LVN to RN programs: Excelsior

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2008

Post split into its own separate thread to accrue more replies.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 18, 2008

Welcome to the site! Sounds like a busy time for you!

Although EC offers Web resources for registration and preparation, the ADN program is not really online. Essentially, it's independent study, followed by exams that are taken at a testing center. In the RN-to-BSN program and the graduate programs, there is more actual online work (discussion groups, assignments, etc).

I'm a TX RN, an EC ASN grad, and a current BSN student there. If you have some specific questions, I'd be glad to answer them here via private message.

RN1989 · Mar 19, 2008

I had a friend who did the program years ago and was very happy with it. Remember though, if there is the slightest chance that you may live somewhere other than TX - some other states are barring those grads from getting licenses as they do not feel it meets the standards of "real" RN schools.

iLOVEbees · Mar 26, 2008

I graduated from Excelsior.

Having done it, honestly I am telling people to try to go to traditional RN school if at all possible.

Excelsior is very easy to start and not as easy to finish. It is very easy to screw around and just put the books down.

My guess, and this is just a guess, is that out of 10 people who start Excelsior, one finishes.

This is not meant to take away from anyone who is doing it/has already done it.

Eric is correct. This is an independent study course. You have to go to a testing center to take the equivalent of final exams.

For the clinical portion, you have to travel to one of about 10 testing sites in the US and do a weekend clinical.

Nothing online about it.

Good luck!

arvolina · Apr 4, 2008

IMHO, as an Excelsior student, there is plenty of online resources, and there are plenty of states that will take you as a grad. Always check with the state BON that you are wanting to move to. Some do require that you have clocked hours as an RN before they will accept you, some are on a case by case basis. In a nutshell, they are trying to weed out persons who were not a LVN/LPN before they transitioned to RN.

The program DOES take disipline to sit and study. some folks get together in groups. We aren't hard to find... just go to YAHOO groups and do a search on Excelsior. You will find a plethora of online groups with TONS of notes and info. Some students trust that to get them thru. Some, like myself, have purchased the textbooks that Excelsior recomends.

Each class is called a "Concept". If you are an LVN, you do not need to take Concept 2 "NC2". You can take NC1 before you pay all of your fees to the college, so you can try it out, and see if this is for you. I HIGHLY recomend spending the extra $60 for the pretests for each class. They will give you a good idea if you are ready - take one early, and one a few days before your test date.

The CPNE is another ball of wax. That is your "final exam", so to speak. it is not from cumulative study. Excelsior assumes that your already know floor procedure, so they test you on your clinicals. $1800. If you make ONE mistake, you are out for 6 months, and another chunk of cash. Check to baords here and elsewhere. There are nightmare stories about how nurses flunked. For example, here in Plano, a student dropped her pen on the floor and picked it up. she was out for breaking aeseptic technique.

The first exam is the toughest. After that, you get in stride. They have tons of stuff to help you, and there are plenty of sucess stories out there.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2008

I'm a NY LPN who has just gotten a clinical test date. It was fabulous for me.

The caveats: You MUST be self-motivated and able to learn without a lecturer. If you DO THE READING and understand what you read you will be fine.

I avoided procrastination mode by scheduling as many exams as I could afford, a month apart, and then banging them out. I have a 3.8 index. And you can change a test date so scheduling the exam doesn't mean that date is carved into stome.

Good luck!

iLOVEbees · Apr 4, 2008

The CPNE is another ball of wax. That is your "final exam", so to speak. it is not from cumulative study. Excelsior assumes that your already know floor procedure, so they test you on your clinicals. $1800. If you make ONE mistake, you are out for 6 months, and another chunk of cash. Check to baords here and elsewhere. There are nightmare stories about how nurses flunked. For example, here in Plano, a student dropped her pen on the floor and picked it up. she was out for breaking aeseptic technique.

I heard that same story before I took my CPNE in Plano.

I dropped my pen on the floor. I started to reach down to get it and stopped halfway, horrified. I was going to get a paper towel to pick it up and throw it away when the evaluator rolled her eyes, picked it up, dusted it off, and handed it back to me saying, "There, it's clean. Y'all are so paranoid."

My opinion of the CPNE is that it is there to "feel you out." If they think you're an idiot, they'll find a reason to fail you, like a pen picked up off the floor. OTOH, if they think you're the real deal they'll be more willing to overlook minor stuff and give you the opportunity to pass.

Anyway, if you decide to do Excelsior don't worry about the CPNE. Get all your Concepts and prereqs done first and only then worry about it.

Daisykay, RN · Apr 8, 2008

I am getting ready to test for nsg 7 on Excelsior does anyone have any tips for me.

Thanks

Judy

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2008

in the workshop i took my teacher specifically made reference to this story. she told me that anything that falls on the floor has to be thrown away. she also told us that you cannot sit anything that belongs to the patient on a dirty surface..for example if you have to empty a foley you cannot sit the urinal or whatever you draining the urine in on the floor. another thing she told us was we cannot sit our clip board on the bedside table without a barrier between the clipboard and the table. this is all nitpicking. who does this in real practice...nobody....

i heard that same story before i took my cpne in plano.
i dropped my pen on the floor. i started to reach down to get it and stopped halfway, horrified. i was going to get a paper towel to pick it up and throw it away when the evaluator rolled her eyes, picked it up, dusted it off, and handed it back to me saying, "there, it's clean. y'all are so paranoid."
my opinion of the cpne is that it is there to "feel you out." if they think you're an idiot, they'll find a reason to fail you, like a pen picked up off the floor. otoh, if they think you're the real deal they'll be more willing to overlook minor stuff and give you the opportunity to pass.
anyway, if you decide to do excelsior don't worry about the cpne. get all your concepts and prereqs done first and only then worry about it.

ECMOismygame · Apr 9, 2008

IMHO, as an Excelsior student, there is plenty of online resources, and there are plenty of states that will take you as a grad. Always check with the state BON that you are wanting to move to. Some do require that you have clocked hours as an RN before they will accept you, some are on a case by case basis. In a nutshell, they are trying to weed out persons who were not a LVN/LPN before they transitioned to RN.
The program DOES take disipline to sit and study. some folks get together in groups. We aren't hard to find... just go to YAHOO groups and do a search on Excelsior. You will find a plethora of online groups with TONS of notes and info. Some students trust that to get them thru. Some, like myself, have purchased the textbooks that Excelsior recomends.
Each class is called a "Concept". If you are an LVN, you do not need to take Concept 2 "NC2". You can take NC1 before you pay all of your fees to the college, so you can try it out, and see if this is for you. I HIGHLY recomend spending the extra $60 for the pretests for each class. They will give you a good idea if you are ready - take one early, and one a few days before your test date.
The CPNE is another ball of wax. That is your "final exam", so to speak. it is not from cumulative study. Excelsior assumes that your already know floor procedure, so they test you on your clinicals. $1800. If you make ONE mistake, you are out for 6 months, and another chunk of cash. Check to baords here and elsewhere. There are nightmare stories about how nurses flunked. For example, here in Plano, a student dropped her pen on the floor and picked it up. she was out for breaking aeseptic technique.
The first exam is the toughest. After that, you get in stride. They have tons of stuff to help you, and there are plenty of sucess stories out there.

I have payed the $75 app fee and sent in my college transcripts and RCP license. they have not received all my transcripts yet tho. can i take NC1 without paying the $900 enrollment fee? i'd like to see if itll work for me.

thanks

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2008

you can take nc 1 and nc 2 without enrolling....

i have payed the $75 app fee and sent in my college transcripts and rcp license. they have not received all my transcripts yet tho. can i take nc1 without paying the $900 enrollment fee? i'd like to see if itll work for me.
thanks