Need Excelsior Clarification

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I am trying to sort out the info for Excelsior & need a little help. Can I get study material from eBay, yahoo, etc & contact Pearson to schedule test dates prior to enrolling. Basically I am looking to do this for the core classes if possible. Also, do I have to pay the $190 (3 credit) $220 (4 credit) & $280 (6 credit) for each exam if I am not purchasing the guided learning material? Can someone please get me very clear cut answers to what I will be "required" to pay for other than the enrollment, application, student services, CPNE, grad fees? Thanks so much for helping me sort out all the options a little clearer! Have a blessed day.:smilecoffeecup:

I would advise against purchasing the study guides by Lisa Arend on EBAY. They are inept and appear to be nothing more than the exact copies of what I got in Class, I guess I was a sucker!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!

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

Okay, I think we got it -- you don't like Lisa Arends' notes. This is the third old post you've resurrected to make the same point.

Are you still an EC student?

Welcome to Allnurses ...

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I'm guessing you've failed an exam using only her study guides?

I would advise against purchasing the study guides by Lisa Arend on EBAY. They are inept and appear to be nothing more than the exact copies of what I got in Class, I guess I was a sucker!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!
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Hi all,

I'm considering Excelsior College to for my RN, I am already a LPN. I feel so over whelmed & nervous about a distance learning program. :(

I have read really good & really bad things about this school. Unfortunately, I have to start from the very beginning as I do not even have pre-reqs in General Ed.

EC is not listed on the BON's web site as an approved school but EC swears they are! Please help me understand this. I am in Pinellas County Florida (Seminole/Clearwater) area.

Has anyone had to do their pre-reqs in Gen. Ed. through EC? If so, can you give me a run down of how you did it & what you thought of the program? I'm quite confused as the gen. ed requirements for EC are slightly different from the local college here. EC does not require a math course but the local college says it IS required as a pre req. This is a lot of money to spend so I want to be sure it is legit. All answers are greatly appreciated.

Thank you kindly

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

beware of what??? what class???

well to counteract this i used lisa arends for all my test including the cpne and passed all the first time and i am a ec rn...you paid what $12 bucks so your not out that much. move on to other material if these don't help you.....

i would advise against purchasing the study guides by lisa arend on ebay. they are inept and appear to be nothing more than the exact copies of what i got in class, i guess i was a sucker!!! buyer beware!!!!!
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Specializes in Hemodialysis.

My question , which the process has changed Im sure since this thread was started in 2005, I am currently doing my general ed classes, only need 2 more. I see some people are saying that I should save one for the end or something like that while I am waiting for the CPNE process.

Does that mean I should just focus on say Ethics and NC1?

Also which direction did yall take as far as doing all the nursing concepts, and registering while waiting to do the CPNE? I dont have anyone else in my area, or workplace doing this as aggressively as I am.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Ok, I have been reading this thread for like 2 hours...had to take a few breaks here and there to take care of the baby:loveya: Anyway, I think I've read so much that I may be confusing myself....basically would someone mind talking to me like I'm 4;) and answering some questions again? I promise to be forever grateful! I am an LPN in Indiana but doubt any of my gen ed classes will transfer (the school I went to is accredited different than most & credits rarely transfer:o). So here are my questions.....please be considerate, I may sound like a bone head!

1) Should I take my gen eds at a local community college to save money or just do them through EC?

2) How can you take classes/tests without being enrolled? This part is really confusing to me...

3) Can you defer previous student loans while enrolled in the EC program?

4) Are these classes online or just work from home with books?

5) What do you do at your CPNE? Can anyone who's done it give me details about what they were asked to do?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions later!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.
Ok, I have been reading this thread for like 2 hours...had to take a few breaks here and there to take care of the baby:loveya: Anyway, I think I've read so much that I may be confusing myself....basically would someone mind talking to me like I'm 4;) and answering some questions again? I promise to be forever grateful! I am an LPN in Indiana but doubt any of my gen ed classes will transfer (the school I went to is accredited different than most & credits rarely transfer:o). So here are my questions.....please be considerate, I may sound like a bone head!

1) Should I take my gen eds at a local community college to save money or just do them through EC?

It's up to you, but to save money the local community college may be best. I took all of my prereqs except for Ethics at a CC.

2) How can you take classes/tests without being enrolled? This part is really confusing to me...

You can take all of your prereqs and the first Nursing Concept exam prior to enrolling. Exams after that require you to be enrolled. I'll recommend taking all of the required gen ed classes before enrolling, to save money. A year after enrolling, you'll have to pay another enrollment fee.

3) Can you defer previous student loans while enrolled in the EC program?

In Wisconsin I couldn't defer any student loans since Excelsior was a self-paced program and not a traditional program where it's proven that you're going part-time or full-time. Check it out for yourself to see if they will defer your loans, you may can claim hardship.

4) Are these classes online or just work from home with books?

Basically it's work at home with books and other study materials you have. You'll take each nursing exam at a Pearson Vue testing center, and all other gen ed classes, if you choose to go with Excelsior to finish those, can be taken at other testing centers. The only exam that is online is their Information Literacy course, which requires you to do some research online. It's a one credit course that you can take at Penn Foster University which will be alot cheaper.

5) What do you do at your CPNE? Can anyone who's done it give me details about what they were asked to do?

The CPNE is 2 1/2 day clinical exam which requires you to be prepared before the test, it is not a teaching clinical. You will be testing at select hospitals in certain states. The first day is 4 lab stations you will be tested on. IM/SQ injections, sterile wound dressing change, IV push, and IVMB, you'll need to know basic med calculations. The 2nd day you will have 2 real patients to take care of. You will have to write 2 careplans, pass meds, and do simple assigned assessments on them. The 3rd day you will be assigned 1 patient, if you don't have to do any repeats. You will have a peds pt and 2 adults. You can repeat 1 ped and 1 adult patient care scenerio. You can also repeat (once) any labs that you've failed.

I'm sure I'll think of more questions later!

I hoped I helped!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
I hoped I helped!

that was VERY helpful! thanks so much:icon_hug:

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Specializes in Medical surgical.
I too had questions about this program .You all have broken it down to basic understanding.Thanks so much :) Just one more question...So you are saying I can do everything through ec and not have to use rue?????
It is a rip off, you do not need it. Get a study buddy, and i myself are giving ......
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Specializes in CRITIAL CARE TRANSPORT AIR AND GROUND.

Has anybody used the Inst Cert sight for Nursing Concept 1 .. They use the flash card system. And looks like they just added it to the list of classes.. I want to know how close the material on the flash cards are to the real test.. I just started the EC program after 35 years as a Paramedic, now working in a small clinic in Alaska. I will be checking with EC to see how many gen ED prereq. I can test out of. With CLEP OR other like sources. Any feed back on that would be good as well.. Thanks..

R.

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

Given that it's not even called Nursing Concepts 1 any longer (and hasn't been for a while -- it's Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety), I'd worry about how current their information is. You might be better served by visiting sites like flashcardexchange.com, where a lot of student have made EC-related flashcards.

I told CLEP tests to cover credits for Sociology (Introductory Sociology CLEP) and Lifespan Developmental Psych (Human Growth and Development CLEP). Those were the only ones I really needed. In general, EC appears to be pretty liberal in accepting CLEP tests, with the exception of some of the English ones.

Welcome to Allnurses! :)

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