Lpn To Rn Online In Michigan...

erinp88 · Mar 3, 2008

I wanted desperately to complete the LPn to RN program through KVCC.. Unfortunately, I didn't complete my pre reqs in time to start this past year. I ended up going with Excelsior. Now I kind of wish I would've done the LPN to BSN through TCN/Indiana State Univ. Oh well! I'll be done within almost everything (except the CPNE) in 6 months. I finally decided an RN is an RN and if I get mine through Excelsior......it is what it is.

elfaygobaca · Mar 14, 2008

My sister looked into the online Excelsior program last year. At the time she was employed by St. Mary's in Grand Rapids. She asked the HR people there what they thought of the online programs, Excelsior in particular, and they said that they do NOT hire graduates from them as a rule. So, she called Spectrum Health and Metro, the other big hospital/healthcare organizations in town here and got the same answer from them. Now, this is Grand Rapids, and I obviously don't know about how other areas of Michigan feel about these programs, but I would check around first before you enroll and spend even a dime of your own money. Also, and I'm not saying this to talk smack about Excelsior in general, but the counselor she had met with was veeery hard to get a hold of after my sister left a message that she wanted to talk about refunding whatever money she had deposited, and was due back. Just one person's experience, but it was kinda shifty. She went to the office a half an our early for the appointment and the lady was actually locking up and going home.

Texs · Mar 14, 2008

THANKS for the information; your sister's experience does indeed sound unfortunate and the person with whom she dealt a bit suspect.

I just learned that the (Excelsior) clinicals can be difficult to pass unless the student has had the opportunity to gain experience in a real-life setting. In addition, the clinical testing is only done in a few places throughout the country and the waiting period to be scheduled for testing-out can take a long time.

I will have to think hard about going forward with Excelsior and I thank you for taking the time to give me the heads-up. The only other online option I know of is ISU and I am still getting info. about them.

Regards,

TEXS

Earthygal · Mar 18, 2008

I'm in the OCC LPN program at the moment...perhaps we know each other? Don't forget that OCC will only allow it's grads into the transition program every even year! Currently that means grads of 08 can't start until 10. :banghead: I'm looking into Henry Ford Comm. College...but theirs is a traditional setting, not online. I think the only prereq that OCC doesn't offer/require is Developmental psych.

Hope this helps, best of Luck!

rehab nurse · Mar 18, 2008

As far as Excelsior, I graduated from their program and I also have friends who graduated from their program. None of them have had any difficulty getting hired in the SE lower michigan area. I am surprised such a large city as Grand Rapids and others are having such negative views of Excelsior?

I also know that each and every nurse, no matter where they graduate from, can cause positive and negative impressions about a school that last in people's minds for a long time. I have also found that some people who hire have absolutely NO knowledge of Excelsior and how the program works, and therefore just didn't hire them. Sad, but true.

Is there any way you can get a syllabus and see how much material is covered in the "online" program you are considering??? Just because someone says "it's hard" doesn't mean you couldn't do it. I can't tell you how many people told me I would never make it through an advanced, 24 credit a semester LPN program. I did. I also had many people tell me I wouldn't make it through Excelsior or the CPNE. I did, with an excellent GPA, I might add. I would look into what exactly the course entails, how many subjects, etc, before taking other's words as gold.

Also, Excelsior isn't really "online". You study independently, however you want. Some people buy all new books that are recommended and buckle down and read every page. Others look at the content guide (syllabus) and google the information and research it and take notes. Everyone learns different. Still others used Saunders along with their LPN books and had to buy a few used books on ebay or amazon to supplement their reading. You know best how you learn. Are you a note taker? A card maker? Do you type your notes onto a computer? Etc.

Excelsior is also set up that for when you are finished studying and ready for your exam, you go to a Prometric/Sylvan test center and take a proctored exam. Very similar to NCLEX testing. You are in a little cubicle and are videotaped, all you have is your computer in front of you and either scratch paper or a dry erase board. I believe some people think Excelsior is "correspondence" type school in which you take exams at home and mail them in....etc. NOT TRUE. This type of testing sounds similar to the way your school of choice does their "tests". They probably have a system set up for proctored exams at either a learning facility like Sylvan/Prometric or at their own institution.

Either way, whatever program you choose, you CAN do it. As a LPN, you have so much knowledge already. Supplement it and you will be an RN, no matter which program you pick. Good luck and let us know what you choose and how it works for you.

Texs · Mar 18, 2008

Thanks for the advice regarding Excelsior; I just am not sure how to proceed but would like to get there as quickly as possible so I need to do some more research. I think once I have a job as an LPN perhaps

I can find some help from those with whom I work in order to prepare for clinicals or to find preceptors. I am hoping to find a position in TX but am currently living in MN so once I know I passed the NCLEX I can start looking in earnest.

By the way, if the machine stops beyond 85 on the NCLEX--PN, say at around 95 or so, does it mean you did not pass?

Thanks again,

Texs

erinp88 · Mar 24, 2008

My sister looked into the online Excelsior program last year. At the time she was employed by St. Mary's in Grand Rapids. She asked the HR people there what they thought of the online programs, Excelsior in particular, and they said that they do NOT hire graduates from them as a rule. So, she called Spectrum Health and Metro, the other big hospital/healthcare organizations in town here and got the same answer from them. Now, this is Grand Rapids, and I obviously don't know about how other areas of Michigan feel about these programs, but I would check around first before you enroll and spend even a dime of your own money. Also, and I'm not saying this to talk smack about Excelsior in general, but the counselor she had met with was veeery hard to get a hold of after my sister left a message that she wanted to talk about refunding whatever money she had deposited, and was due back. Just one person's experience, but it was kinda shifty. She went to the office a half an our early for the appointment and the lady was actually locking up and going home.

I live in the GR area and haven't heard that, but kind of expected it. I do know of a lot of LPN's that are going this route because of the waiting list issues and in a nutshell, the local LPN programs screw you over.

In January I started freaking out about completing the Excelsior program and called for a refund.. They refused to refund my money because I had an official transcript review. My husband doesn't understand the logistics and assumed since we had already given Excelsior $1000, I needed to stay enrolled. I myself was ready to eat the $1000 and try to get into the KVCC program again...

At this point, I really don't care if I ever work in a hospital again. I enjoy my weekends and holidays off working for the school system and would be more than happy to work in physicians office. There are probably ways to get into to Spectrum...i.e. get a job at Kent Community and transfer over. Who knows? If they want nurses bad enough, then hopefully they will consider hiring Excelsior grads in the future..

However, Excelsior is a good program for some people. If you review the student distance forum, it is widely accepted and praised.

elfaygobaca · Mar 25, 2008

I live in the GR area and haven't heard that, but kind of expected it. I do know of a lot of LPN's that are going this route because of the waiting list issues and in a nutshell, the local LPN programs screw you over.

I went to Olympia for my LPN, and am perfectly happy with the program, for what it's worth there. Not had any problems with jobs or anything. My only ***** was with the school itself, not the specific program, if that made sense. But I do highly recommend it.

As for the GR area, I think a lot of places aren't hiring from Excelsior, etc because we have so many nursing programs churning out so many nurses here already. My friend lives on the other side of the state, and his want ads are easily 4 times the size of ours here for nursing jobs. And no real waiting periods for the nursing programs. I'm half tempted to move there for a few years and go to OCC.

And you are exactly right, rehab nurse, about already knowing so much as LPN's. I am determined to go back to school one way or another. I always say that LPN's are 3/4 of the way to RN's anyway.

erinp88 · Mar 25, 2008

I went to Olympia for my LPN, and am perfectly happy with the program, for what it's worth there. Not had any problems with jobs or anything. My only ***** was with the school itself, not the specific program, if that made sense. But I do highly recommend it.
As for the GR area, I think a lot of places aren't hiring from Excelsior, etc because we have so many nursing programs churning out so many nurses here already. My friend lives on the other side of the state, and his want ads are easily 4 times the size of ours here for nursing jobs. And no real waiting periods for the nursing programs. I'm half tempted to move there for a few years and go to OCC.
And you are exactly right, rehab nurse, about already knowing so much as LPN's. I am determined to go back to school one way or another. I always say that LPN's are 3/4 of the way to RN's anyway.

That's great that you are happy with Olympia's program! However, if you want to get into an RN program, you have to start from square one. Same with GRCC's. You do have the option of "testing out" of some courses and paying a portion of that tuition. Every other program at the CC level in the state of MIchigan is laddered.. except for GRCC's. That is what I meant how you're SOL when you complete an LPN program here in GR. It sucks for those who want to go on.

As far as nursing programs turning out nurses - the failure and drop out rate is unreal. Spectrum has 93 openings, so obviously nurses aren't being cranked out fast enough. Pay is poor and the majority of nurses I know working in the hospital, are not happy (NOT speaking for everyone!)

I do know that Kalamazoo and Muskegon hire Excelsior grads and pay significantly more than the GR area. I think the GR area is very conservative with a lot of their health care decisions too.

star.crush · Mar 30, 2008

I dont understand why would they be so picky about the license as long as its legit.

lizinlanse · Apr 14, 2010

"I just learned that the (Excelsior) clinicals can be difficult to pass unless the student has had the opportunity to gain experience in a real-life setting. In addition, the clinical testing is only done in a few places throughout the country and the waiting period to be scheduled for testing-out can take a long time. "

I hope this isn't true. After all the point of taking the courses online is to be able to work at home. I'd be furious if I found out my test outs were in someplace like Iowa...and I live in Michigan!

Anne36, LPN · Apr 14, 2010

This thread is 2 years old now. Does anyone have new info? Is there anyone who is in the OCC LPN program right now? If so, I have a few questions I would like to PM someone if you dont mind.