Problems w/ Nursing School (I am a 25C/formerly a 31C

Hello All,

I am in the Miltary Radio/Satellite comms field but my passion is Nursing, at least thats my only calling. There are so many better job offers but Nursing is my true goal-pay or not.

I got excited the other day when I went to the local miltary clinic (Patch Health Clinic) and one of the NCO's overheard of my interest. Her MOS(Milstary Occupational Specialty) is not nursing but she too is striving for a career in nursing. She recommended Excelsior College which I have heard about. Since I am stationed in Germany for another 2 years I have been hard pressed to find a school that will pick me up with no background in the medical field. Herein lies the problem:

EC will accomodate students in my position with one exception with one small exception. They will not take students with no prior medical experience and their standard for this allow for a variety of medical experience, NA's etc. I was dissappointed to the point of thinking that theyre was no hope of pursuing my studies abroad and honestly I want to begin as soon as I can, before my 2 year comitment here.

Please help me understand as I am smart as I can be and a quick learner.

Why is it this way? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Regards,

Stephen Wynn

Soldier, you are only 24 yrs old. My suggestion is be patient, finish out your present enlistment, then attend an ADN, or BSN program using Veteran educational benefits.

Good luck!

Hello All,

I am in the Miltary Radio/Satellite comms field but my passion is Nursing, at least thats my only calling. There are so many better job offers but Nursing is my true goal-pay or not.

I got excited the other day when I went to the local miltary clinic (Patch Health Clinic) and one of the NCO's overheard of my interest. Her MOS(Milstary Occupational Specialty) is not nursing but she too is striving for a career in nursing. She recommended Excelsior College which I have heard about. Since I am stationed in Germany for another 2 years I have been hard pressed to find a school that will pick me up with no background in the medical field. Herein lies the problem:

EC will accomodate students in my position with one exception with one small exception. They will not take students with no prior medical experience and their standard for this allow for a variety of medical experience, NA's etc. I was dissappointed to the point of thinking that theyre was no hope of pursuing my studies abroad and honestly I want to begin as soon as I can, before my 2 year comitment here.

Please help me understand as I am smart as I can be and a quick learner.

Why is it this way? Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Regards,

Stephen Wynn

The Excelsior program is geared for those with experience already in the nursing field or a similar type of occupation. The college has recently had to tighten their enrollment criteria due to some state boards limiting or not accepting the Excelsior college degree. California just underwent a long law suit and prevailed on the basis of the clinical componet Excelsior's program has. If you have no experience you must enroll in a traditional school. Excelsior does NO teaching of clinical skills--they evaluate skills that you previously have as an LPN or paramedic...and this is over 2 1/2 days only. Most of your career as a nurse (at least bedside) will involve many technical skills that can only be learned via a traditional school. If you have no experience you most likely will not be able to pass Excelsior's clinical and if you do , you will may be labeled incopetent on a job simply because you lack clinical skills. I agree with Corvette--use your military money to attend college the traditional route when your obligation is completed. I attended Excelsior but wasn an LPN for many years...I know first hand that this program requires clinical skills (that is the whole purpose of the program--to move up for those already with credentials).

dont know how close your are to gettting your 4year degree but if u can get that before you leave the military there are lots of 12 month and 18 month accerlarated nursing programs out there.