william1

No I understand what you are saying, I think any experience that people get in the beginning is helpful. I just dont understand why EC grads cant get licensed if they have already been working as nurses in hospitals in other states. Nursing is the same regardless of what state you are in... It doesn't make sense for the clinical issue to be the only reason. I just think there has to be something more to it than that.

Im not upset about anything! Ive been working as a nurse for a while now and have seen the same things you have. People have to do clinicals for paramedic and LPN programs as well. Based on my experience clinicals are good for people who have no experience in the areas that excelsior requires for entrance into the program. All EC students have participated in clinicals in all areas of the hospital! This whole conversation is subjective! But I will say this, there are individuals out there who have worked hard in the industry and posses a knowledge base just as good if not better than many practicing nurses that I have met! If the whole thing was rocket science to begin with than most people wouldn't make it through at all, traditional or non-traditional route.... Last I checked Harvard wasn't accepting anymore applications to their nursing program!!!

Me too!

You are right... I would like to see any one of these nurses even attempt to take the CPNE! Otherwise this argument could just go on forever! Pointless! Thanks for the support

Awesome.. thank you

I understand that the roles are different, I have done both as well. Im just saying that the knowledge base between the two can be bridged with out your traditional clinical experience. I think it stands to reason that the skills learned as a practicing medic are more valuable than those obtained in a clinical where there is very little pressure to perform!!!

Just so you know most students who fail out of excelsior usually wind up graduating from traditional nursing programs! The school demands a lot from its students!

Well I thought there was something more to it than the typical view. If those are the reasons than where does the experience of the LPN or Paramedic come in to play. If I were a patient I would rather have some one taking care of me who had experience in the real world practicing starting lines, giving drugs, intubating (for paramedics) and saving lives rather than a new grad with a few "supervised" clinicals! It was also required for excelsior students to get clinical experience before becoming paramedics or LPNs, and before graduation are required to go through a very rigorous clinical sign off by advanced practice nurses. Im not trying to put any one down, I just believe that the real world experience provides a good platform to start from... Thats all! Thanks

I know that is the typical view but people forget that excelsior is a bridge program. Most people were lpn's or paramedics for years before getting nursing degree from Excelsior. If experience counts for anything than they are actually better prepared than your average new grad... or at least just as prepared based on actual working experience. At least thats the way I look at.

Does anyone know why Excelsior college nursing grads cant get jobs in some states such as California? Does anyone know how to get around this?

Does anyone know which cities offer the best paid nursing jobs in the US?

Hey nomad... I have read some of your comments before and I like what you have to say. This topic actually hits home for me though. I am trying to figure out what I want to do. Originally it was CRNA but now Im just not sure anymore. I just recently got accepted to a CRNA school but can feel the stress start to build when I think about going through it. I think that I am just tired of being stressed out all the time. I dont really enjoy nursing to be honest with you but I feel like I've finally reached a point where it has gotten fairly easy for me. Im just wondering if the extra 2 1/2 years of worry and stress being in school is worth the payoff in the end. Its hard for me to decide because I really don't know any CRNAs who I can bounce thoughts off of. I know you are both CRNA and NP so any thoughts you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thx

I just had my interview at fIU... what did you think about your experience there? Was it a good one?

Hi I was just wondering if anyone has done an interview at FIU recently and can give me some tips on what to expect. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Gotcha...i appreciate the info... I should clarify a little better... Its actually a 24 bed general ICU at the smaller hospital... From what i understand they will get a variety of medical and surgical patients... They are not a trauma center and they dont do nuero either.... But they are opening up a cvicu in 1 month where they are going to perform open hearts... Im not sure how that would effect me being in just refular icu but i thought id mention it.... Judging by the comments it sounds like the big sicu in texas is the better choice for experience... I guess what matters most is what a crna school commitee would prefer to see on an applicants resume. Im just trying to get all the info i can before i decide on making a big move... The comments really help... Please keep them coming!!

So I want to become a crna... I just finished nursing school a few months ago and I now have 2 job offers. The first position is in a SICU in a large hospital located in Texas, and the other position is in a general MICU at a smaller community hospital in Florida. I know that I need atleast one year of ICU experience to be considered by any crna school so I definately need to get started at one of these hospitals. I feel very torn at the moment between the two and I dont know which one to pick. If I choose the big hospital in Texas I wont know anyone in the town that Ill be living in and I wont be able to save much money over the course of the year. If I take the position at the smaller hospital in Florida I will be able to stay with some family and probably save about $8,000 by the time the year is over. I honestly don't know which route to take, on one hand I would like to have the comfort of family around me and to save some money but at the same time I dont want to give up the potentially valuable experience that working at a big hospital could give me. What it comes down to is I want to do what is best for my future. Some people say it is necessary to work at a large busy hospital to get accepted into crna school and others say that it doesnt matter either way.... I could really use some advice on this subject. Any crna's out there please help!! I want to make the best choice possible.

Thanks... I really appreciate that :)

So I am wondering how long it takes to work in a hospital as a new nurse before you can be hired by a different hospital (same type of unit) without having to repeat the training/internship? If anyone has the answer to this question it would be greatly appreciated :) Thanks!