Quality nursing and ignorance re: distance

Trauma Columnist · Jan 16, 2005

Good luck...I would just ignore the naysayers and keep climbing that ladder.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2005

Dito. Ignore the trolls, don't let them hold you back. Good luck!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2005

I graduated from EC 3 years ago and if I say so myself I got a great education. I think you get out of it what you put into it. I did study every single thing in the EC study guide. I bought the suggested texts and did not use the "expensive for profit study guides". My education cost me very little compared to other grads from EC that I know.

I was hired without problems, I quickly became the go to person for help which led to me becoming a preceptor and a charge nurse passing up many nurses who have been there a long time. Again, when it comes to your job you get out of it what you put into it.

There are good nurses, mediocor nurses and bad nurses and it doesn't matter where they went to school or what grades they made, not even how many times it took them to pass NCLEX.

IGNORE any reference as to how you are obtaining your RN. If you want some help with the CPNE please PM me. I'll send you my organizational plan. It has worked for me and many others and is free of charge.

Signed, A proud graduate of the class of 2001 - Excelsior College of Nursing

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2005

Best of luck on the last NC exam. I think that it is great that you are moving ahead. Don't let anyone hold you back from what you want to accomplish. :)

payday · Jan 18, 2005

When you read the threads about---your worst mistake, boo boo, drug errors.--I think that it is fair judgment that those errors came from all types of educational backgrounds. Some of the errors are simply due to a lack of character on the part of the nurse, not the fault of the education.

That why new nurses need good preceptors and orientations. New hires need to go through a skills checklist with staff development and then let the chips fall where they may. Don't let those who are probably jealous rob you of a great career. EC is a great alternative for those unable the "normal" way. It requires a ton of discipline, no spoon feeding by instructors and lots of motivation. Those are strengths to me.

ageless · Jan 18, 2005

ok..I don't get it..why would someone say your were getting your Nursing degree through the mail?

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2005

ok..I don't get it..why would someone say your were getting your Nursing degree through the mail?

It's a throwback to the "correspondence" course days where everything was sent through the mail, gasp :wink2:, can you imagine. LOL. Actually, quite a few colleges continue to offer courses in "print" vs online. This is just another way to complete a college degree.

ageless · Jan 18, 2005

I understand that one can take on-line courses, but how does this relate to a nursing degree with all the clinical and lab requirements? I do feel ignorant.

Laurie888 · Jan 18, 2005

I understand that one can take on-line courses, but how does this relate to a nursing degree with all the clinical and lab requirements? I do feel ignorant.

It also bugs me when people say I'm getting my degree online. Actually I AM taking ENG102 this semester, online through the local college. It's the first online course I've taken. It's just that they know I take tests to 'complete' a section and some of them just don't get it. Even some that have asked questions and should understand how the program works by now fall back into referring to it as an "online degree" or in the case of whoever said this "mail" or "correspondence." It's not that I care what they THINK it's that I care that I get hired in this hospital, preferably on my own floor.

Even my bosses' boss made the comment in her holiday card to me to 'get some more clinical experience, it will help' and I know I've explained the program to her. Maybe it's just because she knows I am more than a couple years out of school (I'm not an LPN). I just wrote back, well there was 4 months in an intensive LPN program, switched to an RN program where I finished 3 out of 4 semesters of clinicals, plus 8 years of aide experience -- yes I need some more hands on to be comfortable before finishing (plan to move to CNA work for the last few months as it has been about a year and a half since I've had hands-on) but I've had as much, if not more, clinical experience than some of the others graduating this spring (more than the LPNs that are graduating).

So it won't slow me down, but it does worry me that if it gets out that this stupid (and I very rarely use that word) nurse is an Excelsior grad those who don't understand the program (some of them, the management that will be hiring) will make that connection. And I really, really, really want to stay in this hospital. What they wouldn't know or pay attention to if I came from the outside as a new hire they will know and pay attention to because they've seen me do this.

I know, not worth worrying, I can always work elsewhere. But it would be nice to be a new grad in a place where I know the doctors, their personalities, etc. You know, who you can call with what types of problems who is going to respect your judgement and who won't and so on.

ageless · Jan 19, 2005

My guess is that you will be hired. You already have your boss's interest. Heck, I have never gotten a card form one of mine :chuckle

Do a good job in the position you now have and do well in your courses. Your work ethic is an important factor in hiring. sounds like you are have the 'stuff it takes to shine.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Jan 19, 2005

I know, not worth worrying, I can always work elsewhere.

You're right--- poop all over them if they are too closed minded to believe what they hear through the grapevine. We're all proud as hell that you are plugging away and working as hard as you are, and we're the ones who matter because we all have either lived it or are living it right now and now what a toughy the program is. So keep up the excellent work! :)

It bugs me too when people refer to it as "online". There really is nothing online about it.

And just so you know....... your 8 years of nursing asst. experience will come in REAL handy for your CPNE.