Need Advice On The Excelsior Program

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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.

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Medic2RN,

Thanks for the info. on the books. God bless. dcudoc

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Specializes in ER.
Hey everyone.

I am thinking about starting the Excelsior program myself.

Want to here my situation?! :angryfire

I started out in a BSN RN program. I failed MedSurg I when I went through a divorce. No big deal so I thought, as long as I didnt fail anything else.

Well graduation date is set August 6th. I am in my second to last trimester taking critical care, research, and managment. And what happens I didnt pass critical care. I needed a 77% to pass and I got a 74%. 20 students and 5 of us didnt pass. So that put me out the program.

All I had left was my perceptiorship and research 2. Then graduation.

So my director told me since I have so much clinical time and so much nursing courses already that I could finish up with Excelsior. I am not sure what ya'll state guidelines are but if you have 2 clinical failures in a BSN program you cant go back to any BSN program for 5 years in that state.

I got the application in front of me and its going in the mail Monday.

You've got a couple of choices -

You could do the ADN at EC. But you'd have to do all the NC exams and take the practical exam.

You should check with some other programs locally - both BSN and ADN - and see if you can transfer into one of them. They may give you more credit than EC.

I've not heard of a state mandating a 5-year sit down after a course failure. But, hey, I don't live where you do!

Good luck!

Chip

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the folks at excelsior told me they graduate approximately 3000 nurses a year. compare that to any single nursing program in the u.s. despite what many say here, there is a growing shortage of health care workers of all types. ec is a valuable source of nurses.

and i would agree that excelsior hurt itself by having lower standards for admission. since they've tightened the ship, i think the program will earn respect going forward.

unfortunately, i have to wait till i have national registry (paramedic) in hand before i can take test #3 and formally join the program. so for me, it's sit for the national registry (on the 26th of this month), wait 6 weeks for the results (yes, i'll pass), take tests 3-6, wait for practical, wait for ec to graduate me, wait for the state board to ok me for nclex, and then wait for my license, then wait for reciprocity in the state i'm ultimately working in. all the hurry up and wait is a killer and quite frustrating :).

still, i'm extremely grateful that there is a program like ec. you have to give the NLN some credit for having some common sense and recognizing that traditional nursing schools aren't the only way to get a nursing education.

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Well, a lot of what I'm about to say is a repeat of what I said in an earlier thread but I feel I have a legitimate complaint with Excelsior.

I started the program in November of 2004 (I had my English prereq's out of the way) and worked my butt of to finish in March of 2005. As soon as I got the CPNE material I went and had my physical, etc., and sent my money in so I could be scheduled. It has been three months and I still can't get a date. I have tried contacting the scheduling center (they are nice, don't get me wrong, but that's not enough) and they tell me they are still trying to set up testing dates with the center I requested, and with any luck I *MAY* be able to get scheduled for October So I tell them I am willing to travel anywhere to take this exam. Then they tell me the waiting list of those willing to travel is sooo long I will probably wait longer than October.

I've gotten nothing but the runaround from these people and I'm fed up with it. The way they operate their clinicals is a joke, and I don't blame California or any other state for locking EC grads out. I knew the wait was several months, but when it takes 6+ months something is wrong.

Since I believe in finishing what I start I will complete this program but I doubt I will suggest it to anyone else.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
and I don't blame California or any other state for locking EC grads out.

I understand your frustration, but that is a little harsh!

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Specializes in ER.
I don't blame California or any other state for locking EC grads out.

What does the quality of the graduate's work - which is why a school would get "locked out" of a state - have to do with your problem?

I went through a year ago - and didn't have any problem getting a date. I even went to the NE center so I could stay at home and didn't have to travel. With four hospitals, I would try to see what the dates are for the NE center - it usually has the shortest wait - mine was about 4 months.

Good luck - and remember - you may get what you ask for! You could get locked out of your state!

Chip

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What does the quality of the graduate's work - which is why a school would get "locked out" of a state - have to do with your problem?

I went through a year ago - and didn't have any problem getting a date. I even went to the NE center so I could stay at home and didn't have to travel. With four hospitals, I would try to see what the dates are for the NE center - it usually has the shortest wait - mine was about 4 months.

Good luck - and remember - you may get what you ask for! You could get locked out of your state!

Chip

About three weeks ago I called to check on the status of my application and they told me it would be another week or two. I just got off the phone with them and they have apologized for the wait, but it will be another week or two.

This is the scheduling center in Madison, WI, BTW.

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About three weeks ago I called to check on the status of my application and they told me it would be another week or two. I just got off the phone with them and they have apologized for the wait, but it will be another week or two.

This is the scheduling center in Madison, WI, BTW.

I graduated from Excelsior about six months ago. I really think the program is pretty good...what you put in you get out. Unfortunately, because this is a non-traditional school geared toward working adults the wait for the CPNE can be expected. This is the largest nursing school in the US with many students from around the country waiting to take the CPNE. Excelsior is also very upfront about the wait. I recall being informed about it from the college two years ago when I started. When I sent my application to the Southern testing center in Atlanta I had about a month wait for a date. My date was five months out. I used this time to prepare and it actually went by pretty fast. Hope you get a date soon and best wishes!

Denice

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Specializes in ER.
About three weeks ago I called to check on the status of my application and they told me it would be another week or two. I just got off the phone with them and they have apologized for the wait, but it will be another week or two.

This is the scheduling center in Madison, WI, BTW.

You posted earlier that you're willing to travel anywhere to schedule and get into a CPNE.

Try calling Betsy Stickles at the NPAC. She's actually at EC proper and does the scheduling for Albany Med, St. Peter's, Ellis, and one hospital in Syracuse. She told us (during the pre-CPNE class that they offer) that she has openings every weekend because of people who cancel.

Good Luck.

Chip

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I am in the same position you are in LPNtoRN - still waiting....

However, you're lucky in the sense that I am expecting to deliver in January - my CPNE clock is running a little faster than everyone else's! It looks like I'll probably be taking this thing around 8 months pregnant! :uhoh21:

:balloons:

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You posted earlier that you're willing to travel anywhere to schedule and get into a CPNE.

Try calling Betsy Stickles at the NPAC. She's actually at EC proper and does the scheduling for Albany Med, St. Peter's, Ellis, and one hospital in Syracuse. She told us (during the pre-CPNE class that they offer) that she has openings every weekend because of people who cancel.

Good Luck.

Chip

They tell me Betsy Stickles is no longer with them, but this woman I could hardly understand (she was from India, I think) says she has put my name on the waiting list.

Please God just let me get through this...

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Specializes in ER.
They tell me Betsy Stickles is no longer with them, but this woman I could hardly understand (she was from India, I think) says she has put my name on the waiting list.

Please God just let me get through this...

I graduated over a year ago, so it would not surprise me that some folks have moved around.

Good luck on your exam.

And, yes, it will go faster here - they have four exam sites.

And when you do get a date, let us know!

Chip

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