Need advise...on which program to attend Excelsior or ISU?

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HI-

I need advise....I'm working on my LPN and should hopefully be done by the end of 2011 at the latest. My plan was to continue on in a traditional program LPN to ADN then to BSN.

The problem....there is a wait list to get into ADN program....so if I'm lucky I'll have my ADN by the end of 2013 beginning of 2014.

If I chose Excelsior, then I could potentially have my ADN by 2012 or beginning of 2013. The pit falls:

  • -There are no clinicals and the CPNE is hard to pass....and very expensive.
  • -I work at a hospital...but not sure if I'd be hired if graduating from this type of program. It's magnet status and will only hire BSN's. They may hire if you are working in a unit that has the budget to hire an adn...but would they hire someone from Excelsior?
  • -Are people getting hired with little experience with EC ADN?
  • Feedback from others is to go to EC as a last resort.

The upside of an ADN EC...

  • I could work as an RN somewhere else,
  • I could get done sooner,
  • earn more money
  • and maybe get reimbursed for BSN.

ISU....II was told it would take 4 years to complete...is that accurate? I figure I'd be done by 2015 or 2016?

The pit fall..

  • I'd earn less money in the interim and I'd owe more money in the end.

The positive about ISU,

  • feed back has been positive,
  • they offer clinicals along with the program,
  • it's a state university with a good rep.

Any advise on which direction would be best, then please let me know.

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Excelsior was a good choice for me, I did the LPN to RN also. I started my program March 2009 and graduated June 2010. I even took one month off during the summer. I took state boards in July and passed. Have been working as an RN since August. I am starting my BSN degree with WGU in Jan.

I chose EC instead of ISU because of the length of time. I don't know for a fact that ISU would take four years but obviously would take much longer than EC. Excelsior is self study and self-paced. With determination you can do it quickly.

Good luck with your decision!

Lisa

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

If I could have gone straight to a BSN, I definitely would have! Good luck, whatever you decide, wender.

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A BSN is the desirable degree in the end. It is to your advantage to get it at the beginning of your career to ultimately save time, money, and aggravation.

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What's the shortest amount of time you can complete the Bsn at isu

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