hi everyone--I've been lurking and reading for a long time and it is finally, at long last, time for me to join you :typing
(I love these emoticons). Anyway I've been reading and admiring for a long time and following your stories.
Here's my background...I have 3 college degrees, the 3rd of which is my AAS in practical nursing, new as of this past May. I have 5 kids and live in rural Minnesota and just can't see driving to any of the Rn programs which are all at LEAST an hour one way (this past year, driving a half hour each way, was tough enough, with the need to work,etc).
Because of all my past coursework, the only general I have left is sociology, and I'm getting set to CLEP that.
Like most of you, I've gone back and forth on to do or not to do (Excelsior) and it always comes back to it just being the most logical choice. I'm also a VA employee--and they'll pay for it, and theoretically, they hire Excelsior RNs, too.
I'm concerned about being a new LPN and will only have about a year of LPN experience when I (hopefully) finish the excelsior program..........but it was a matter of weighing that with the cost and emotional difficulty of a year or two of torture for me and my family (driving to a traditional program while working full time, which I have to do). Any words of wisdom there? Every time I read these threads I get all encouraged and know I'm doing the right thing, so I'd really appreciate any encouragement you have to offer. I'm not concerned about my ability to complete the program--I know it will be a challenge, especially the CPNE, but I definately know how to take tests after all that school! Oh, and in case you are wondering..my BS is in biology, my MA is in management, and I've really never used either one...I worked for nonprofits and the state for 10 years, always in human services, and finally realized that it was just time to go ahead and do what I've always wanted to do, which is nursing--and besides it fits into my family much better (shift flexibility) and suits my temperament--and pays much better too
I guess I do have one real question right now, aside from asking for encouragement about going this route as a new LPN....that is, do you buy all of the textbooks recommended on the EC bookstore for each exam? The VA will pay my tuition but not my textbooks so I need to save as much as possible---I know to go the ebay route and have found a few good deals but just want to find out what has worked for many of you in terms of what books to purchase, what study guides were particularly helpful, etc.
Whew--that was a book--sorry!!! :imbar
Looking forward to meeting all of you regulars..............
Donuts
PS my husband is a baker.....thus the dorky screen name.
PSS edited to add---because of all the generals I've done, I'm going to go right on to BSN through a MN program that does RN to BSN at a distance and has monthly clinicals--I'm hoping this will offset some of the issues that can arise from the different clinical training excelsior offers. From what I understand--most traditional schools do accept the excelsior RN if you have your generals from brick and mortar schools...?
Don't forget to check in on the Minnesota Forum!!!
More and more Colleges and Community colleges are offering the RN Program online, I know that our community college does. before you do the EC thing Read the Georgia Forum. I almost did the EC route a couple of years ago. But so many classes were offered on line I was able to go thru the community college. (I worked Full time through the whole time LPN and RN) I did not want to limit where I was able to practice as my Hubby is getting close to retierment. One just never knows where life takes you.
I know I may get flamed for this but this is just my opinon.
Don't forget to check in on the Minnesota Forum!!!
More and more Colleges and Community colleges are offering the RN Program online, I know that our community college does. before you do the EC thing Read the Georgia Forum. I almost did went the EC route a couple of years ago. But so many classes were offered on line i was able to go thru the community college. (I worked Full time through the whole time LPN and RN) I did not want to limit where I was able to practice as my Hubby is getting close to retierment. one just never knows where life takes you.
I know I may get flamed for this but this is just my opinon.
Hey, you won't get flamed for reality.
Now, if you barge in here and announce, "Excelsior SUCKS!!" we might just have to, um, educate you a bit.
I do have a user account on excelsior...have for a long time...already accepted. That's how I was able to download the content guide to Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety. Already have taken all of my generals except for sociology, which I will CLEP soon; and did my research very thoroughly and am aware of the online options in Minnesota. They didn't work for a variety of reasons, for example one would mean a one year wait; one would mean I have to take a basic chemistry course when I already have a MINOR in it (because it's more than 7 years old), etc. I have thoroughly researched all of my options--------------this decision was not made lightly.
Suesquatch, that's where I go--where I have been going--but I don't see titles that match the titles of the courses I have to take--does that make sense? Where is "Essentials of Nursing Care: Chronicity" etc. That's not showing up on my list. This is too goofy.
PS To the other MN lady (GrannyRN?) just out of curiousity which online LPN to RN program did you do?
Donut--You will have to be enrolled to see all the nursing exams. Suesquatch is still enrolled (I presume!) even though she is one of our most recent EC success stories, and that is why she sees all the tests on her screen. Before you're enrolled, Donut, you can only see the exams you can take before you're enrolled. Once you are enrolled, you can see the whole shebang.
(Frickin A--now I have Ricky Martin music in my head, or is that William Hung?)
If you are already enrolled and I missed that, don't mind my chatter. My mind is toast today.
You didn't know I had a Ricky Martin song in my head? Or you didn't know that you had to be enrolled to see the disorganized glory of the EC publications page in its entirety? I'm just a wealth of information today.
Every time I read these threads I get all encouraged and know I'm doing the right thing, so I'd really appreciate any encouragement you have to offer. I'm not concerned about my ability to complete the program--I know it will be a challenge, especially the CPNE, but I definately know how to take tests after all that school! Oh, and in case you are wondering..my BS is in biology, my MA is in management, and I've really never used either one...I worked for nonprofits and the state for 10 years, always in human services, and finally realized that it was just time to go ahead and do what I've always wanted to do, which is nursing--and besides it fits into my family much better (shift flexibility) and suits my temperament--and pays much better too 
:yeah:
:bow:
deleern
510 Posts
Don't forget to check in on the Minnesota Forum!!!
More and more Colleges and Community colleges are offering the RN Program online, I know that our community college does. before you do the EC thing Read the Georgia Forum. I almost did the EC route a couple of years ago. But so many classes were offered on line I was able to go thru the community college. (I worked Full time through the whole time LPN and RN) I did not want to limit where I was able to practice as my Hubby is getting close to retierment. One just never knows where life takes you.
I know I may get flamed for this but this is just my opinon.