"Its a Scam"

[emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

   I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say this over the years, that Excelsior's nursing school is a scam.  And for a hot second I actually started to believe this.  

  But.............  And there is always the but.   Tonight, at 19:00 EST, I have to go to work. As an RN. For my first floor shift as a Registered Nurse. Did I think this day would ever come???  Maybe a few times , when I first started the Excelsior ADN program. But after the enthusiasm of beginning I started to realize something. This is not 'The Easy Way' and 'This is NOT the quick way'.  Quite the opposite. Was it easy?????? No, no it wasn't. I had to take many classes and many exams. But, after many heartaches, and many many doubts (mostly me of myself), here I am sitting in my living room, typing this message to all of you good people.   6 hours and 40 minutes until my shift starts. Years of studying, taking tests, paying tuition, and alot of time away from my family, here I am.

   There are some on Allnurses that I met about 6 years ago, when I first registered here, and there are a few that I still have contact with (some that I still want to have contact with but I cannot track them down online (not active on allnurses anymore)).

   Allnurses.com has pretty much been the only forum website that I belong to and have looked for advice from.  

    There is one that has been my biggest cheerleader, even when I lost hope in myself of ever graduating, that has rooted for me.   You know who you are. And I would love to meet you one day in person. 

    Im rambling, im sorry .  I just feel like that today I am opening a huge door , a door I never thought I would be able to get open, and a whole new life is waiting for me on the other side of the door.

    So, everyone that is in Excelsiors program, keep at it. It can be very daunting but it is within grasp and don't let anyone tell you cannot do it!!!

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Good luck on your first shift and savor the honeymoon! My first night as an RN was one I’ll never forget: here is your assignment and your patients are that way. Come to think of it, every shift I’ve had in acute care was just like that?Oh well...? 

Congratz on riding the wave to the shore! ?‍♂️ 

[BarbaraNM, ASN, RN]

That’s awesome! And CONGRATS on graduating and your first shift as a RN!! I followed the same path….Paramedic since 1989, started EC in 2012, graduated 2014 and started working as an OR Nurse in 2015. Only regret is not doing it sooner. 
 

Sending you best wishes for a long and fulfilling career. Excelsior has made it possible for so many of us.