Traditional or online

Nursing Students Online Learning

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Hello everyone im hoping I can get some sound advice. Im torn between excelsior college and trying to find a traditional nursing school to attend. Right now im a lpn with a few courses under my belt. I'm in my 40s with 2children 15 and 12. Right now im working in home care and have been for years. If I continue at excelsior will have a problem leaving homecare? I don't need or want to be in a hospital setting but I would like to try other avenues of nursing. Is that doable with only home care experience and a online degree versus hands on from having clinicals every week at a traditional school. Please advise ...Thank you for your time

Specializes in Operating room..

I thought LPN-RN required clinicals? At least it did when I went through.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Excelsior is best left to those with no traditional options. If you are unsure, you should definitely investigate your traditional options. Excelsior acceptance also varies by state and job market.

Excelsior College | State Board Requirements

Yes they do but excelsior college it's just a weekend examination called the cpne.

Specializes in Operating room..

I am not a proponent of no hands on experience. I speak from experience...I did LPN, RN, and then BSN (MSN in future)...nursing is a hands on profession. I think you will end up short changing yourself taking the "easy" route. Yes, I had 4 young kids too so I do know. Good luck.

Thank you

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am not a proponent of no hands on experience. I speak from experience...I did LPN, RN, and then BSN (MSN in future)...nursing is a hands on profession.
I respectfully disagree... Nursing school clinical practicum, in my humble opinion, is a joke. Most of a nurse's real learning transpires during their time at the workplace where they accrue real hands-on experiences.

I think you will end up short changing yourself taking the "easy" route.
The distance-based LPN-to-ASN program offered through Excelsior College is far from easy, according to those who completed it. In fact, distance learning can be more challenging than classroom-based education because the learner must be self-motivated and able to find and process material on his/her own.

Although I completed a classroom-based LPN-to-ASN degree program, I still think that hands-on clinical practicum is overrated. In addition, the OP already has clinical knowledge from her work experiences as an LPN.

Thanks for voicing your views

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

duplicate threads merged

Specializes in Operating room..
I respectfully disagree...

The distance-based LPN-to-ASN program offered through Excelsior College is far from easy, according to those who completed it. In fact, distance learning can be more challenging than classroom-based education because the learner must be self-motivated and able to find and process material on his/her own.

Although I completed a classroom-based LPN-to-ASN degree program, I still think that hands-on clinical practicum is overrated. In addition, the OP already has clinical knowledge from her work experiences as an LPN.

It's far from easy? But you didn't complete it yourself? You are going by what others have stated? Thank you for giving us the opinions of what others have done. I will feel better knowing the nurse taking care of me or my child had little to no hands on classroom experience. Let's not dumb down nursing. Let's instead build respect for the profession. Yes, my RN-BSN program was online but my core degrees required a great deal of clinical time. Yes, real life experience is the best teacher, but you need a foundation of correct practice to start building that experience on. Where are you going to learn that? From the week of orientation you get in most LTC facilities or hospital floors? Why would you do that to yourself or to a patient? No wait...who cares about that...it's easier...mantra of the American Dream.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I am an Excelsior ASN graduate, and it is NOT easy. It requires a tremendous amount of motivation and drive. It is only for those who are already healthcare peeps of some kind (LPN, Paramedic, etc.) so EC students typically have plenty of hands-on in our toolbelt by the time we reach the CPNE (the clinical exam). I am now an ED/trauma nurse with 10,000 hours of time as an RN, including 9 months caring for our troops in Afghanistan, and I take excellent care of my patients. EC played well with my lifelong love of learning, which has not stopped. I became an RN in 2008, earned my BSN in 2010, and I am a capstone away from my MSN.

Just my experience. :) YMMV.

Wow congratulations

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