I was totally dissed last night

Nursing Students Online Learning

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During my shift at the hospital I work at, I was talking to several nurses who know I'm an Excelsior student. This is a unit I very much want to work in when i graduate. To make a long story short, the charge nurse walks up in the middle of the convo, and asks about the program. She asked, "what about clinicals?". When I explained how the program worked, she replied "Well I hope they don't hire you for this unit, I don't see how that sort of program can produce a competent nurse." Ouch! I know she doesn't do the hiring, and when the person that does do the hiring sees my qualifications, I'll be hired on the spot. I also knew this sort of discrimination exists, but had never experienced it first hand. Very disheartening.

Total of 14 years as a registered respiratory therapist. Trained in every critical care unit (Neonatal, Pediatric & Adult), ER, Neonatal Transport Team, Rapid Response Team. Two years of Medical School, 9 months research emphasizing hemodynamics for Anesthesiology department at University of Texas.

See, so your nonLPN/Paramedic stance cannot be applied generally/accross the board. It is a very similar approach that those that totally oppose nontraditional nursing programs because it doesn't have clinical exposure. Some people just don't need it.

Edit: Just for the record, pedinurse05 asked for my clinical experience prior to their edit. I only offered it in response to their request.

Wow, your experience is extensive, and I would deffinitely say, that you could safely and competently complete the EC program, and be a great RN and an asset to any facility you work for. However, in your most honest opinion, could someone with NO clinical experience, of any kind, become a safe competent nurse from this program? I say NO WAY, and even counting the anomolies, meaning your extensive knowledge/experience, do I think they should be taking these chances (meaning EC). I agree with "credit for time served" etc, but it is my understanding that they require no documentation of this "time" served, or even the quality of work performed. Now, how can anybody, esp with your knowledge, thik this is a SAFE way to turn out RN's, across the board? This is a great program, for someone like yourself. BUT, I knew lots of people who got straight A's in lecture, etc, but didnt know sterile tecnique from wiping their face with a napkin, and who honestly had trouble remembering what drug class PCN was in....So, *I* believe unless EC starts verifying the experiences, or at least having a REQUIREMENT for such experiences, that it is really an unsafe program. I suggest people if interested should take it while they can, because I cant see it lasing forever.

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Specializes in Emergency, Family Practice, Occ. Health.

It's been around for 30+ years and was recently honored by the NLN. They do require clinicals or clinical equivalence. Anyone who enters the program has to provide a professional license (Paramedic, LPN) or documentation of 1/2 of a "traditional" nursing program's clinicals, and previously the basic emt's had to prove patient contact hours.

Here is what the National League for Nursing thinks of Excelsiors program...

As stated on the National League for Nursing Web site, “Recognition by the National League for Nursing as a Center of Excellence is designed to distinguish those schools that demonstrate sustained, evidence-based and substantive innovation in the selected area, that conduct ongoing research to document the effectiveness of such innovation, that set high standards for themselves, and that are committed to continuous quality improvement. Such recognition indicates a commitment by the school as a whole to pursue and sustain excellence in student learning and professional development, ongoing faculty development, or nursing education research.”

I'm sorry it's not a program for you. But I've talked to a lot of nurse managers prior to entering this program and they were all supportive.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Because I decided to get a more quality education at a traditional progam, and one that includes clinicals!

You know, in going through your posts I see several inconsistencies there, and I don't believe you're even a nurse. One day you were a LPN for 3 years before getting your BSN. The next, you were a LPN for 10 years. Then you are an ED charge nurse. The very next day, you are a charge nurse on an 80 bed ICU. Uhhh...OK. Not to mention the one that got removed about LPN twits.

Troll alert.

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You know, in going through your posts I see several inconsistencies there, and I don't believe you're even a nurse. One day you were a LPN for 3 years before getting your BSN. The next, you were a LPN for 10 years. Then you are an ED charge nurse. The very next day, you are a charge nurse on an 80 bed ICU. Uhhh...OK. Not to mention the one that got removed about LPN twits.

Troll alert.

Number one you need to get your facts straight, I never said I was any of the professon's that you described, I'm stationed in the US military as a medic, and I never posted the information you described. I dont apperciate you slandereng me, in the military we take that very seriously. The military branch I'm in is the US Coast Guard! Peace out!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I think EC is a good program for those with experience. I work with an LPN who has been on our floor for many years and is doing EC LPN to RN and I think that's plenty of clinical experience.

I also work with another LPN to RN student who has to do clinicals on the same floor he works on, which I don't think is a learning experience at all.

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You know, in going through your posts I see several inconsistencies there, and I don't believe you're even a nurse. One day you were a LPN for 3 years before getting your BSN. The next, you were a LPN for 10 years. Then you are an ED charge nurse. The very next day, you are a charge nurse on an 80 bed ICU. Uhhh...OK. Not to mention the one that got removed about LPN twits.

Troll alert.

Are you sure you have the right guy Laura? I went through his posts and I don't see any claims of him being an LPN or a charge nurse ...

:confused:

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You know, in going through your posts I see several inconsistencies there, and I don't believe you're even a nurse. One day you were a LPN for 3 years before getting your BSN. The next, you were a LPN for 10 years. Then you are an ED charge nurse. The very next day, you are a charge nurse on an 80 bed ICU. Uhhh...OK. Not to mention the one that got removed about LPN twits.

Troll alert.

;

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Number one you need to get your facts straight, I never said I was any of the professon's that you described, I'm stationed in the US military as a medic, and I never posted the information you described. I dont apperciate you slandereng me, in the military we take that very seriously. The military branch I'm in is the US Coast Guard! Peace out!

Dude- I am sooo sorry...LMAO! I had 2 threads going at once, and that reply was meant for someone else. Duh...I apologize. (I just had a baby, and am working my last week at one job, and doing training for the new one at the same time. My brain is fried...must have sleep!)

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I get that alot too. But what those people fail to realize (if they go back to their memories) is that much of what they do at the hospital was learned on the job at orientation. Yes, I have done clinicals the traditional way at LPN school and I am doing them through the CPNE. A few weeks observing and taking notes in different settings is all we did the "traditional" way, most nursing programs do not let you do much in due to liability. I am a skilled LPN who does 98% of what an RN does, for less pay. The only problem I see with the CPNE is I feel it should only be offered to LPN's with clinical experience. I have to remind RN's who ask "what about clinicals?" that I did them already, and do them every day on the job at the hospital. AND, many "traditional" schools have a 2 year waiting list or longer for clinicals. Why should I have to wait to perform skills I can do now? When they hear that they capitulate at my logic.

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Can someone explain to me what doing clinicals mean? I am thinking of nursing as a career and the predjudice some of you are dealing with sounds hard to deal with.

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Wow! I haven't been on here in several months. I did not realize how EC was looked at so negatively on these boards...and to me it is more on the boards than in real life. I have had no problems obtaining jobs. Ignore it and move on!

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Wow! I haven't been on here in several months. I did not realize how EC was looked at so negatively on these boards...and to me it is more on the boards than in real life. I have had no problems obtaining jobs. Ignore it and move on!

I could care less what any of the naysayers say because I don't live to suit them. I stay away from negative people. People like that have a problem with everything and everyone anyway.

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