Need Advice On The Excelsior Program

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · May 28, 2005

No, I don't think it is possible, much less likely, that you will be taking the boards in January 2006.

That's only seven months away.

There is at least an 8 month wait just to take the clinical final exam (CPNE), then 1-1/2 to 2 months after that until you can graduate, so that's about 10 months right there.

If (and it's a huge if) you are able to successfully complete the seven academic nursing exams, plus whatever you may be required to take in English, humanities, human development, etc., in six months, you are really looking at about 18 months, minimum, to complete the program.

I would encourage anyone to take the first couple of exams before actually registering for classes, etc. You can just risk the cost of the exams themselves until you see what they are really like. I already had a BA and an MA, and had successfully completed 60% of a "brick and mortar" program, and I found the exams very challenging. Not impossible (I made A's on all of them) but extremely challenging.

Also, the clinical final is nothing to sneeze at either.

All in all, IMHO, it is an excellent program, but more costly (depending on how far you travel for the CPNE, how many books you actually buy, whether you have to retake any exams, I'd estimate the cost around $8,000 to $12,000) than a traditional bridge or ADN program. (It is cheaper than University of Phoenix, though.) If you are not an excellent student, very savvy with the computer and internet, an intense and highly disciplined student, it probably won't be as satisfying as you might wish.

Often what looks like a faster or easier way is either not worth very much or a lot more challenging that it looks. IMHO, the Excelsior College program falls into the latter category.

Good luck, hope this helped clarify some issues for you.....

DAREINGTX · May 28, 2005

Most of the lvn's that i know that started the ec program are still lvn's, and will be until they go through a conventional program. I've heard there are alot

of hassles and that it is extremely expensive. You have to do a clinical rotation with their instructor before you can graduate and the pass rate is something like 60%. The clinical itself is like 3000 dollars. I've also heard that some states are no longer accepting EC grads, but I don't know that for sure.

Jo Dirt · May 28, 2005

You are certainly misinformed, dareingtx. I finished the "written" portion of the ASN program in five months (though I had the English prerequisites out of the way). I have been an LPN for 5 yrs. and I do not suggest a new LPN grad attempt to go through this program without some work experience, as the program through EC is designed for LPN's and certain other health care workers who have some experience. I know it sounds tempting to jump right in, I was tempted at first to do the same thing, but now I am glad I waited and that I have 5 yrs. LPN experience under my belt.

After you finish your written portion that is only half of the deal. You then must wait 4-6 months to take the clinical. I am currently scheduled to take this in October, as there is a pretty long waiting list of people waiting to take this exam and only a limited number of testing centers. The cost is not $3000, but $1575. You will pass if you know what you are doing. The test is simple but they *will* fail you for not following what they call 'critical elements', which is a checklist of things you MUST do to pass each lab station. These can be little things. But if you overprepare your money will not be wasted. I've talked to many people who have taken this test and there isn't a reason why someone who has prepared can't pass.

The only state at this time no longer accepting EC grads at all is California, and there is currently a lawsuit (Excelsior vs. California BON) because the BON complains that the clinical portion of the program should run concurrent with the written portion.

traumahawk99 · May 28, 2005

i just finished paramedic school and i'm chomping at the bit to take test #3, though i have to wait for national registry in hand before i can register for those exams. the total cost of the excelsior program is 5,300, i believe. it's better if you take the nursing prereqs like anatomy 1 and 2, microbiology, etc at a junior college. i did those courses online at my local college.

excelsior is highly doable if you're a good student who studies independently. i've met a lot of their graduates in the workplace, and i think it's a great program. i'd be dead before i walked into a nursing school and dealt with all those crazy women and their power trips. this is a wonderful alternative path, especially for a guy.!

good luck :).

featherzRN, MSN · May 29, 2005

I did the entire program in 6 months.

This includes the CPNE - my first test was in February and my CPNE in August. I scored well on all the tests (no grades then, just percentiles). I took two to three exams at once with no retakes. This also included a/p and micro exams.

HOWEVER.. I had no general ed to do.. I did not have the long waiting period for the CPNE as I took it in the 80's when the wait apparently was much shorter.. AND I had to wait SIX MONTHS to take boards! :) (In the old days they were given twice a year). So in the long run it took me just as long as it does now. :)

Even better, the entire program cost me around $2K. Remember, this was 1989! :) (written exams were $60 each, CPNE was $900, Grad fee was $325, enrollment $200. Just got out my paperwork to check. )

Heather

Laurie888 · May 29, 2005

But the bottom line is it will take 5-7 months after your last exam to be scheduled for the CPNE, depending on what site you want/get. One month aparently for the paper work (please, someone tell me it doesn't take that long!) and another 4-6 to schedule, minimum. If lucky, you might get in on someone's cancellation and cut that time down considerably.

So, when you consider you have 7 nursing exams plus any prerequisites to complete, how well do you study how well do you test and what is your background? Those are all factors.

A rare few may take several at once and finish in a couple days, but you have to know the material so unless you have an extensive background, a photographic memory, and don't forget the memorization of lab values and such that you need it isn't likely to happen that way.

Some of us seem to be able to prepare in a week or two, although they allow for much more I am gathering many of us procrastinate and don't get down to the nitty gritty til the last minute. Me, I test well but I study poorly -- if I don't know the material or have background in it all the studying in the world doesn't seem to help. If I had had the money I could have completed a test every 1-2 weeks. I already had done most of my prereqs back when I was in nursing school. I am not an LPN. But even so, that would be at least 2-3 months plus the wait for the CPNE. Seven months might happen if you have the time,money, energy and luck of getting a cancellation, but it's extremely unlikely. And I forgot about the time it takes to be accepted, I got in before you had to apply separately to the nursing program and then the college, even then it was a month before I could really get going. You can, though, take the first two exams before applying.

ryoung0302 · May 29, 2005

Hey how are you? I am currently taking EC test and spoke with them not even two days ago about the way for the CPNE. As of now it is 5-7 months, so there is no way that you can finish in a short amount of time. I also agree with what someone else said about waiting. I have found the test to be pretty tough, I had to retake one because of the way that I was studying for them. Since then I have had all A's and B's. If you have no experience it could be a good thing and a bad thing since you have not picked up on any of the bad habits most of us might have. I worked in an ER as a paramedic for the last 7 years and have had a hard time going back to theory since it does not always correspond to what you would actually do.

My suggestion is that you make the decision for yourself. You can take the first two test with only paying for the test, and then go from there. I also reccommend buying some sort of study guide that is out there. I have been using Chancellor's and I have found them to be fairly accurate with the infromation.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · May 29, 2005

I'm sure I don't hold the record, but I took my first exam January 27 and finished my CPNE June 27th, last year.

Adding up the "actual" costs of the exams and fees will not approach what you will probably spend, although you might be able to do it for that if your CPNE testing center is in the city where you live (or close), if you don't take a preparation course (like the one Excelsior offers, which I highly recommend) for the CPNE. Let's not forget the white uniforms, if you don't have any. And books, but maybe you have those (I actually got most of my info free, off the internet).

By the time I was done, I had probably spent about $8,000. I had round trip airfare to Racine. The hotel there. Meals there. I did buy the Chancellor's study guides, which I thought would have been just excellent had I not discovered google shortly thereafter. I did do the 3 day Excelsior CPNE review course--a friend went to Chancellor's in Ohio or Indiana or wherever, and she felt it was worth it. Both of us had people in our prep classes who had taken the CPNE and failed at least once, and I have a good friend at work who has been an Excelsior student five years, failed the CPNE once--and he is a very good LVN.

As I said, it's not an easy way, and it's not a sure thing by any means. And after you go through the trial by fire, and work your tail end off, and pass everything (or maybe even make all A's), there will still be those dopes who will look down on you because you got your degree from a "correspondence" or "online" program.

If you have a brick-and-mortar program available, it's probably a better plan to try that if you can make it work for you. No sense in wearing yourself out if you can get the job done more comfortably and less expensively.

Again, good luck to you.

H60Medic · May 29, 2005

It took me 13 months from my first of eleven exams to completing the CPNE.

Hi, Does Anyone Know What Is The Shortest Amount Of Time That Other Students Have Completed Their Ec Rn Program. I Will Be Graduating From My Lvn Program In About 1 Week And Plan On Taking The Ec Program To Become An Rn Right Away. I Plan On Doing The Program In The Least Amount Of Time. Is It Possible For Me To Take The Boards For Rn Let's Say By January Of 2006 Or Before? Am I Being Realistic, Or Would It Take Longer? Any Advice Would Be Greatly Appreciated. Thank You
Carlos R.

Laurie888 · May 30, 2005

It took me 13 months from my first of eleven exams to completing the CPNE.

Did you have to pay your yearly renewal fee when your CPNE was already scheduled by your yearly date? At the time of my renewal this year I will be done except the CPNE but should be scheduled, and was just curious if I'm going to have to fork over that additional money.

H60Medic · May 30, 2005

If all you have left for completion is the CPNE you can request a waiver of the yearly fee, which I did, and they approved.

Did you have to pay your yearly renewal fee when your CPNE was already scheduled by your yearly date? At the time of my renewal this year I will be done except the CPNE but should be scheduled, and was just curious if I'm going to have to fork over that additional money.