Starting Excelsior's MSN - Education

LucasRN · Aug 27, 2011

Good Luck Lunah!!! It is totally worth it!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 30, 2011

Thanks!! I'm looking forward to being back in school again. (Remind me I said that in about 8 weeks or so, haha. ) I get tuition assistance from the Army as well as the price break from EC, so who can say no to that?? Kind of weird to be an EC student again.

bosnanurse · Sep 1, 2011

I finished Excelsior year ago in nursing education and all I can say : it is a ride!!! ( good one !!!) I loved it , there were bumps here and there but if you like to come from the ride with your hair blown and red in your face with big huge smile from rush .. that how it feels .. Good luck ..

Erikadawn RN · Oct 30, 2011

lunah, i know this post is a few months old, but have you found out what is the time period for completion for the MSN track. i will be coming in with an AAS and BSLA from Excelsior. I want to get a Psych NP certificate, I can get that with an MSN from some where else. Just tyrying to weigh my different options.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 30, 2011

Erika, I haven't really figured out the timeline ... I think I can get it done in a couple of years, but I haven't verified that. I did see that there aren't a lot of prereqs for the MSN classes (that I recall), so if you're able to take 2 or 3 at a time, you'd obviously finish a lot faster. Also, they're organized in three phases, so you do have to finish Phase I before you can go on to Phase II. I'm attaching my student summary for you -- these are the required classes and the phases.

Erikadawn RN · Oct 30, 2011

Lunah,

Thanks for answering, I am really just trying to figure out for myself if pursuing an MSN with Excelsior or maybe WGU and then going for the Psych NP certificate will be cost and time effective. I wan't to go to Drexel online which is very expensive, I am just exploring all options and scenarios.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 30, 2011

The only "catch" to doing WGU and then going elsewhere is the GPA thing -- because WGU is a pass/fail/competency program, some people have had to pass on it because they want to go on to other programs, and WGU awards a 3.0 at best (I believe).

Erikadawn RN · Oct 30, 2011

I also like University of South Alabama, they have a Psych MSN program for nurses with a RN and a Bacheleors degree. The next deadline is April so I need to get on the ball and finish these 3 classes and capstone.

dayshiftnurse · Nov 15, 2011

I decided a year out of school was enough -- I completed my RN to BSN in June 2010 -- so I'm back in school for an MSN! I decided to go back to Excelsior, where I did my ADN. The price is fabulous for active duty peeps like me -- $250/credit hour! :)
I start NUR502 on September 5. Anyone other Excelsior MSN students out there?

Hi Lunah,

I am an excelsior grad 2002 and would have wanted to go back with them for msn since i know 'the system'. but i really only want the msn-fnp and for some strange reason they dont offer it there...weird. if they did, they would have been my first choice...self paced study, online, i have a testing centre nearby...and i love their graduation parties in albany! :nurse:

dayshiftnurse · Nov 15, 2011

I also like University of South Alabama, they have a Psych MSN program for nurses with a RN and a Bacheleors degree. The next deadline is April so I need to get on the ball and finish these 3 classes and capstone.

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erika what exactly are the costs for that program? they said over the phone ~ $400 per credit hour and each course is 3 hours so is that ~ $1200 per course. i know they are one of the least expensive but $1200 seems like a lot to me for one course...and there are several courses to take for their program.

again, i was very interested in their program because it is ~ completely online, except for a few days on site clinical i think, but, the degree is not accepted in nys...and even though i dont work in nys state now, i may in the future, and dont want to limit myself. otherwise, it seems like a good program to me.

dayshiftnurse · Nov 15, 2011

I decided a year out of school was enough -- I completed my RN to BSN in June 2010 -- so I'm back in school for an MSN! I decided to go back to Excelsior, where I did my ADN. The price is fabulous for active duty peeps like me -- $250/credit hour! :)
I start NUR502 on September 5. Anyone other Excelsior MSN students out there?

Hi Lunah,

I am an excelsior grad 2002 and would have wanted to go back with them for msn since i know 'the system'. but i really only want the msn-fnp and for some strange reason they dont offer it there...weird. if they did, they would have been my first choice...self paced study, online, i have a testing centre nearby... :nurse: