meg2465

I'm an Excelsior grad ADN and BSN, and I was accepted into UMDNJ without an issue. I personally know another Excelsior grad who was accepted into Columbia for their NP program. Excelsior can be a polarizing topic for some people who can't conceive of a distance learning nursing program. The bottom line is that it is accredited, and it is a perfectly legitimate route to licensure. I could see a school wanting proof of attending laboratory sections for the hard sciences, which Excelsior naturally cannot provide. If that is their rationale, then it is what it is. But it can't be just because it's Excelsior. If their requirements are that you hold a BSN, an Excelsior degree ought to do it.

It's not revenge to defend yourself.

Atropine IVP for the vasovagal syncope? Sounds like a stellar operation all around. Run, and don't look back.

OP: take it one step at a time. Go to EMT school and see if you like it. Go spend a little time working as a CNA and see if you like it. Don't worry so much about the grand plan, I guarantee you it is going to change, because you are going to change. Enjoy the ride!

Does anybody else think it's a little ridiculous that they couldn't provide a hamper for this clinical exercise? If bed making and linen handling are such crucial skills, that merit such a critical evaluation, then you should have the materials and not just have to play "let's pretend". God, I'm glad I went the Excelsior route.

Brava, Grey Lady. Not only are you helping your students, you are helping to improve the credibility of the profession. Nobody expects a law student or a medical student to work full time nights, take care of the kids, and put dinner on the table. I'd argue that a nursing student is just as busy, and just as stressed. And. . . just as deserving of support!

Thanks, Moogie. . . . I'm much more at peace with this now. It's not a race, after all!

Just finished my first semester of clinicals at an ACNP program. I got glowing evaluations from my clinical preceptor, and carried a good grade on my exams, but I fell far behind on documenting my clinical writeups and am looking at an incomplete for the semester. Barring a miracle, I won't be able to progress this semester, and I will have to recycle into the program a year down the road. I have two years of didactic already invested into this program, and I have done very well up to this point. I'm disappointed, of course, but I'm a bit relieved as well - I work 12 hour nights FT, and I am not a night person - no day spots available on my unit. I've been swimming upstream trying to schedule daytime clinical around work. I have been living on coffee, I never exercise, and I don't get to see my friends or my family. Basically, I am exhausted and miserable. I have every intention of finishing this program, and I am worried that this "break" will become permanent. Has anyone out there successfully navigated through a situation like this, and do you have any words of advice?

Have you started clinicals yet? That might be a totally different ballgame.

I understand your desire to start clinical in the fall. My guess is that FNP does the same thing with the specialty classes and only offers them once a year. It's very tempting. The problem with taking on that many credits a semester as a working adult is that you leave yourself no wiggle room. If the car breaks down, a kid gets sick, or the schedule at work poses a conflict, you can't flex anywhere to come up with a solution. And make no mistake, the school does not care about whether you work or have outside commitments. They spell that out in the student handbook. If you take one course a semester, you can start your specialty in fall of 2012, and you'll have given yourself half a chance to be ready for it. No need to make yourself insane trying to do it all at once. That extra year will go by pretty fast, and you won't be miserable and stressed out all the time. Just sometimes. Best of luck, no matter what you decide to do. And Happy New Year.

Hi, I am in the ACNP program there, and I have taken all of these classes already. It depends on your strengths and the amount of time you have to study. Also, the professors are fairly uneven in terms of what they expect out of you. Mental health was fairly laid back. I did not have a difficult time with the path class, but many people in my class struggled. The pharma class was quite time intensive with the research, you're going to spend a lot of time staring at CINAHL. And the health assessment class was a nightmare, all it taught me was to hate doing H&Ps. Nobody in my class had a very good go of it. Honestly, if you have any obligations outside of school - a job, a home, a family - I would recommend taking one class a semester, at least for this first semester. The degree will be there when you get there, the time will go by faster than you think, and you'll give yourself a chance to actually absorb the material, so you'll be better prepared for clinical when you get there. Congratulations, and best of luck!

I'm a year into the acute care NP program at UMDNJ, got accepted with an Excelsior ADN and BSN. The Excelsior BSN teaches you how to manage your education independently, which comes in very handy for grad school. Good luck!

It's helpful to have a humorous stock answer to this question. If someone asks, "So what's the worst thing you've ever seen?" you can reply "The Last Airbender" (or the crummy movie / TV show of your choosing). It gives you a moment to relax and an excuse to smile, so you don't come off as defensive. A smart person will realize that you're saving face for the both of you. If you're further pressed at this point, you can just smile and say, "I'm not going to talk shop here".

My hat is off to you for your awesome attitude toward your work. How different hospitals would be if everyone approached their job the way you do! If you are considering getting your RN license, I am cheering for you. If you have been out of school for a while, it may ease the transition if you enroll in a prerequisite class or two first. This help accustom you to balancing school and work. If you don't already, now is a good time to start reading a professional nursing journal or two. There are dozens to choose from; some are general interest, and some are very specialized. Don't despair if you don't completely understand each article; I am an experienced nurse in a specialty area, and I certainly don't understand everything I encounter in the literature at first blush either! Finally, if you want to stretch your knowledge base while keeping your hands on the patient, may I suggest you look into critical care. Since these patients tend to be complex and fragile, RNs tend to render most of the care that CNAs would be responsible for in another practice setting. Staffing ratios are low - two or three patients at the most per RN. The initial learning curve is a little steep - mainly because of the need to be comfortable with EKG rhythm interpretation - but it's not impossible. Best of luck!