Nursing students sue Excelsior College

Published

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Wow, I took excelsior back when it was Regents and PRIOR to the 'net as we know it - my study guides were sent snail mail! And even I knew there was a yearly fee and a 'big test' at the end. :) I passed the CPNE first try and I didn't have anything but a big study guide and a VHS tape from excelsior. And from what I can tell, the CPNE is a very similar format today.

I think if they don't already that Excelsior should take a tip from WGU - when I enrolled at WGU last year I had to have at least three conversations with a counselor on the unique nature of the program and then I had to 'sign' an e-form that I again understood how it worked before they would sign me up. :)

Me too. but I was even before VHS tapes! LOL!!

I agree. Sounds like sour grapes to me too.

CPNE was difficult and stressful, as it should be. Back "in the day" of 1988, you only got a study exam of what the lab was going to be like and things they may ask you to do with your patients, such as VS, labs, etc.. Otherwise, just like it is with ANY patient in REAL LIFE. They have three days to judge how you will do in a lifetime of nursing. It's not a cake walk on purpose. If they can't pass it by the second time, then they obviously need hand holding during the clinical process.

I don't know how old these students are, but are they from the generation that expects a diploma and pat on the back and a diploma handed to them??

I'm hoping Excelsior fights back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
Me too. but I was even before VHS tapes! LOL!!

I agree. Sounds like sour grapes to me too. CPNE was difficult and stressful, as it should be.

LOL! :) I was in 1989 - and I thought I had that VHS around here somewhere, but I am sure it's no good anymore. Sides, I have nothing to play it on. I remember some lady in a ponytail practicing her PCS patients, but that was about it. And the study guide was pale blue - I had every page memorized! I think most of the people in my CPNE group passed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
LOL! :) I was in 1989 - and I thought I had that VHS around here somewhere, but I am sure it's no good anymore. Sides, I have nothing to play it on. I remember some lady in a ponytail practicing her PCS patients, but that was about it. And the study guide was pale blue - I had every page memorized! I think most of the people in my CPNE group passed.

I did Long Beach California. I went down in late summer/early fall of 1988. There were 5 or 6, and all but one passed. Her nerves got the best of her though. I heard at that time, that the passing rate was 75-80%?

Yeah, the light blue book. Gosh, I probably burned it. I wish I would have kept it now. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
I did Long Beach California. I went down in late summer/early fall of 1988. There were 5 or 6, and all but one passed. Her nerves got the best of her though. I heard at that time, that the passing rate was 75-80%?

Yeah, the light blue book. Gosh, I probably burned it. I wish I would have kept it now. :)

Sorry to threadcrap, but I did long beach also!! :) august 1989. =) We're part of the 'licensed in CA excelsior grad' crowd. :) We had 12 in our group, pretty sure everyone passed but two - and I remember those either didn't have or didn't read the light blue book. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I did Long Beach California. I went down in late summer/early fall of 1988. There were 5 or 6, and all but one passed. Her nerves got the best of her though. I heard at that time, that the passing rate was 75-80%?

Yeah, the light blue book. Gosh, I probably burned it. I wish I would have kept it now. :)

I'm going to youtube the video and see if it there. I would love to see it. We had nothing at all so we were all in for a surprise. I was so nervous my hands were shaking. In the lab, my hands were shaking so bad that I over poured a "medication". I threw that one away and realized that I had to calm my nerves. Kept those hands steady the rest of the weekend, Whew!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I went through the Excelsior ADN program and can say that the CPNE was difficult, but I prepared the way I was instructed to and passed it on the first try. You can give the same information to different people and the outcome will be based on a person's knowledge-base and willingness to succeed. It's not the finest format, but I do believe that EC has historically passed students on the CPNE who display basic associates degree RN competencies. Every nursing school has a certain degree of subjectivity; it's inevitable. It doesn't render the EC practices unethical. The fees associated with the school are no secret and I'm not quite sure how the plaintiffs were not privy to that information when they started the program. I thought the fees were ridiculously expensive, but was aware of what they were from the beginning. Honestly, I think this is just a case of bitterness based on an inability to pass the CPNE from former students who will perhaps have problems at any nursing school they attend. It's not a perfect program, but I'm grateful that it exists. I, like many others, would not have been able to become an RN without it. I would like to think that, had I not been successful there, I would not have sued the school. And a judgement in their favor still won't make them RNs. They have to pass a course and NCLEX no matter what. EC is not for everyone. If it doesn't work, you move on, try something different, not find a lawyer. It's called accountability.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I went through the Excelsior ADN program and can say that the CPNE was difficult, but I prepared the way I was instructed to and passed it on the first try. You can give the same information to different people and the outcome will be based on a person's knowledge-base and willingness to succeed. It's not the finest format, but I do believe that EC has historically passed students on the CPNE who display basic associates degree RN competencies. Every nursing school has a certain degree of subjectivity; it's inevitable. It doesn't render the EC practices unethical. The fees associated with the school are no secret and I'm not quite sure how the plaintiffs were not privy to that information when they started the program. I thought the fees were ridiculously expensive, but was aware of what they were from the beginning. Honestly, I think this is just a case of bitterness based on an inability to pass the CPNE from former students who will perhaps have problems at any nursing school they attend. It's not a perfect program, but I'm grateful that it exists. I, like many others, would not have been able to become an RN without it. I would like to think that, had I not been successful there, I would not have sued the school. And a judgement in their favor still won't make them RNs. They have to pass a course and NCLEX no matter what. EC is not for everyone. If it doesn't work, you move on, try something different, not find a lawyer. It's called accountability.

Amen!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Sorry to threadcrap, but I did long beach also!! :) august 1989. =) We're part of the 'licensed in CA excelsior grad' crowd. :) We had 12 in our group, pretty sure everyone passed but two - and I remember those either didn't have or didn't read the light blue book. :)

Wow, we might have been only a week or two apart! I swore after passing that awful thing I was going to get my BSN the traditional way because it would be easier!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Intensive Care.

As a newly enrolled Excelsior College student, I don't see how this will benefit anyone. I understand their frustration to put thousands of dollars into their education and not succeed at the end. But I find it hard to believe that these fees along with the requirements to complete the program were not made aware to them BEFORE they enrolled. Even as a non-Excelsior student, you can search their pages to get an idea of what the program will cost INCLUDING the annual fee. I researched this college and contemplated enrolling into their program for a year before I dived in. And I am a firm believer that if I pass or fail an exam or a clinical, that that is on me. There are a number of institutions in the TRADITIONAL setting that I KNOW is a scam and they are out for money, but I disagree that Excelsior College is one of them. I believe the CPNE is difficult for a reason. Aside from the workshops that students may attend along with the purchase of all the required companion resources and, the multitude of hours they may spend reading "THE GUIDE" from end-to-end (2,3 or 4 times if necessary), there are literally only 3 clinical days in this program. I expect those three days to be the most difficult, hair-pulling out, decreased appetite, insomniac days that I could ever imagine to walk through in my life. Based off that, a lawsuit isn't the answer, it just makes it difficult for those who have worked hard for their degree and those who are like me, taking the first few steps to further their education. #ThereAreBetterWaysToMoveOn

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry to say this, but obviously, the 17 students did not read enough of Excelsior's nursing program before they enrolled. I knew about all the fees and passing rates when I enrolled. Nothing was hidden by Excelsior, not even the CPNE. And, I took my CPNE TWICE. I was devastated, yes, but did not resort to sourgraping because I knew that it is written in the guidelines/policies that the CPNE is an "all or none" pass/fail exam. There is simply no margin for error. My mistakes in my first CPNE was very, very, minor, even silly and dumb, and not "fatal" or would not have caused any injury to any patient if I was left out without an examiner. BUt it is clear in the guidelines, that if you violate any accepted nursing guidelines or the critical elements of the CPNE, you would fail. Also, I understand why the evaluation for CPNE is rigid. It is clear also in the CPNE guidelines that the student nurses will be evaluated in the CPNE for competency as a a "first day GRADUATE student". This, I think, is the reason why there should be no margin for error, because when we pass, we would be graduating (provided all he other requirements are completed, of course). It is not like traditional school where we can go back, and practice some more until we polish it. This program is only for those who can study, and learn by themselves, and Excelsior is there to evaluate our (self) learning. If the 17 students missed reading the information about the program before they enrolled, they must have missed reading the CPNE guidelines, too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Does anybody know the outcome of the suit?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg, LTC.

Yes, I'd like to know too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion