deej

Welcome to California... Call BRN and see if you can use a CLEP exam to satisfy the sociology requirement; if they won't take the CLEP score directly then you should still be able to have the score sent to a community college and get it on a transcript that way.

Hate to say it, but the Lousiana RN application specifically states "Graduates of Excelsior College must submit a copy of their LPN license." http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/documents/forms/initialexaminstructions.pdf They don't have an endorsement application on their site (not that I can find, anyway) so I don't know if you can license out of state and then endorse over. As always, call the state for the final word.

Nope, unless you are an LVN/LPN or paramedic, you won't be able to enroll in the Excelsior program. If you're starting from scratch, your best bet is to go directly into a traditional 2 year RN program.

Doesn't sound too "online" to me.

That's absurd. You were hired, you were on the floor, you had obviously satisfied your preceptor that you were a competent nurse...and only THEN someone raised a nonexistent "issue" with your education? I hope you have a union. That's why it's so important for EC grads to fight the disinformation and ignorance that opponents of nontraditional education try to spread.

I just enrolled in the University of Wyoming online program. They accept the EC science classes (A&P, micro, etc.) without lab, which was kind of a big deal for me; I don't want to have to retake them unless absolutely necessary. They are also reasonably inexpensive for out-of-state students. Dundee was my 2nd choice. It's fairly inexpensive (about $10K, I believe - hey, it's all relative) and seems like it can be accomplished pretty quickly. My ultimate goal is an NP, and I decided on UW's BSN as being the best route to that end. YMMV. As was stated above, check for NLN/CCNE approval. One or both is a must. Dundee is NLN, UWyo is CCNE. You should be able to get some tuition reimbursement from your employer for your RN to BSN. I know my facility offers it, so I'll be looking into that.

I went to Tina's (CHE) workshop. The labs were set up identically to the actual CPNE. (When I say identically, I mean identically. The wound simulator for the wound packing station was the exact same one I used on the CPNE.) PCSs are hard to simulate, but her mnenomics and grids were a big help. I passed the CPNE the first time (Plano, 7/05). I chose her workshop mostly because it was local to me, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm reasonably certain you can also take Chancellor's workshop without signing one of their contracts. Call them and ask.

Yes.

Presented without comment: http://www.azcentral.com/families/education/articles/0914apollo14.html There are lots of other RN to BSN programs out there. Quite a few of them specifically state they will accept new grads. Most of them are substantially less expensive than University of Phoenix.

Those numbers came from a page on EC's website for National Nurses Week. It's no longer available on EC's website but you can find it in Google's cache. The Fresno City College numbers came from BRN's website.

Huh? In any event, EC's NCLEX pass rate for 2005 was 90.30%. The national average was 87.46%. Just to stir the pot some, the largest RN program in California (Fresno City College) had a 74.25% pass rate in 2005.

What - if anything - does NP licensure have to do with RN to BSN education? NP programs are now all Master's level, and while individual programs have differing entry requirements (some require a NLN/CCNE approved BSN, others are happy with any bachelor's degree; more than a few programs don't even require a bachelor's) the BRN NP application doesn't address baccalaureate education at all.

Well, considering there is no such thing as a "BRN approved/accepted/accredited" RN to BSN program, I don't think you have much to worry about. As someone above stated, the main thing to consider is the potential acceptance by future MSN/NP programs; as long as your RN to BSN program is NLN or CCNE accredited, it should be accepted by most MSN programs. Check with potential schools to see if they require NLN or CCNE. Also, if you want PHN licensure in California, your program has to be NLN approved or meet the BRN's requirements. Most NLN/CCNE RN to BSN programs have a community health practicum, which is what BRN is looking for. (I don't know what the "BORN" is; the California Board of Registered Nursing refers to itself as BRN.) BRN's stated mission vis-a-vis nursing schools is stated on its website: As an RN to BSN program is neither prelicensure nor advanced practice, approval of such a program would fall outside of the purview of BRN. Also, the list of RN to BSN programs on BRN's website is woefully incomplete. Sonoma State and Chico State both have NLN accredited RN to BSN programs, yet neither is listed on BRN.

Sure it specifically mentions EC. Graduates of schools outside the United States or graduates of non- NLN or CCNE accredited programs may be asked to provide additional information following review of their application. See? It specifically mentions NLN accredited programs. There ya go. Now, had it said "graduates of non-NLN or CCNE accredited programs, excepting of course certain NLN-accredited programs that certain people don't like," then we'd be in trouble. DJ (EC grad, oh, California RN, by the way)

Here's a link I found while googling around: https://allnurses.com/forums/f17/ccne-vs-nln-accreditation-76354.html As long as your program is either CCNE or NLN approved, it's fine. Stay away from programs that aren't accredited by either.