I'm an LPN with 1.5 years experience. I've researched Excelsior and know the pros and cons, and for me the pros outweigh the cons (over a year to wait for CPNE, oh well). I don't plan on going any further than ADN, I'm turning 49 y.o. this year. It's interesting to note that when I move with the wife within the next 2 to 3 years, I won't be moving to Alabama, California, or Maryland. Those states flat out will not extend an Excelsior ADN RN licensure by endorsement or examination (https://www.excelsior.edu/state-board-requirements). Has this had a negative impact on any Excelsior ADN RN grad?
On 8/14/2019 at 10:15 AM, moretonel said:get an associate's from a local community college, maybe in Health Careers or Medical Assistant to get your pre-requirements (Chemistry, Biology, A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology) and most of your general requirements. It will take you 2 years to fulfill your pre-requirements, might as well get a degree with them.
Financial aid can be limited if you already have an associate degree.
I have ASN and BSN from Excelsior not because I was "desperate" or "had no other option", but because I was an Air Force reservist and it was the most practical route for me to continue working and make the transition from another career to nursing. Plus Excelsior is highly accredited, an excellent school that was decades ahead of its time (in 2006) in the concept of distance/independent learning, that sadly has received discrimination from ignorant, backwards thinking dinosaurs that run these 3 states BON's. They are literally stuck in the dark ages clinging to dusty old prejudices about distance independent learning from the 1950's to justify their backwards thinking. Look at where we are today with distance learning. It's practically the norm, not the exception and the hags that run these 3 state boards are still crying into their 50 lb bags of kitty litter and estrogen patches over it. This is the equivalent of corporate managers still being afraid of letting employees work remotely simply because they are micromanaging control freaks, or bear the thought of being wrong. California is PARTICULARLY rooted in stubborn archaic political battles over this issue. There was a long raging legal battle over this where Excelsior sued the state. It's really pathetic and I already hated the CA BON and knew I would never set foot in that train wreck of a state again anyways. I already had a BS from University of Maryland and an MBA from Pepperdine. So in no way did I go to Excelsior because I was "desperate". The Air Force allowed me to go to a civilian LPN school in place of Air Force Technical school and EC exams were 100% FREE because they were covered under DANTES as free to military members. I didn't even have to use my GI bill benefits for the ASN and most the BSN. Military offered "kicker" money for LPNs to get BSN so I used that to pay for remainder of BSN. So I was able to get an LPN, RN and BSN for FREE in a span of less than 4 years, while working work full time, then not have to use my GI Bill until I went back for MSN. Since getting my BSN from Excelsior I have worked in North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana and New York with zero issue getting hired. Mind you I had a career in finance and technology before becoming a nurse, so I ended up quickly moving into Nursing Informatics, Case Management an Utilization Review, after about 2 yrs working surgical post op care. I designed 2 EMR applications, worked discharges & your for multiple ICUs, then did surgical your making well over $100K at one of the top hospitals systems in the country. I am 1 year into a second Masters for FNP at a top ranked state university and was admitted with flying colors. So my Excelsior degrees have served me incredibly well by quickly & inexpensively opening the door into a career in nursing that has taken me in many directions and brought much success. Do I give a hoot about a bunch of crusty old dinosaurs stuck in the 1960's on the BONs of 3 states I'll never practice in anyways, that will likely never be able to remain this backward much longer considering the exponential growth of distance learning across the globe? Not even one.
I graduated from excelsior because I was a NAVAL Corpsman. I was able to take my general education courses at community college and exams at the military base. I graduated quite some time ago since I was taking paper exams. I ended up with a BS in Public health from another university and completed my ADN with excelsior. I did come back and complete my BSN with excelsior and then got my MSN from another university. I completed my Doctorate in medicine and I have a PhD. OK, so with that being said one year on gen eds and then treat your exams like you would if you were in school 3 exams at a time and 12 weeks studying. now if that is too much find what works for you. You would then need to plan for the waiting period for your clinical exam. I would say maybe 3 years at the most.
Ignore any trolls who come on here talking about MY school clearly they are just here to be trolls. FYI , If you live in a compact state ALABAMA won't matter because its apart of the compact. I think MD is as well.
Good luck with your journey.
On 1/31/2019 at 9:10 PM, shiftingtides said:I don't think that this is true. California, at least, looks at what school you went to in order to sit for the NCLEX. You can't launder your degree (for lack of a better term) by getting your BSN elsewhere.
Actually the BON will tell you to complete your BSN with clinicals at another school . I did this . Just make sure its approved by CABON.
katherine100, LPN
310 Posts
@moretonel Did you go with Excelsior?