ISU or Excelsior

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I am a new LPN with a previous associates degree (another field) currently only about 20 credits from a bachelors degree....

My goal is to become and NP.... As far as time and money goes.... Should I do the ISU LPN to BSN program, or is is actually quicker and cheaper to to do the RN program at Excelsior and go on from there?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Excelsior might be quicker, but probably not by too much. I did Excelsior in just over a year, then took another year and a half for an RN-to-BSN program. The downside to Excelsior is that the degree is not recognized in all states, or some states require additional hours or stipulations for endorsement: https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/Accreditation_and_Licensure/State_Board_Requirements

If I could have gone straight to a BSN, I probably would have, but I was eligible for Excelsior as a paramedic, not as an LPN. I don't think there are any paramedic-to-BSN programs out there. :D

I think the total costs would be comparable in the long run, if you went LPN-BSN or LPN-RN-BSN. However, bear in mind that there are some ADN-to-MSN/NP programs out there as well; in that case, Excelsior might be the better choice, as long as your state BON recognizes the degree.

Welcome to allnurses! :)

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Thanks! After I posted I thought I should check out some ADN to MSN programs. As well as checking to see if they would take excelsior credits.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My friend Ivan (ivanh3) did the ADN-to-MSN with Graceland: http://www.graceland.edu/nursing/4777/. He is now an NP, and was an Excelsior grad. :)

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