Jobs from online degree?

RNandRRT · Apr 24, 2010

First of all, Excelsior is the only college you listed.

Rue and Chancellor are study facilitators? I guess that would describe them. You pay them to get you the information you'll need for Excelsior. As well as paying Excelsior for the degree.

I work at a facility where there are 5 nurses I know, and 1 additional I almost know (Lunah) that have jobs as RNs with Excelsior degrees. Many others here will tell you similar stories.

However, there have been stories about some nurse managers questioning the degree, but I think that is not as prevalent as the stories of the nurses being hired and currently working.

agldragonRN · Apr 24, 2010

i'm currently an lpn and thinking of trying to get my rn. online seems to be the only route that will work with my current schedule. before jumping in i want to be sure that it works as i can't afford to borrow more money for nothing. i was talking it over with my sister and she said she has never talked to anybody who finished an online course or gotten a job for that matter. i have'nt either. so i guess my question is: does anybody know anybody that has finished an online program and gotten their rn license? more importantly, has anyone gotten a new job after getting the rn license online, preferably in a hospital? i'm just wondering if employers will accept the degree from places like excelsior, rue, or chancellor and if so do they give it the same weight as a brick-and-mortar institution?

oh boy! first it is not "online". it is distance learning where you take each nursing exam that is proctored at pearsonvue (where you take your nclex as well). second, rue, chancellor, and the college network are not colleges. they are merely publishing companies that will supply you with their study guides for excelsior college exams for thousands of dollars. and yes i know of several excelsior rns who are working now in various places including hospitals. usually your employer only cares about your rn license!

Medsport, LPN · Apr 24, 2010

Thanks for the info. I'm still trying to learn about these and the best way to go. I was unaware that excelcior was a college by itself. Is it the only distance one that's any good? These companies make it very confusing in their advertising. The only one I've heard some negative things about is the college network. I have'nt heard much about Rue yet.

caliotter3 · Apr 24, 2010

Publishing companies like Rue, Chancellors, and The College Network make thousands of dollars from the promise of easy study for Excelsior College's nursing exams. People do not want to take the time to study on their own, so they buy the study guides produced by these publishing companies, thinking that someone else has put together the "essential" information for the test. Fine, if that is what one wants to do. What is not fine, is that these companies do little or nothing to dispel the misconception that they are somehow integral to the process of getting the degree. Nobody ever got a nursing degree from Rue and they won't in the future.

Excelsior is the distance program for nursing that has been around the longest, is the most widely known, and has the largest student body in the US. Last I saw, many years ago, around 25,000 or thereabouts had received nursing degrees from EC. An acquaintance that I introduced to the Excelsior College program, got her ASN from Excelsior in 1994. Today she is a practicing nurse practitioner. Somebody along the way hired her and supported her in her efforts to progress in the profession. I think no one who chooses Excelsior College to get a nursing degree is making a poor decision, as long as they put forth the required effort and are successful. Employers are interested in the fact that you possess a valid RN license. They care little to nothing about where you got your education. Very few jobs come with education strings attached.

NC Girl BSN · Apr 24, 2010

"Raising Hand"

Excelsior College is the only distant education college that gives an Associate degree in nursing without have to take traditional clinicals but requires one to take the CPNE. Like other have said. College Network, Rue and Chancellors ARE ONLY PUBLISHING COMPANIES. They do not give you a degree. They just supply modules(overpriced I might add) to help you study for the test at Pearsonvue Center.

I graduated from Excelsior Feb 08 and got 3 job offers. North Carolina is a EC friendly state but there will always be someone out there that will question this degree. I really want you to get educated about the Excelsior degree. Call the school and talk to an admission counselor. Remember knowledge is power and it can save you thousands when persuing a degree from EXCELSIOR COLLEGE. Remember its the only distant education college that gives an Associate degree in nursing without have to take traditional clinicals but requires one to take the CPNE. Good Luck and I wish you the very best!:)

chaxanmom · Apr 24, 2010

It depends on the hospital completely. I got my BSN through Indiana State (brick and mortar but has an online track...IMO that's the safest way to go in regards to acceptance) and got a job at Johns Hopkins and they were totally fine with it. Georgetown definitely had an issue with it but in DC Excelsior is accepted (whereas in Maryland it is not) and the director of nurse recruitment at Georgetown clearly had an issue with online programs in general. Personally, that turned me off from ever working there in the future because that opinion is NOT evidence-based at all. So it can go either way depending on the hospital or the individual you talk to. I think it says a lot that the number 1 hospital in the country is pro-distance learning though.

NC Girl BSN · Apr 24, 2010

:ancong!: Chaxanmom for Completing the ISU RN-BSN Program!!!!

:anpom:You are our ISU Poster Child and I wanted to give you offical Props! :anpom:

Please post a Thread and toot your own horn. I don't want to steal your thunder!!!:nmbrn:

NewRN12109 · Apr 24, 2010

:nurse:

I'm currently an LPN and thinking of trying to get my RN. Online seems to be the only route that will work with my current schedule. Before jumping in I want to be sure that it works as I can't afford to borrow more money for nothing. I was talking it over with my sister and she said she has never talked to anybody who finished an online course or gotten a job for that matter. I have'nt either. So I guess my question is: Does anybody know anybody that has finished an online program and gotten their RN license? More importantly, has anyone gotten a new job after getting the RN license online, preferably in a hospital? I'm just wondering if employers will accept the degree from places like Excelsior, Rue, or Chancellor and if so do they give it the same weight as a brick-and-mortar institution?

Hi There,

I just wanted to let you know that I am an RN and took my ENTIRE courses online. I started with ALL of my pre reqs except A&P 1 and 2 online. I then got into the Southside Regional Medical Centers School of Nursing online program. They are in VA I am in PA. ALL of my classes were online and then I did clinicals 2 days a week through Phoenixville, Pottstown, Brwn Mawr and various out patient facilities in the area. I graduated in August of 08 Had a job already as a GN, passed state boards in 1/09 and started my career. I just updated my license for the first time and I am working as a RN in Hospice. I think that the online program was BETTER then actually going into school. They were so much MORE demanding and we did something like 350 MORE hours then a "traditional" school did. I LOVED IT!!!! I have 4 children so it gave me the opportunity to be a Mom and still get the career that I wanted so badly. I won't lie it was a TOUGH ROAD lots of ups and downs but so worth it. I am now in the process of deciding what school to take my BSN from and will do that online as well. Any help I can give you just give a shout. I am a STRONG SUPPORTER of online schools. :nurse: