Questions about Excelsior?

Nursing Students Online Learning

Published

Has anyone taken any courses from here, if so how did you like it? Or has anyone graduated with their RN and if so, what is your input on this program?

Specializes in Geriaterics, RN Student.

I am in an LPN program as we speak and am sold on EC simply because I can get in once I am done with my LPN, the wait time in Washington State takes forever and then some.

What are the clinicals like, how much stress are they or are they compable with the LPN clinicals?

Also, how do other nurses look at you and your experiences and professionalism knowing you have gone through EC? I have mentioned EC to a few of my classmates and they just roll their eyes and tell me that they would be afraid of anyone who went through an online school. Is it really that different from traditional college classes?

Thanks for any help.

Edith

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU.

Wow, I totally had questions about this as well. I am finishing my Block 2 at a nursing school in May and can test for my LPN. However I am looking to accelerate my education and was looking at Excelsior. Also, I may be moving out of state and don't want to have to start over in applying for schools to finish and get my RN (plus when I talked to some of the schools in the state I might be moving too they wouldn't recognize my education here, even if I had an LPN, and told me I would have to start over). The only thing I was worried about was feeling prepared. I got my B.S. in Kinesiology at a University and have only taken 2 classes online. I am applying for externships in the department I want (L&D or nursery) and I work in the hospital as a CNA on a med/surg floor. What do you guys think? For those of you who have done the Excelsior route, did you feel like you learned enough to go out and get a job? Do you have any advice? Any thoughts on whether or not this is a route I should take?

Another thought is that I am frustrated with the school I am at. I feel like other than clinical experience I am teaching myself a lot. I really don't feel like I am learning in class. I take my notes home, study on my own, and get my learning that way. I feel like the set up of the classes is very childish and more frustrating than productive. The only time I am learning a lot is when it is in clinical experience (I do have great clinical instructors), but that is backed up by what I have learned and studied incoorelation or before that. I definitely feel like I would learn more at my externship as well.

I still need to contact Excelsior but any info on the costs of the school also will be a help. Ok, a lot of questions but thanks for any help you can give me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriaterics, RN Student.

I still need to contact Excelsior but any info on the costs of the school also will be a help. Ok, a lot of questions but thanks for any help you can give me!

I know they are acknowledged by both Montana and Washington state. They are expensive, but considering the weight for traditional programs, I think they are worth it.

One of the nurses teaching my LPN program has so arrogantly stated that she doesn't think anyone with less than a BSN should be allowed to be a nurse. I am not spending the amount of money I am shelling out on an LPN program only to be told that an MA can do my job in a few years by some pencil pusher. I want a guarantee and a paycheck for a long time to come. Furthering your career any way you can is the only way to achieve that goal. Just be aware that when you talk to ppl about excelsior, they will question your sanity and ability to learn how to be an RN. I think that is a preception of many ppl. However after reading all the posts here from DON's and other management personel regarding Excelsior, I honestly wonder why someone would deal with the hassle of going to a class and putting up with some of the instuctors.

Basically its the same process; you go and sit and listen to a teacher lecture, read the given assignments and then test on your retention of the knowledge. The only thing that worries me are the clinicls. Check with your state nursing board and make sure they accept excellsior. I have seen on the board that California is no longer accepting their nurses. But NANDA is giving them rave reviews. Only way to discover though is to jump it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am not spending the amount of money I am shelling out on an LPN program only to be told that an MA can do my job in a few years by some pencil pusher.

Always consider the source when you hear things like that.

When I was an LVN, the only people who ever told me that MA's can do the same job as an LVN were MA's or students.

I have never worked in outpatient care, which is the primary employer of MA's so I can't speak to that, however...

MA's have never existed on any acute hospital floor I've ever worked, nor have I ever heard of them working in acute care, and I've yet to hear of any MA charging a unit in LTC in the capacity that an LPN/LVN can.

MA's do not have the level of training/licensure of an LPN/LVN, and if they did, they'd be working in the same jobs that LPN/LVN's do.

BTW, no one has ever questioned my "sanity" or otherwise for getting my RN through EC. The only criticism I've ever gotten for it is here online.

Again, consider the source.

As a new EC grad, I got calls from nurse managers about jobs within hours of faxing my resume that clearly states that I'm an EC grad RN.

I have yet to see a thread started by an EC grad saying "No one will hire me because I'm an EC grad."

Such things are posted here, but ironically never a first hand story by the EC grad themselves.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Question from 07/2005 LPN grad working 36 hrs a week Med Surg in hospital: Will my work experience performing a variety of procedures act to prepare me for Excelsior CPNE - considering I will not take the CPNE for 18 - 24 months from now?

I understand taking Excelsior's CPNE workshop would give valuable insight & preparation regarding their expectations in passing the CPNE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have yet to see a thread started by an EC grad saying "No one will hire me because I'm an EC grad."

Such things are posted here, but ironically never a first hand story by the EC grad themselves.

What about the stories about secret studies done that prove Excelsior students make more errors and are more of a threat to patients which is why California won't allow them anymore?

I haven't spoken to a single employer who recoiled when I told them I went to Excelsior. Even the ones who were not familiar with Excelsior acted very interested in learning more about it.

Truth is, there are literally armies of us and we aren't going anywhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated from Excelsior in 2002 with my AAS in Nursing. I took the NClex exam one month after graduation and passed the first time round. I highly recommend this program. It is a thorough program, but if you are not self disciplined then you may have problems. You have to be proactive to find learning experiences to be sucessful with the CPNE. I passed the CPNe the first time. I was an LPN with 8 years experience- most was in hmo/clinic setting. I had no problem getting a job or was questioned about Excelsior. I currently work in hmo setting in Colorado. I did work one year in the hospital in Arizona and had no problem transferring my license. I found Excelsior staff to be knowledgable and helpful and I am grateful for the program. I think if I had the opportunity to attend traditional school I would have, but it was not an option and this program allowed my to complete my goals. I have now enrolled in Deaconess online BSN program as I only need minimal credits to graduate. I am doing a work experience portfolio to get credit for community nursing and they took my english courses so I only need 9 gen ed credits. I looked at a lot of the online BSN programs and this one seems to work best for me though it is expensive. Any BSN Deaconess students out there? good luck to those who are determined to succeed- keep trying and you will do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU.

What about clinical experience? I do not have any experience. I am going to test for my LPN in two months and want to work to start getting experience but I am afraid with doing an online program that I will not be getting the clinical experience that I need. Any thoughts? I want to go into pediatric, L&D or NICU and again, I don't want to miss out on any experiences to prepare me for that. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What about clinical experience? I do not have any experience. I am going to test for my LPN in two months and want to work to start getting experience but I am afraid with doing an online program that I will not be getting the clinical experience that I need. Any thoughts? I want to go into pediatric, L&D or NICU and again, I don't want to miss out on any experiences to prepare me for that. Thanks!

Then by all means, attend a more traditional program.

Excelsior won't give you any clinical experiences, only a clinical exam which does not cover any L&D.

If you feel that your L&D clinicals in your LPN program were not enough, then you need to go through a traditional program that offers those clinical rotations.

On a side note, people may shoot me for saying this, and I'm not saying that it's impossible, but EC really isn't designed for the new grad LPN, and you may get lucky and get through your clinical exam without having to modify your care plan or make decisions to change or withhold certain procedures or other nursing care.

However, most of the time, changes will have to be made, and most new grads really haven't developed the clinical judgement to know when to make changes, they will most likely follow the original plan of care which can cause failures.

During the CPNE, you are expected to pretty much function on your own, and no examiner is going to correct you if you mess up like in a clinical experience setting, you will just be failed and sent home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I'm a new grad LPN and I worry about taking the CPNE myself. I don't have a ton of clinical experience and the experience I'm gaining right now is in LTC so what should I do? I'm a very motivated person and I have no problems doing whatever it takes to pass that clinical at the end. I looked into some workshops on it and even though I have a while before I am to take it, I want to start preparing for it. I wanted to work in an hospital but they tend to not hire new grad LPNs in my area. Suggestions would be great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Excelsior was designed for LPNs who had several years of clinical work experience. It was not meant to be a stepping stone to an associated degree with little practical experience. And you will find the clinical exams much more difficult because of your lack of experience. And you are likely to fail before you pass, several times.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your words of encouragement I feel so much better now. I hear what you are saying I do, but I'm going to do this cause the type of nursing I really want to do is not LTC nursing and I need to advance my education to get to where I want to be. You feel the way you do and you have a right to feel that way, but I know myself and I have to disagree with your statement that I'm going to fail. But thank you for your well wishes, I appreciate it. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment