NTCX requirement

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So, today I think we all received an email that sort of explains this new Nursing Theory Conference Examinations (NTCX), which is a non graded required class. "If you desire to complete examinations without the additional conferences you must register for the examinations prior to July 1, 2015. Registration for the NTCX series will begin July 2015 for enrollment in the Fall 2015 trimester."

So reading this correctly we can no longer just study and take exams, we have to dish out hundreds more for a class we aren't graded on. Excelsior is quickly becoming a more expensive less convenient option.

Anybody heard of this new change that can give any insight on what can be done, or why this is happening. I have already spent a lot of money on Excelsior and don't have the time to do a traditional program, but this won't work for me.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

When I sprinted through EC, one of the discussion board moderators told me that students were expected to exalt the time to prepare for each exam as if they were sitting in a physical classroom (an entire semester) in order to ensure success. Now, it looks as if they are going to make them do it whether they want to or not. I said a while back when they started offering some exams in the form of courses, that it wouldn't be long before all of the exams were 15 weeks in length. Looks like my prophecy was right on the money...

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I wish it would remain undefined. I do appreciate that they offer full classes but that just doesn't work for everyone. If I feel like I need 16 weeks then I will take 16 weeks, if I feel like I can get it done in 7,8,9 weeks then I wish that was left up to me. There is no way I will be able to complete the program by next year before the forced classes start and being slowed to a 4 month per class pace won't work. I hate that I have wasted my time on a degree I won't be able to finish now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I wouldn't give up just yet if I were you. If enough of you guys feel the same and voice your complaints and hint at withdrawal, they may rethink this decision. I would contact the powers-that-be (Dean) and question the self-paced concept within the communication contact and go from there. I'm sure there are a lot of you who feel the EXACT same way. Food for thought: what good is a self-paced online ASN program without any students. If they are going to hold the nontraditional students to a traditional timeline, then they should introduce clinicals so that there will not be any issues after graduation.

None of this has to do with me now, but it does anger me that a college that I love so much based on its flexibility is now taking that aspect away from a lot of students. Forcing someone to pay for weeks-long study sessions is contradictory to what the college has been about in my opinion. As you said, if you feel like you need to study for 16 weeks, you will. If you understand the info in a shorter time, then you should be allowed to 'challenge' the exam. So much for their statement "We believe that what you know is more important than how or where you learned it".

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

This angers me because, as an LPN experiencing cancelled shifts, I never would have been able to afford EC with these new changes, nor would I have been able to afford to take the amount of time needed that these new changes are going to create. As an older adult learner, I needed more time than younger folks to learn the material in any given day, but I would need to work full time to pay for these new things coming up with EC. I am one who cannot do both. Even now, I've worked minimal hours in order to complete the RN-BSN program. Fortunately, I went through EC before all of this because had I not, as much as I've loved this college, they would be amongst the first to be scratched off my list. I'd be best served to go the traditional route altogether if I had to spend 16 weeks per subject regardless.

Even though you are expected to take the exam WITHIN the 16 weeks, you are required to participate in the conferences for the first 8 weeks and you will still pay the full cost of the 16-week period. This hardly seems fair.

http://www.excelsior.edu/nursing-theory-examination-changes

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The only reasoning I can think of is there are issues with admitting students who need a traditional setting to this truly independent study program. I can see the struggles posted here but more so on some email boards. Some students are not well equipped with a strong knowledge base and good study skills. They changed the curricula to fail a challenge exam 3 times and you're out. I've read posts from people repeating exams and barely earning D's. Not really working in a clinical setting and little support.

They were looking for a quick and easy way to RN and are getting gobsmacked with reality. Both LPN and paramedics ( not to many RTs ) struggling.

Having difficulty with the courses and/ or challenge exam just reduces the chances of success on the CPNE and later NCLEX.

Honestly I don't think these added cost seminars are the answer. The program raises costs each July. Now Pearson is charging a $60 testing fee to sit any challenge exam. The challenge exams are ineligible for financial aid and I think this added cost & restriction is going to push a wave of student withdrawals. It's going to price people right out of the program, myself included. And that's a shame

There clearly have been issues as anyone who has enrolled in the last year or so now has to submit notarized proof of identity before the student can sit the exam.

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I wouldn't be surprised if this is in relationship to getting push-back from some states. It's clearly (seems to me, anyway) an effort to make EC more like traditional nursing programs.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I know many states only permit LPNs who complete the program to get licensed as an RN provided they had sufficient clinical as an LPN. They do not permit RT or paramedic to be licensed even via endorsement

I think that push back may be one component but it seems they have been admitting anyone and everyone even those that have minimal chances for success in an independent study environment. I know many have posted in email groups failing 2-3 times (D is not passing) the exams and frustrated about the waiting period to retake but not doing self examination as to how to be successful.

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It's not just a matter of who they admit; every US state BON has rules about minimum numbers of supervised clinical hours and classroom time to be eligible for licensure. Without saying anything one way or the other about the quality or validity of the EC program or its students, I've never understood why EC, and only EC, gets a pass on those requirements, why it gets such special consideration from most US BONs. I suspect maybe other people are starting to wonder about that, too.

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Justbeachy,

Which states are you referring to that do not accept paramedics in this program since that is not disclosed on the website?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Justbeachy,

Which states are you referring to that do not accept paramedics in this program since that is not disclosed on the website?

Washington, Louisiana, & Alabama will only accept EC grads who were LPNs first. It's explained in the state restrictions. LA & AL have yet to accept an applicant for licensure from EC that was not a LPN first.

Interesting the new admissions requirements only list LPN, paramedic & certain military corpsman. Respiratory therapist is no longer on the list. Sort of makes sense as respiratory therapy is highly focused on airway, and cardio-pulmonary. While medics are pre-hospital. all the programs I know cover a little psych but definitely cover adult , child, geriatric and OB including clinical placements in ICU, OR, L&D, nursery ED and other hospital units though shorter than RN programs for in facility clinical the amount of hands on practical time is not much different from nursing.

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I have drafted and will later today submit my withdraw from the program. It saddens me but I see that this goal will just not be attainable.

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