DYatesRN

I share this problem too. You know it is bad when the preschool teacher asks you if you are a nurse. I inquire, "well, yes, I am. How do you know?" The teacher replies your daughter washed her hands about 20 times with the hand sanitizing gel she carries in her pocket and really works up a good lather when washing at the sink...pretty impressive for a four year old :) My thirteen year old daughter was with me the day the teacher inquired about my profession and was quick to say, "see Mom, you really are a weirdo." I guess I join the rest of the "germ" freaks on this thread. I also carry this gel with me wherever I go and use it constantly after touching ANYTHING anyone else touches!

I agree with the Saunders guide. I took LPN boards in 95. I don't remember what I used for it but I did use saunders comprehensive guide for the RN boards and passed on try one using Saunders. I recommend studying like the above poster. Good Luck!

Your comment to her was very immature and was not a good example to be setting...this however does not give ANYONE the right to hit someone else. I would report it. I think if I were you I would refrain from such sarcasm in the future.

Did they compensate any of the students for their travel time??? To wait several months and be canceled after traveling several miles.....that is a bad!

Well stated! This is so true in any profession!

I was qouting someone else saying in this thread that the RN program was "only six months more." I know it takes more time than that. Yes, I wish there were more programs that would fast track experienced LPN's like yourself...it is unfortunate. I still think RN opens more doors and pays better in general. I was given credit for my previous LPN experience, so not all places deny you credit for LPN experience....

If you have those pre-req's why not move on to much more money if you feel you are doing near the same job. Yes. there are nurses of all types that sit around...I am not disputing that one! I am just saying that an LPN certificate/degree is not equal to the RN degree...most boards justify this. My point is I tire of LPN's saying it is almost equal--and 9 times out of 10 we do carry the same jobs--so move on, get that last little "6 months" and get the pay YOU deserve for your hard work. There is always going to be the butt sitting BSN, LPN, CNA...we know this BUT there are some EXCELLENT bedside BSN, ADN, LPN, and CNA's. It is quite unfair to bash one. One of my best friends is a bedside BSN--one of the best nurses I know. I started at the bottom CNA-5 years, LPN 10 years, RN-less than a year, BSN in the works...we all start somewhere. I say move on LPN's if you are doing the same thing and know more than the BSN--get the degree for the extra pay if nothing else!

RN's have more than just 6 months extra schooling...most have a year of pre-req's that include intense sciences classes with labs (I had micro, Anatomy, physiology). I tire quite easily of bashing each other's degree. LPN's serve their place as well as all levels of RN's. So a BSN may not have put a foley in (this is basic and can be learned on the job) but an LPN is not qualified to carry the supervisory responsiblity of the BSN--nor are they licensed to do so.......

This is so true! Boards make changes and adaptations all the time as well. Just because today EC is accepted in a certain state does not mean it will be the same tomorrow. I am glad that Excelsior was able to offer me an option that allowed me to avoid daycare and remain working but my first choice would have been a traditional college. I am moving to CA in 2 weeks and was able to gain licensure because my enrollment was before the deadline...had it been after I would have been unable to move to California. Things come up and it is hard if you have restrictions. Thanks for pointing this out Suzanne.

Good Luck at the clinical. Where are you taking yours?

Amy-- Around here if you are accepted into a nursing program several local hospitals will pay for it if you sign a contract. Please check into it in your area. This is mainly for those seeking RN programs. I would suggest you take out a student loan...you should qualify for one. The first step is to contact the financial aid office at the school you wish to attend and they can give you many options. Don't give up on your dream even if you must take out a student loan. Some states as well as employers will pay off your student loans if you work for them so long as well. Seems strange to me that you aren't able to get a pell grant at all. I got a pell grant working part time and my husband was working full time...and we have 2 kids. Before you say you can't get anything get the word directly from the financial aid office. Scholarships are also available...do some homework and I think you will find some great options! p.s. I was born the within a month of you...and I also have learned that I should have listened to my parents...I graduated in 90 from H.S., the LPN program in 1995, and now the RN program in March of this year. It took me awhile but my dreams are slowly happening...next it is on to BSN :) Dee

Actually Kansas has set up clinicals at a few colleges free to obtain clinical hours and they will allow endorsement after so many hours. Illinois will allow licensure after two years experience as an RN in another state. I believe the only outright ban is California. There are state boards that are considering not allowing Excelsior graduates licensure...Colorado and Wyoming are two that I know are looking into this type of degree. California acted appropriately by allowing those enrolled to obtain licensure. They set a date to allow students enrolled and just enrolling to still obtain licensure. Who knows...Excelsior lost some of integrity in my opinion.

I hope it works out. I have heard on another board that many colleges won't just let you in on their clinicals, but hopefully that is not the case. I wish Excelsior would set up some kind of clinicals there that would meet the boards requirement or allow preceptorship like Washington state. Good Luck!!!

Not here, because the hospital I work at has no LPN's...only clin tech's and RN's. The patients here certainly aren't waiting to be discharged by LPN's. Go for your RN, it really isn't too much longer and the pay, respect, and benefits are better. Keep on going!!!! I took a 10 year stop before I made the transition. You can do it!!!

well said! Some people are just not good test takers!

I do understand all of what you said and agree that it may be difficult but not impossible. I am awaiting LPN's response from the California board as to what all the options are. That would be rather silly that a school hold a nursing license. I hope most of us are aware of that nurses are licensed and schools accredited accordingly :) Liability is a huge issue for any nurse or hospital to undertake, but perhaps if the board mentioned options to her...then they have a few that could work.

I think you will be able to find one. Deaconess students are able to arrange preceptors and I think you should also. The insurance may be an issue but perhaps if it is a place you intend to work at they will be more willing to help. It is not like you are a new nurse or had no nursing background. Let us know the options when you find them out so others can be aware that they also have this alternative.

i think she was meaning california not kansas. i highly agree that california will not do it free of charge because as you pointed out they gave notice with a final enrollment date. i really hope that all who need licensure in this state can find some way to do these clinical hours...it sure beats doing an entire program over!

That is good. Can you do this through a preceptor at a hospital? I see that there should be no issue with EC if one were to do 360 hour preceptorship. I am happy that you will be able to gain licensure in the state, as well as all others. Please post the details so others can become informed.

LPN-- I hear you. I was in a similar situation back in the late 90's. Hang in there! You will pass the CPNE and once that is over you can focus on weight loss and getting a new life together. Best wishes!

I am not really defensive just disappointed in the college as well as the attitudes of some of the graduates. Nursing instructors in my local area feel that this program is one that flunked students go to for their degree. This was stated to me by a local instructor. The college needs to continue to buckle down on who they admit and try to work out some kind of clinical rotation to make the degree in better standing. Much damage was done to their integrity by the CA ruling as well as several of these companies recruiting individuals on the promise of a quick degree--this is what makes EC sound like a diploma mill. I don't not promote the college, as it can makes dreams come true if no other route is available, but I don't say go do it either--at least not until the college wins some integrity back...and I think they are trying. I have nothing further to post to you other than have a great day! :)

It does not take a rocket scientist to speculate that some of the people who have gone through this program and others are very ill prepared. I think that EC once had a greater possibility of putting out unprepared nurses by letting underqualified individuals in the program. So your point is that because Kansas made a hasty ruling and people made a fuss they modified their decision??? Yes, we all know this--it is on the board's web site that you must have so many clinical hours before you can get licensed there. I once again never said they weren't allowed to practice there, I was saying that Kansas board was making decisions and questioning the degree. Perhaps you are misreading into posts. I have merely held to the fact that boards of nursing around the states are looking into the EC issue. While this may be a "blanket" statement , it bears watching. Maybe all of us don't plan or care to live or work in Texas. Kansas did take action to modify the licensure of EC grads in that state. People will always make a fuss over rulings--no matter what the ruling is...the point remains the same, once again EC became an investigation to another board. While we may not find much info regarding data related to EC grads performance after licensure, I remain confident that the California board banned them partially on hospital complaints of sub-performance. Going from a cna or ma to an RN in a busy hospital unit is a lille scary in my opinion. I commend the college for making entry changes but find it a little late. I am certainly glad that you promote the college across the board, that is welcome advertisement for them. I however, say proceed with caution. I did the program and can't go back to change that now, but certainly think LPN to RN programs really need a little more structure regarding clinical requirements that will sit well with all boards. Integrity should mean more than money.

I never said they were blindly following them. I reported that another student on a different message board reported that she called the Wyoming board and they told her not to enroll because they were going to stop accepting EC students. I clearly stated this in my post. I also stated that after reading the post I researched the Wyoming board and read about EC attending one of there meetings. Please don't twist my written words. I am more than aware that each board of nursing operates independent of one another and traditionally evaluate things that impact their state. If you call Excelsior and speak with the state boards office they will tell you themselves that Colorado has been *saying* they are going to stop licensure in that state, but at the present moment they are still accepting them. Another fact to note is that some states have had very few (an honest handful of students) who graduated from EC and now that CA made their decision and more students are doing no-traditional learning...the states are looking deeper into it than before. Wyoming, Colorado, the Dakota's, Iowa...and several others have had very few EC grads. Kansas is one of those states that made some recent rulings and they have had only a handful of students...most being in the past year or so. You must also realize that with many other boards of nursing re-evaluating the program that we *may* see more decsions that affect EC grads nationwide. I personally feel that like another poster stated, the damage that has been done "is a day late and a dollar short." EC allowed several unqualified students into the program that had work place adjustment problems. The problem was magnified by several *school and Publishing companies* out to make money off the entire situation by recruiting as many as possible with dreams of obtaining their RN in record time with little experience. The college should have put the dollar behind their integrity...and possibly much of this hysteria could have been avoided. In EC's defense I also think that some level of $$$ was involved in the decision to ban EC grads in California. The school took away local revenue. My advice is to stay alert to what is happening in the states you wish to practice once you have completed the program. If you have doubts or are a frequent mover, then I do not recommend this program.

I recently read where Wyoming is now questioning EC. An EC student on another board mentioned that she called the Wyoming board and asked them about EC, their response was not to enroll at this time as Wyoming and several other boards have been in contact discussing the issue. Colorado is going to come down with a ruling I fear--I just got licensed there and when I called they said they are still allowing EC grads but things may very well change in the near future. I investigated it further by visiting the wyoming board web site and clicking on the July meeting. You can read where EC visited them giving info about the program.