an actual college? In other words, is it any harder to get a job with an online degree.

I know I haven't done my research, but it's midnight and I'm too lazy to read anything in its unabridged version.

Thanks.

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Stuff like that just scares the bejeebers out of me. I'm a fairly quick study but I have no idea how you can replace hundreds of clinical hours with 3 days. Yikes.

That is not crrect either

https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_pageid=57,265063&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

BTW:

School of Nursing Admission Policy

pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gif Excelsior College nursing degree programs have been specifically designed to meet the educational needs of qualified individuals with significant background and/or experience in clinically oriented health care disciplines. All prospective nursing students must submit an application for admission to the School of Nursing.

Each program has revised admission requirements, effective September 1, 2006, as noted below:

pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gifAssociate Degree Programs

Admission to our associate degree nursing programs is open to:

  • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses,
  • paramedics,
  • military service corpsmen,
  • individuals who hold degrees in clinically oriented health care fields in which they have had the opportunity to provide direct patient care (e.g., physicians, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants).

Also, individuals who have successfully completed at least 50 percent of the clinical nursing credit hours in an associate, baccalaureate, or RN diploma nursing program may be eligible for the program if they apply within 5 years of completing their last nursing course. The necessary documentation, such as copies of licenses, certificates, and official transcripts must be submitted with the admissions application.

The Undergraduate Application for Admission (online and PDF) identifies required supporting documentation required for admission by each category of applicant as well as additional admissions criteria.

pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gif pobtrans.gifBachelor Degree Program

The Bachelor of Science in nursing or RN to MS in nursing degree programs are open to students

  • who have successfully completed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and
  • have a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the United States.

This isn't open to just anyone.

Actually that is not correct. This is the DEFINITION of profession and nurses DEFINITELY fit...

pro-fes-sion (prə-fĕsh'ən)audio.gif

noun

    • An occupation or career: "One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan)
    • An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
    • The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field: members of the teaching profession.

[*] An act or instance of professing; a declaration.

[*] An avowal of faith or belief.

[*] A faith or belief: believers of various professions.

Nope. Close but no cigar.

Admission to our associate degree nursing programs is open to:

  • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses,
  • paramedics,
  • military service corpsmen,
  • individuals who hold degrees in clinically oriented health care fields in which they have had the opportunity to provide direct patient care (e.g., physicians, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants).

But as I stated above in Florida you have to have prior LPN license or obtained your license with this school and worked in another jurisdiction for 2 years. Each state sets its own guidelines as to what they will and won't accept in the licensing area. Personally, I would not spend my time and money on a school that might or might not allow me to do the job I want to do. Still the best bet is to contact your states BON and MAKE SURE and have it in writing what they will and won't accept. Personally, I would be remiss to say that I would be comfortable not having the hours in clinicals. We, at our school, spend 22-30 hours per week for 16 months in clinicals. Still when graduate nurses leave there is still apprehension. I cannot personally imagine not having this hands-on experience. Those are some brave people who are comfortable with it. God bless em indeed.

Excelsior was an option to me as an HM. I chose to go to a state university instead. I believed that I had holes in my knowledge base that would best be filled with additional preparation offered by my school.

That said, I think that students need to go to schools that meet their needs as individuals. Well prepared paramedics/EMTS/Corpsman/LPNs all can benefit from a program similar to excelsior because they have received training in other venues as well as exposure to life experiences.

I have worked with and been exposed to nurses my entire life. (Some of the best nurses I know are LPN's and they are worthy of respect because they know their business.)

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Admission to our associate degree nursing programs is open to:

  • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses,
  • paramedics,
  • military service corpsmen,
  • individuals who hold degrees in clinically oriented health care fields in which they have had the opportunity to provide direct patient care (e.g., physicians, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants).

But as I stated above in Florida you have to have prior LPN license or obtained your license with this school and worked in another jurisdiction for 2 years. Each state sets its own guidelines as to what they will and won't accept in the licensing area. Personally, I would not spend my time and money on a school that might or might not allow me to do the job I want to do. Still the best bet is to contact your states BON and MAKE SURE and have it in writing what they will and won't accept. Personally, I would be remiss to say that I would be comfortable not having the hours in clinicals. We, at our school, spend 22-30 hours per week for 16 months in clinicals. Still when graduate nurses leave there is still apprehension. I cannot personally imagine not having this hands-on experience. Those are some brave people who are comfortable with it. God bless em indeed.

We are required as Paramedics to have TONS of hands on clinicals in the hospital and on the street before even being able to test for Paramedic Cert/license and I know for the Medics 5 years street time to even get in to the program. Plus "I" as a Medic and REQUIRED to hold all education while many RNs are not even required to have CEUs. We even had to RETEST every 3 years to hold our license( finally did away with that B.S. after years) and still have all CEUs and Certs on top of that, so please do not dismiss us as not having "Clinical skills" So we have the skills and clinicals and I sure know the LPN'S I work with and who are in the classes do too, I have seen it in action.

We are required as Paramedics to have TONS of hands on clinicals in the hospital and on the street before even being able to test for Paramedic Cert/license and I know for the Medics 5 years street time to even get in to the program. Plus "I" as a Medic and REQUIRED to hold all educatiopn while many RNs are not even required to have CEUs. We even had to RETEST every 3 years to hold our license and still have all CEUs and Certs on top of that, so please do not dismiss us as not having "Clinical skills" So we have the skills and clinicals and I sure know the LPN'S I work with and who are in the classes do too, I have seen it in action.

I don't dismiss your knowledge or clinical hours and skills as an EMT. I am just saying for me personally, as I stated, I want those hands on hours is all, to make me feel more like I am competent to treat patients, that's all. Nothing against anyone for the decisions they make for themselves. I respect ANYONE in the medical field. It is easy to get caught up in the "Well I am a _____" and forget just how many people it REALLY takes to care for patients. From EMTs to nurses to aids to doctors to IV teams to lab techs to housekeeping. It ALL matters. It all has significance and one of these days those who ride on there high horses will fall. I ABSOLUTELY meant no respect, I was just stating a personal preference for me.

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
I don't dismiss your knowledge or clinical hours and skills as an EMT. I am just saying for me personally, as I stated, I want those hands on hours is all, to make me feel more like I am competent to treat patients, that's all. Nothing against anyone for the decisions they make for themselves. I respect ANYONE in the medical field. It is easy to get caught up in the "Well I am a _____" and forget just how many people it REALLY takes to care for patients. From EMTs to nurses to aids to doctors to IV teams to lab techs to housekeeping. It ALL matters. It all has significance and one of these days those who ride on there high horses will fall. I ABSOLUTELY meant no respect, I was just stating a personal preference for me.

First off EMT and PARAMEDIC are two differnet things

Many Doctors and RNs can't seem to figure that out.

TV has not helped either.

I can't function without my EMT, well I can but who wants too?

Plus who says those folks going through do not have hands on? They just do not throw us at a ambulance and say "Here you go!" ( Maybe Sanford Brown but they did that with RNs too) We do not take EMTs, at all in school ( Excelsior) , you have to be a Paramedic.

But then I know some great EMTs with years worth of experance and no "P" behind their name and they can out think some RNs, read a pt like a book and give knowlage to a Medic in need. Do not dismiss someone for their education, you may be surprised.

You know Many RN schools said that about the Medics coming back from Vietnam, they were not"RN school" material, well Excelsior(Regents a REAL building )took a chance on them when many of the RN schools were not, and they knocked the socks off some folks.

Just make sure to check with the BON, keep your mind open to others and yes, they are working on getting into only a "few" states.

You also might want to check out how many RNs in ICU are or were Paramedics, I know quite a few. We are trained to "think on our feet" we have no one when it is hitting the fan to fall back on till we get to the hospital, so I think I have the thinking part down.

Two of the most important variables are the individual's occupational background and their work ethic. I know of one disaster of a nurse that graduated from Excelsior...she was a former EMT who could not make the transition over into nursing. I actually wonder if she was an effective EMT as I think about it now. This woman could not perform a physical assessment, hang a IVPB, or chart effectively after 4 months of orientation.

Another point to ponder: I have been considering an online MSN...but, I have been told told in no uncertain terms by Nursing Faculty at two institutions in my area (both are 4-year universities) that the applicants having "online" degrees are not even considered...

Specializes in CCU, CVICU, ER.
can you prescribe? treat on your own without a physician's permission? if so, i agree with you. if not, sorry, you have a vocation.

and i am not offended. just amused at how impressed you are with yourself, and how thoroughly you have swallowed the "we are professionals" kool-aid.

i take exception to your statements. look up the definition of a profession first before you say an rn is not a professional. you also should look up the definition of a vocation, since that also means a profession. a vocation is an occupation, either professional or voluntary, that is carried out more for its altruistic benefit than for income. if you look at the license of an rn it says registered professional nurse. the license of an lpn says liscensed practical nurse. there is a difference. because i do not prescribe or treat without an md's orders does not mean i am not a professional. pt's, ot's and other healthcare professionals receive orders from md's as well, but i assure you physical therapists who have dpt degrees are professionals. as far as being impressed with myself, yes, i take great pride in the profession of nursing and i took great pride in my grades and education. i try to encourage fellow rn's to further their education and receive the compensation and respect they deserve. frankly, it sounds to me that you are discouraged with your own career. that is an issue only you can solve.

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Two of the most important variables are the individual's occupational background and their work ethic. I know of one disaster of a nurse that graduated from Excelsior...she was a former EMT who could not make the transition over into nursing. I actually wonder if she was an effective EMT as I think about it now. This woman could not perform a physical assessment, hang a IVPB, or chart effectively after 4 months of orientation.

Another point to ponder: I have been considering an online MSN...but, I have been told told in no uncertain terms by Nursing Faculty at two institutions in my area (both are 4-year universities) that the applicants having "online" degrees are not even considered...

Hi Poppa D

I hate to say it but I have seen RNs the same way. There are some in any profession and any school. Same way with MDs.

Preppygirl, you have no clue about my career or my education. I am waiting for a test date to take the clinical portion of my RN schooling and, even though my license will say "registered professional nurse," I will still not consider myself to be "a" professional. To act professionally, as I do now, yes. To be "a" professional, no.

We are not independent. We are subordinate. No bogus taxonomy of NANDA diagnoses can change that.

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