New Here w/ ? about Online School

Laurie888 · Dec 29, 2004

Excelsior is distance learning, and you can apply some online courses (and I think they even offer a few now) but it's not really an online school. More importantly, you must have clinical experience to get in, because there is no clinical experience with this program. Usually that means already an LPN, or having finished more than half a traditional RN program, and a few other things qualify.

Deaconess I know less about, but from what I gather they do have a clinical component of some sort. Hopefully someone who knows more and/or 'attends' there can tell you more! I can't imagine that there would exist a nursing education without a clinical component that would qualify you to take the NCLEX.

It seems most colleges now offer some online coursework. You may want to consider starting with some pre-nursing types of courses, which may transfer into a more traditional program later, of course if you are considering Deaconess you would have to check and see if there is anything you can take ahead of time that would transfer in -- I have no idea.

I want to be a RN and was planning on going to a community college to get my ADN. However after reading posts on this site i am thinking online would be so much more ideal for my situation.
I am 26 and have three kids ages 5,3, and 7 months. Mu husband works from 7 am to 9 pm and i dont have a lot of help.
Out of the two schools i heard mentioned here, excelsior and deaconess, which one is the better of the two. I live in MI, will i have a problem getting into the field with a degree from an online school? DO you still have clinicals?
Thanks,
Cheryl

fry.girl · Dec 30, 2004

Cheryl,

I also replied to your post on the general forum...but I thought I would go ahead comment here as well.

As the above poster mentioned, Excelsior is an excellent self-paced, self-study program for someone who has established experience in healthcare, i.e. EMT, LPN, etc.

Deaconess on the other hand is a nursing school that also offers online programs (ADN, LPN to RN, BSN). The program is based on a Spring, Summer, and Fall semester calendar. The ADN program will take you from square one through to taking the RN NCLEX. Deaconess students complete a set number of clinical hours each semester at a hospital facility in their local area.

The first three semesters of the program are the PN component, which means you have the option to take the PN NCLEX at that point in the program and begin working as a LPN as you move forward to completing the final three semesters to your RN.

If you have more questions, feel free to PM me.

Cheri