overwhelmed...and I haven't even applied.

medic112, EMT-P · Jan 23, 2014

Hi Medicmom,

I completely understand your worries and I think a lot of us have similar concerns but, have all bit the bullet and resorted to this program for one reason or another. It's true that MOST places do not care where your degree came from, as long as you have a valid license then you're good to go. One of the supervisors in the ER I currently work at is an Excelsior grad who had no issue being hired. With that said, I have already been told by a different local ER director she would never hire a person with an online degree, so every job could be different.

As for not wanting to get your BSN online, realize that not just Excelsior does their BSN program online, so many colleges are doing an online BSN now. Most hospital based and community college nursing schools are ASN programs with no option for BSN. A lot of the RNs I work with are taking online BSN programs through places like Robert Morris University, Waynesburg College (which I do believe has a one day a week physical class), point being there are options.

A&P and Micro is where things get rough. You are right that if you do any other program post Excelsior you will most likely have to retake these classes. You know that Excelsior is a 6 credit A&P class and most colleges require an 8 credit class. Micro is 3 credit most colleges require 4. Maybe taking the slower track and taking those classes at a community college would be a good idea? You can still take English, Sociology, Lifespan with Excelsior in the mean time to get yourself started.

I wish I had something more supportive to say rather than validating your concerns, I have the same concerns on a day to day basis. I think about quitting this program every single day, I can't imagine graduating with a degree that people wont even recognize. Somehow I come up with a convoluted plan to talk myself into staying. I have even gone as far as telling myself I would retake year two at a community college post graduation, that's right I'd RETAKE NURSING SCHOOL, if it meant getting a stupid piece of paper that was more recognized by other college. I would have TWO ASN from two differnt colleges but, I will do whatever it takes to make a better life for my family. You will figure this out, good luck.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 24, 2014

As a paramedic, EC was an awesome thing for me. It opened doors I never even knew existed. Is it too goofy to say it changed my life? Or maybe I should say I changed my life, but either way it's true. I became an RN in 2008, went to Chamberlain for the RN-BSN online and completed that in 2010, commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps in 2011, and now I'm a trauma nurse in Afghanistan (which is a great experience, but I'm ready to come home now!!).

It seems like there are many LPN-RN bridges, but not so many P-RN at all. You're wise to think about your options! Personally I've never had a problem with employment, and now that I have 10,000+ hours of nursing under my belt, I think it's moot. If you can leverage relationships you have as a medic, that would probably help. We medic EC grads seem to do well in the ED, no surprise. :)

Couple of links I like to pimp out:

https://allnurses.com/excelsior-college-online/excelsior-college-distance-808335.html - a lot of basic info about EC's program

https://allnurses.com/excelsior-college-online/clinical-performance-nursing-884109.html - a look at the CPNE (clinical exam)

https://allnurses.com/excelsior-college-online/excelsior-grads-where-217472.html - EC grads, where are they now? Possibly motivational and/or inspirational. :)

Ultraposh · Jan 25, 2014

I agree with Pixie.RN. Although I'm doing the program as a LPN, not a paramedic when I learned that paramedics can do the bridge program I thought that was amazing. From what Ive read there are a lot who do their credits at their community college. I cant because of work so I'm doing the Sciences through Excelsior as well as English and Info lit. Math through ALEKS and clepping everything else. Straighterline was once an option which included lab but Excelsior stopped accepting Straighterline a&p/micro ;(

BrillyD · Jan 25, 2014

If your ANP is less than 5 years old you shouldn't have to retake it, but as for the exam - if it's denied, appeal - because you've already had ANP it might not be so bad as it will be a review of what you had before. Also, online schools are the thing now and more and more colleges are and will be going to online or telecourses so the stigma of an online degree will be less every year until eventually it is the norm. Online courses save the colleges thousands because they can charge the same but not have to maintain a physical classroom - this is the future! Take a couple CLEP exams - like psychology or life span development - this will get you in the groove for online/self paced learning and might help you to relieve some of your anxiety - CLEPs are only about $80 and can be tested at a local college.

Clep & Dsst exams accepted by EC section 3:

http://www.excelsior.edu/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=969eaa1d-b672-4eaf-8576-f3afcce7119e&groupId=78666