Warning - excelsior students

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warning to all excelsior students - i want all potential and current students to know what happened to my girlfriend. take it for what its worth. my girlfriend was a california excelsior student for 6 long yrs (worked full time, supported and took care of her 3 kids) . she spent thousands & thousands of dollars for very expensive books, tests (about $200 per test). skills bags ($150), dvd ($130) , flashcards ($25), audio cd ($25), workshop ($700), and the outrageously expensive and outrageously easy to fail cpne (the 3 day clinical examination that must be passed to receive your rn degree). she failed the first cpne (as way more than half do). that meant another $1800 to retake that. of course, there were airline tickets (about $500 per trip x 2), hotels (about $450 per cpne) and car rentals ($250 per trip). all together she spent close to $20,000 to obtain what is essentially a worthless degree. not one of the 14 hospitals she contacted would hire her when she told them she was an excelsior graduate. are you hearing me? not one. so, when they tell you they're accredited, yada,yada,yada - remember it doesn't mean you can get a job. she tried to enroll in 3 regular, legit college programs. they all refused her because she already had her degree and rn license. so now, she can't even do that. excelsior knew years ago there was a problem. they had the opportunity to work with the ca board of registered nursing. they didn't. if you don't believe me - go to their site. type in 'excelsior' and see for yourself. also, go to georgia's nursing website. see the problems there. nurses are being denied jobs because they're excelsior graduates!!! don't let this happen to you. go to a respected and accepted college.

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

Just a note -- the only state that flat-out refuses to allow EC grads to endorse in with some hours (and won't even deign to allow a "case-by-case" basis) is my fair neighbor to the north, Maryland. However, with my pretty pretty Virginia-issued nursing license being a multi-state compact license, I'm betting I'd be able to work in Maryland if I maintained Virginia residency. Heh. Interesting thought, isn't it?

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Just of note I live in Maryland, but close to Washington DC and Virgina. In recent postings in Washington DC hospitals (where EC is accepted) there are openings posted that state training must have included clinicals. I think even with DC still accepting EC there are many employers trying to get out of the practice of hiring EC grads.

In our state there were some grads that actually cheated their way thru the E.C tests. I know some think this is impossiable, but some know how to do it. We also went paperless for our licences here a few years back this was due to a lot of fraud. For some reason there is alot of this happening in DMV. I think there is an effort now being made to weed these nurses out in other ways since some already have their license. Also I think EC will have to change the way they test as well. The cheaters are making it bad for everyone.

Just giving my two cents, I am in no way saying that all EC grads are cheaters. The broad majority of the E.C. nurses that I worked with are great and really know their stuff.

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Specializes in Pediatric GI, Med-Surg, TBI, Pysch, ER...
Just of note I live in Maryland, but close to Washington DC and Virgina. In recent postings in Washington DC hospitals (where EC is accepted) there are openings posted that state training must have included clinicals. I think even with DC still accepting EC there are many employers trying to get out of the practice of hiring EC grads.

In our state there were some grads that actually cheated their way thru the E.C tests. I know some think this is impossiable, but some know how to do it. We also went paperless for our licences here a few years back this was due to a lot of fraud. For some reason there is alot of this happening in DMV. I think there is an effort now being made to weed these nurses out in other ways since some already have their license. Also I think EC will have to change the way they test as well. The cheaters are making it bad for everyone.

Just giving my two cents, I am in no way saying that all EC grads are cheaters. The broad majority of the E.C. nurses that I worked with are great and really know their stuff.

People cheat in traditional nursing schools too. What's the point of that comment. I've worked at several DC hospitals and I"ve never seen any postings asking about clinical requirements from nursing school, so I would like to know what hospitals are doing that. I know most hospitals are requiring BSN's.

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Specializes in Pediatric GI, Med-Surg, TBI, Pysch, ER...
Just a note -- the only state that flat-out refuses to allow EC grads to endorse in with some hours (and won't even deign to allow a "case-by-case" basis) is my fair neighbor to the north, Maryland. However, with my pretty pretty Virginia-issued nursing license being a multi-state compact license, I'm betting I'd be able to work in Maryland if I maintained Virginia residency. Heh. Interesting thought, isn't it?

Supposedly the Maryland Nurses Association, MOB, and other organizations stated that they had research and evidence that due to lack of clinical experience graduates of distance learning programs are not safe. I guess the Maryland Legisture got intimidated and withdrew the bill. I wish they would put there research out there cause I would like to see it.

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just of note i live in maryland, but close to washington dc and virgina. in recent postings in washington dc hospitals (where ec is accepted) there are openings posted that state training must have included clinicals. i think even with dc still accepting ec there are many employers trying to get out of the practice of hiring ec grads.

in our state there were some grads that actually cheated their way thru the e.c tests. i know some think this is impossiable, but some know how to do it. we also went paperless for our licences here a few years back this was due to a lot of fraud. for some reason there is alot of this happening in dmv. i think there is an effort now being made to weed these nurses out in other ways since some already have their license. also i think ec will have to change the way they test as well. the cheaters are making it bad for everyone.

just giving my two cents, i am in no way saying that all ec grads are cheaters. the broad majority of the e.c. nurses that i worked with are great and really know their stuff.

really??? i am sorry, but i can't take this post seriously.

cheaters are everywhere. how does ec get singled out in your hypothesis?

ec's exams are administered the same way and the same place as the nclex. what exactly are you talking about "change the way they test"?

i live in northern virginia and have never seen any job posting requesting specific clinicals.

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Specializes in Emergency, Occupational, Primary.

I don't buy the "cheating" part, but there are several Oregon hospitals that told me to go away because I didn't have clinicals in my program. And that's with 17 years experience as a medic. OHSU and Providence specifically. However that's not to say they wouldn't hire an experienced EC nurse. I think if you have a year's experience somewhere else then your school experience becomes less important.

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
Don't be so quick to beat up on the OP. :crying2:

He said that she got her degree (and license I'm guessing because she was applying for a R.N. job at several facilities). The problem he identified was that even though she is a RN, the hospitals are not wanting to hire graduates of Excelsior. She cannot go back to a more acceptable program because she has already earned her RN. Makes sense to me.

I've seen this "We're not getting the full story" line in many many posts here on allnurses. That's rather presumptuous and if you're not understanding the OP's point of view, ask directly instead of insinuating that he is holding back pertinent information purposely. People in general are pretty skeptical around here. As to why he might be the OP instead of his girlfriend? This is just a wild guess, but if I were her I'd be feeling pretty depressed and might want to distance myself from the whole situation. Significant others often take up for their loved ones and his posting (instead of her) seems like an act of love for her, anger at the situation (understandable) and just simply letting people know that there is an issue in some states with the Excelsior program.

Oh, and questioning why it took his girlfriend 6 years to get her degree....that's her business. Some people don't have the luxury to go full time (finances, hectic life, kids, whatever). Who cares how long it took her...she did it and her perseverence paid off (she got her degree) but is having a heck of a time getting a job in Cali based on where she attended school.

It might be that when she enrolled in the program (six years ago) that Cali allowed Excelsior degrees but during that time they changed it. Who knows? Not I! And it's not like a FOR PROFIT school is necessarily going to give the student a heads up about the change either.

So why am "I" taking up for the OP? I feel for him (and her). Also, back in the early 90's I attended a legal assisting program that lied about their accreditation and ended up closing their doors before I finished my program. Credits could not be transferred, had to pay back federal student loans a few years later, no job as a result. I was 19 years old (the word "accredited" wasn't in my vocabulary). I was told by the school that they were legit. As it turned out, the school re-opened a year later, pulled the same stunt (collecting a bunch of fees) and closing their doors again. This time, my home state of Oregon investigated, found out it was the same married couple who kept pulling this stunt and they were barred from ever opening a school in Oregon again. Sucks that I still had to pay back the Federal student loan but oh well.

To the OP--I feel for you and your girlfriend. I wonder if she got "Grandfathere'd" in by the state of CA and that's why she got her degree, but the hospitals she is interviewing with don't realize that she got Grandfathere'd in and they are going off of the most current info (that Cali doesn't recognize Excelsior as an accredited school of nursing). Either have her clue them in or simply don't mention where she graduated during an interview unless specifically asked. Failing all of that...explore options that other posters have suggested (VA, corrections, etc). And worst case scenario....relocate to a state that is cool with Excelsior.

Best of luck to you! And for those who gave the whole "we're not getting the whole story" line and being like "WHY did it take her SIX years get her degree"? That's just plain rude and shows an absolute lack of compassion.

Wow!!! :yeah:It is about time..... your post just stated everything I was thinking. I do not like to get into the drama of arguing via postings with people (so I have pretty much ignored the rude and distasteful comments that some people post) . I must say you hit the nail on the head. I have found that alot of times people who reply to these threads are either really helpful or really rude. Not really a mid range. Its sad because people post excerpts so that they can get advice, not so they can be insulted :uhoh3:. It is a shame that some people focus on the negative aspects instead of offering positive advice.

On another note, I could not imagine how devastating it must be to have gone through nursing school, gotten my degree, and then could not find a job just because of the school I graduated from, and then being stuck in a catch 22 situation....cant go back to a RN program due to having a license, but cant get a job because of the school you went to..................As I said well done and well put:yeah:

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
OK the answer to this is very simple. Traditional nursing schools take two years to do the theory because they tell you it will take two years. You are going at their pace, not yours. Not to mention the obvious fact that you are not going everyday for two years to nursing classes. First of all you go to a particular class two or three times each week for only one hour to one hour twenty minutes each class. Then there are summer breaks, spring breaks, xmas and holiday breaks, and weekends, and the two/three week dead zone between semesters. In other words there is a LOT of wasted time. They go slow like that because not everyone learns at the same pace. I am sorry to say it but some people are smart and learn quickly and some people just don't get it no matter how slow you go. Luckily there is a program, Excelsior, that allows people who are smart to go through at their own pace and not be shackled by the less intelligent that you typically find at traditional nursing schools. You will only make it through the Excelsior program if you are 1. Very smart and 2. Very dedicated, because, unlike at traditional nursing schools, no one is there to hold your hand and gently walk you through the program. You either have what it takes to make it on your own or you don't. It is hilarious to me that graduates of traditional nursing programs are pointing to the quick completion time of the program as evidence that it is substandard when it is in fact that quick completion time that is proof of Excelsior's higher quality graduates and superior, more modern and relevant nursing program. What you never hear any of these naysayers address is the fact that Excelsior graduates pass the NCLEX at or above the national level. I would ask these "Einstein's" who attended the old fashioned, very slow, take your time, hold your hand and walk you through kind of nursing schools, why did it take you 2 years, ASN, or 4 years, BSN, to gain the same knowledge that I did in only 6 months, ASN, and 1 year, BSN? Seems to me that you guys are the ones who are intellectually challenged or should at least be demanding a refund from that old fashioned nursing school for unnecessarily wasting so many years of your life and taking so much of your money. Just a thought. And as far as the clinicals go, Excelsior only admits people to the program who have substantial, real world, hands on, get your hands bloody on a daily basis and get a paycheck at the end of the week for it, clinical experience already. In my case it was 13 years as a Navy Corpsman working in naval hospitals for 1000s of hours doing stuff that nurses in the civilian sector cannot even do. So I hope this answers your question and you are no longer confused about the true nature of the Excelsior nursing program. :D

Texas, well put, especially the comment on the clinical aspect. online programs like EC are not made for people who have no clinical experience whatsoever. It does kind of cater to those that have the experience and are self motivated (alot of times military, and those already in the healthcare field). Although I did attend a 2 year ADN program that was brutal, there was no hand holding whatsoever, more like here is the deep end of the pool, and the clinical instructor pushed you in :eek: and expected you to learn how to swim that way (not always a good thing). That said, I do think that clinical is a huge part of nursing because when a patient needs treatment, they arent going to care about nursing theory etc. This is why on the app for EC there are certain job requirements/and/or a certain amount of clinical experience that must have been completed......as I said :up:

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This OP has made only 4 posts. If you check them out, all 4 are EC bashing posts.

To think this thread is anything but a negative bashing EC thread is naive.

Why isn't this thread closed to posting yet?

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Excelsior College has been a GREAT choice by me. And it wasn't my only available choice, but one that simply worked out the best for me. I had many options and this one provided me with the best opportunity to keep my full-time job and every now and then visit with the wife and kids. No offense to all the hard working nurses before me, but after 18 years as an RRT and 4 years as an army medic, what possible clinical experience did I need that I couldn't prove to EC? I'm very qualified thanks to EC, and if you think otherwise, you are just a closed minded fool with unsupported pre-conceived notions.

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

Wow, this is the first I've ever heard of allegations of cheating. (Which I'm sure never happens in traditional school, right? Ha ha.) The way the program is now (biometrics at Pearson, etc.), it wouldn't be possible to cheat. Same with the CPNE -- you can't send someone else.

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

How on earth could anyone cheat on an EXcelsior exam? They take your palm print! I've had to stand there for several minutes to get my palm exactly lined up the way it wanted so the system would take me, and I was on a first name basis with the people at the testing facility because I was there so often! LOL! I really don't know how you could cheat. You take nothing but your ID, ear plugs that they provide, and a white board and marker that they provide in with you. It's much easier to look over your neighbors shoulder in a traditional setting than to try to get away with it through Excelsior.

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