stressed1

I have quitely monitored these exchanges and I would like to state my position. I am a student in the RN program. Prior to this I attended a traditional ADN program for 50% of my training as Excelsior required. The purpose of the 50% requirement is that in a traditional ADN program each student must successfully pass clinical test-offs in all skills a RN is required to have to graduate nursing school and subsequently take the NCLEX. I have the clinical experience, and I personally used all these skills under supervision in actual clinical settings; most students who graduate an ADN or BSN program do not use these skills in a clinical setting prior to graduating. Our instructors constantly reminded us of this and encouraged us to seek out what we did not know during our hospital clinicals. I can tell you many don't because if a error is made that is classified as unsafe practive,they can be dismissed from clinicals. This is a catch 22 situation. I am from a family of nurses and clinicals are something you endure not enjoy. It is not real nursing by any means. As a matter of fact we have had the discussion many times that a nurse should never be in a clinical setting until they have the academics behind them. So you see, there are many views even within the nursing practice regarding nursing school. I am the only one ADN educated. I was told ADN's are taught to do and BNS's are taught why. I think too many fingers are being pointed and personally feel an overhaul of the entire education of student nurses is long overdue. Until the requirement is made that instructors must complete minimum educator cirriculum no one will ever receive the education they pay for and deserve. Personally I think this is where the State Boards of Nursing need to be focusing their attention. A good nurse does not equate to a good nursing instructor.

I transferred from an ADN program, Excelsior required two semesters successfully completed because in those two semesters, in the ADN program candidates must successfully perform a head to toe physical assessment in each level to progress as well as pass test off's in all skills, like IV, injections, and tube care and dosage calculation proficiency. This may be diffierent for the LPN; I'm not sure. CA is concerned about clinicals, if you have worked as an RN in other states, seems to me that would settle that. If that is where you want to work contact them. I plan to pursue my BSN locally immediately, so I won't have all my education all tied to Excelsior.

I just received notification of changes in the Excelsior program yesterday. The clinical now includes head to toe physical assessment and clincial experience in a hospital type environment. Also, C3 is now 2 exams with different titles. The total is now 8 exams with each 3 instead of 4 hours credit. Thank goodness I enrolled in March. They apparently will do whatever it takes to stay in the game.