any paramedics?

I'm a medic preparing for CPNE

Hi everyone. I have my AAS in Emergency Medical Science and I am working as a paramedic. I love my job but would like to become a RN as well. I need to continue to work full-time while obtaining this degree. Two of my co-workers are getting their degree through Excelsior and I wanted to see if any other medics have had success with this program. I see that most people are coming from LPN. Please give me any advice/feedback that you have. Also, I am so afraid that North Carolina BON will stop recognizing Excelsior. What if this happens half-way through the program? Do the credits transfer anywhere?

Thanks :)

Hi MedicMom... another (long time) Paramedic here... MANY of my coworkers have used Excelsior for their RN and are very successful. I started taking the pre-reqs many years ago, and did not continue with the traditional programs offered here. I got in just under the wire last Oct 1 when they changed the requirement that all sciences needed to be less than 5 years old. Since that time, I have completed the Micro exam (my last pre-req and first exam with Excelsior) and 5 Nursing exams. #6 is Saturday, and have #7 and #8 scheduled before the end of October. You will likely find that a lot of the material, at least medically based, is very familiar... and I thought LS1 was the easiest exam, being heavy on Cardiac and Respiratory. What is hard for us, is learning the 'Nursing Way'... since it is all so different.

Since I work weekday nights, classroom learning is not an option, and I love the flexibility of the self-paced studying. Sure, it's sometimes hard to get motivated, but I study many hours on my weekends.

You can't worry about whether your state will stop accepting Excelsior, unless it is something they are actively pursuing right now... then there can be other options in neighboring states or federal facilities.. and no, the credits do not transfer into other programs, only the pre-reqs, for the most part.

I say GO FOR IT!! I was on the fence for a few years, and wish I had done it sooner!! GOOD LUCK!!

I'm a medic preparing for CPNE

Hi Nat!! :)

Been a Paramedic for 17 years, started the program in 2005 (I had 0 college credits), finished last month. It was a long journey (4 job changes as sole breadwinner in the house, birth of a child, father had a long fight with cancer and his passing plus just life in general). Most of the last year was not really my fault (2 months to do the FCCA (Sept/Oct class), 3 months waiting for approval for CPNE (recieved it in Mid January), another 4 months waiting for the actual CPNE, then 1.5 months waiting for official graduation to take the NCLEX).

But this is one of the reasons I chose Excelsior, flexibility. I would have had to drop out of a regular college (or changed jobs with the 24/48 shifts I worked) and never been able to become a RN.

You need to be self motivated. I had stopped a few times for legitimate reasons, but took longer than I should have to get going again sometimes (I did not do anything for 18 months after my son was born).

Only course I really had an issue with was Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 (seems to be one a lot of people have problems with). I failed it twice. I passed on my 3rd try with a C.

I've been a paramedic for a while now. I've found there isn't a nursing program that would have been as flexible as excelsior was. With all of the bumps in the road and shift work I do I wouldn't have been able to complete a traditional program. I've worked with other medics who have finished in about a year or so. It took me a while longer than that..... Good luck to you.

Hi Nat!! :)

Hiiii Barb!!

I have been a paramedic in Ohio for the past 10 years. I recently graduated from Excelsior's P-RN program and actually got my license number today. The program worked great for my rotating schedule. I was already offered an ER position. I would say go for it!

Hiiii Barb!!

Getting ready for CPNE??!! How's it going? LS2 on Saturday....

Getting ready for CPNE??!! How's it going? LS2 on Saturday....

Yep.. Feeling like a lost girl in the woods. lool. Great!