Need input on what I should do...

emijen2girls · Jan 28, 2012

I just graduated with Excelsior. I do not know what you mean by quality education. They are one of the few distance learning school that are accredited in the US. For me, being able to study around my busy work/kids schedule was important. I couldn't have gone to traditional school nor do I want to sit in classroom ever. As an LPN that have worked in acute care hospitals for years I can tell you that there is no knowledge difference between what I know and others that went to RN school. Experience is another story. Good luck. I am happy to help if you need more specific info.

AZMOMO2 · Jan 28, 2012

It's test based, all CLEP exams. The education is what you make of it. How much extra study you want to do. How many extras you want to do. RNBridgeProgram.com - LPN to RN Bridge Program | Parmedic to RN Bridge Program | Is a great resource. Stay away from college network. You don't need them at all.

Make sure your state accepts it. Mine included an additional 120 clinical hours (which are all split up over each subject area and hard to come by) after the after the CPNE and the wait times were too much. I didn't want to go that way, just for my state to deny for some reason, ya know?

BigAlLPN · Jan 29, 2012

I live in the state of north Carolina. So far, it looks like no extra requirements. I am still attending brick and mortar college right now. I only have microbiology and sociology left to satisfy Excelsior's requirements, I think. I almost signed a contract with the college network because two of my fellow LPN grads have. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this website, and quickly realized that it's almost a scam. I've been an LPN since August. I currently work in long-term care. Am I "experienced" enough to do this program? I quickly figured out that working as a nurse is nothing like nursing school, haha.

Heavenly4505 · Jan 29, 2012

I am going the Excelsior route. I graduated in April 2011 from a Practical Nursing program and passed the boards in May 2011. I currently work in long-term care, as a 2nd shift nurse, from 3:00-11:30 PM, five days a week. I also have two children. There is absolutely NO WAY I could do a traditional LPN-RN program with my work/family schedule. I am only off two days a week, and I prefer to spend that time with my children. I considered doing Indiana State University's LPN-BSN online program. However, after researching the program, I found that you still have to do clinicals (in your geographical area), which is going to be very difficult for me with my work schedule. I'd be either at work or clinicals 7 days a week in order to get those clinicals done, and I don't want that. I need time with my kids. So, for me, Excelsior is the only way to go. I think their program is what you make of it. I, personally, bought the textbooks and do ALL of the readings. I also take practice tests on their website, and have even signed up for an 8-week online conference for a couple of the nursing theory exams (something new, I think, that Excelsior offers on their website). To be honest, I took my LPN program in a "brick and mortar" school, and I'm not sure how "quality" of an education I got there. I worked as a CNA all the way through LPN school, and often, I did not have time to study like I needed to. I think with any educational program, you're ONLY going to get out what you put into it. I think I am getting as good of an education at Excelsior as I would in a traditional LPN-RN bridge program, and the good thing is I can work at my own pace and still keep my full-time job (not working is NOT an option for me with a family to support). Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jan 30, 2012

I graduated Gaston College LPN program in August 2011, and am currently on the Excelsior bandwagon. I am enjoying it, but I study well on my own, and I am VERY motivated!!!!

I knew I would go this route rather than the GC LPN-RN route.

Sheryl18 · Jan 30, 2012

I'm in the same situation, I won't be able to start until next fall for the lpn-rn bridge program at my local CC because they aren't accepting some of my credits, so I am thinking of excelsior. The only thing that makes me think twice is the CPNE, that terrifies me and the thought of not passing and having to pay again and wait again makes me nervous. I am currently taking micro at my CC. Does micro have to be finished before starting excelsior? I won't finish until May, the semester just started. I was thinking if I could do excelsior and keep taking general courses at my CC, but I don't know if they let you do that, do you? I need to take statistics and child pyschology and I had planned to do that over the summer at my CC. Good luck to you!!

reebokHCFR, MSN, EMT-P, APRN, NP · Jan 30, 2012

you can take the nursing classes without having micro for sure, probably the other classes too. I'm not sure because micro was the only one I needed.

if you do excelsior, statistics is not a requirement for the associate's. child psych isn't either, but developmental psych (or I think excelsior's class is called life span development or something) is. I'm assuming child psych is different.

Sheryl18 · Jan 30, 2012

Thanks!! It's probably the same pysch, the one I had to take for my LPN school was called Growth and Development, but my local CC won't accept the credits saying it wasn't "college level"

aggiemom3 · Jan 31, 2012

To answer your question, you have to have all but 10 hours of general ed requirements done before you can start the nursing exams. I am on my last general ed course and will start my nursing exams next week and I did most of them through CLEP. I had 9 hours from previous school attempts and I did MICRO and Anatomy & Physiology through Excelsior because CLEP doesn't offer them. The new Math requirement I did through ALEKS, but everything else I did through CLEP. The best thing is that the cost is only $77.00/subject. Here's the website: CLEP - College Level Examination Program (CLEP) -Save Time. Save Money. Take CLEP | College Board CLEP Site. The other important tip is to go to this website. Free Clep Prep.com. From that site I signed up for InstantCert that was invaluable. Here's their website: InstantCert: CLEP Online Study Guides. The exciting thing about CLEP is that you can get through your general ed requirements at your own pace. In my case I wanted to get through them quickly. The other thing is that they are accepted at most colleges so if you ever want to go back to get your BSN those courses will transfer.

garnetgirl29, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2012

So, how are clinicals handled if you state has no additional requirements?

LoMo · Mar 21, 2012

To answer your question, you have to have all but 10 hours of general ed requirements done before you can start the nursing exams. I am on my last general ed course and will start my nursing exams next week and I did most of them through CLEP. I had 9 hours from previous school attempts and I did MICRO and Anatomy & Physiology through Excelsior because CLEP doesn't offer them. The new Math requirement I did through ALEKS, but everything else I did through CLEP. The best thing is that the cost is only $77.00/subject. Here's the website: CLEP - College Level Examination Program (CLEP) -Save Time. Save Money. Take CLEP | College Board CLEP Site. The other important tip is to go to this website. Free Clep Prep.com. From that site I signed up for InstantCert that was invaluable. Here's their website: InstantCert: CLEP Online Study Guides. The exciting thing about CLEP is that you can get through your general ed requirements at your own pace. In my case I wanted to get through them quickly. The other thing is that they are accepted at most colleges so if you ever want to go back to get your BSN those courses will transfer.

Hello!

Which study material(s) did you use for LS Dev. Psych? I tried a search for the such on Amazon, but Humanities pops up.

Thanks!