I am taking classes towards my BSN because like other nurses with a diploma or ADN I am being "forced" to return to school for my BSN. I have had my ADN for 9 years. My question is HOW is statistics, critical inquiry, and the other classes going to make me a better nurse? Isn't hands on training the best way to learn? I feel like they are requiring BSN now and in 10 years want MSN so that we wont need doctors working on the floors, because nurses will do their own orders!!
I am 42 y/o and rally don't want to do this, but I have a minimum of 23 years left of working and had to be forced to stay where I am due to not having a BSN. Sure they say we may be "grandfathered" in, but that limits us to stay put.
Anyone have any input on this, as to what am I going to learn getting my BSN and why the requirement now?
Sadly that's the problem with nursing's indecision on BSN entry. Make the choice and grandfather in existing RNs and this isn't an issue.
I think this should be the leading discussion; grandfathering RNs and making the BSN the point of entry; not pressuring or removing Diploma/Associate Degree RNs; especially when they are many who have excellent educational attributes and experience that HELP our profession.
Yes, but not because their LPN work experience is counted as clinical hours in an RN program; it's because EC, for some reason I can't begin to fathom, has convinced most state BONs to treat their students v. differently than every other nursing student in the US, and not require them to have X number of hours of supervised clinical experience in school in order to be eligible for licensure.
I, for one, must say that I'm grateful that Excelsior has such powers of persuasion. Otherwise, I would probably still be an LPN instead of a few months shy of my BSN. The reason I went to EC is because my community college would not grant me a seat in the LPN-RN bridge simply because my nursing school from way back no longer existed and therefore, made it impossible to obtain transcripts. Even though I had a valid nursing license and had been working as an LPN since I was licensed in 1986, that was not good enough for two of the local colleges in different areas that I checked into. They said that I had to go through the traditional program as if I had NO NURSING EXPERIENCE whatsoever. At that time, I had been nursing for 23 years! Rather than spending the better part of a year or longer searching for a college that would accept my circumstances, since everyone was saying the same thing, I decided to give EC a try.
When I graduated from EC, the bridge that I tried to get into still had 14 empty seats!! I know this because as a nursing student, I had to speak to a nursing advisor to approve my general education courses. I was literally sitting in a classroom at that very college completing general eds while attending EC's online program, while watching those nurses go in and out of rooms that I was not allowed in, (and judging by the looks of many of them with their extremely youthful appearances, I had more experience than the lot). Neither one was easy, but thanks to sheer determination to not be held back forever from reaching my goals, I attended two colleges at once....student loans paying for one, student loan refunds paying for the other.
Distance education and online learning is accessible to the LPNs, Paramedics, and Respiratory Therapists, too. If we were not competent to pass that weekend clinical, we would not be in possession of an ASN degree. Those evaluators told us NOTHING! We had to go in and prove with 100% accuracy that we knew what we were doing. We were given an assignment to do and if we could not do it based on their specifications, we failed. To question the clinical skills of EC nurses is to question the evaluative skills of the MSN and PhD evaluators.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I, for one, must say that I'm grateful that Excelsior has such powers of persuasion. Otherwise, I would probably still be an LPN instead of a few months shy of my BSN.
I have and do work with many excellent nurses who obtained their license through Excelsior. I absolutly do not care about HOW a nurse learned everything she is supposed to know, only that she DOES know what she is supposed to know. If a conidate can demonstrate she has knowlage and skill equal to a graduate of a traditional program why would I care if they actually had clinical with an instructor in a nursing school?
The only reason I would have any concern about the lack of clinical time is if Excelsior grads we substandard as compaired to graduates of traditional programs. In my experience and observation they are not.
I worry for the future of this profession when I see people arguing so strenuously for less education. Honestly it's embarrassing...[/quote']
Honestly....it is. Times are changing healthcare is changing....as a matter of fact the only constant in healthcare is change. Patients are becoming more complex.....this is one of the main reasons I went back to school for my RN. I needed to learn more to do more for my patients. And im not afraid to admit it. I dont think one discipline is "better" than the other but when more education is needed and called for to better care of our patients im all for it. And those that do not wish or want to oursue higher education thats their choice....but I refuse to be left behind In the times......education wise. Just my opinion.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Honestly....it is.
Maybe it would be _IF_ it exsisted. In reading this discussion I have not read anyone called for less education for nurses. Unless I missed something this seems like and unsubstantiated claim.
I graduated from Excelsior back in the stone age when it was Regents College and California still liked us. (And yes, I have a California license and have had one for 20 years). Have never had clinical difficulties or problems getting licensed. Except for California, iirc the states that have problems with EC grads will allow endorsement in for licensure after a certain amount of hours as an RN, so you can pretty much work anywhere as an RN eventually. If you don't mind the VA or other federal facilities, you can even work in California on another state license.
I don't think there are any states (including california) where I am unable to work as an EC grad, but I've been an RN for over 20 years. EC at the time was affordable and quick (cost me around 2K and took exactly 6 months to the day). Recently I did my accredited BSN through WGU, which cost me around $3600.
Did it help me in my current position? Not really. It wasn't even a necessity where I work now. That said, I do think it's wise to consider getting a BSN as not doing so may limit further employment opportunities. I live in the middle of rural nowhere, and the local hospitals are insisting on a BSN within three years of hire. It's possible when the next shortage hits that the tide may change, but I and many others are just getting it over with now.. just in case. :)
I, for one, must say that I'm grateful that Excelsior has such powers of persuasion. Otherwise, I would probably still be an LPN instead of a few months shy of my BSN. The reason I went to EC is because my community college would not grant me a seat in the LPN-RN bridge simply because my nursing school from way back no longer existed and therefore, made it impossible to obtain transcripts. Even though I had a valid nursing license and had been working as an LPN since I was licensed in 1986, that was not good enough for two of the local colleges in different areas that I checked into. They said that I had to go through the traditional program as if I had NO NURSING EXPERIENCE whatsoever. At that time, I had been nursing for 23 years! Rather than spending the better part of a year or longer searching for a college that would accept my circumstances, since everyone was saying the same thing, I decided to give EC a try.
When I graduated from EC, the bridge that I tried to get into still had 14 empty seats!! I know this because as a nursing student, I had to speak to a nursing advisor to approve my general education courses. I was literally sitting in a classroom at that very college completing general eds while attending EC's online program, while watching those nurses go in and out of rooms that I was not allowed in, (and judging by the looks of many of them with their extremely youthful appearances, I had more experience than the lot). Neither one was easy, but thanks to sheer determination to not be held back forever from reaching my goals, I attended two colleges at once....student loans paying for one, student loan refunds paying for the other.
Distance education and online learning is accessible to the LPNs, Paramedics, and Respiratory Therapists, too. If we were not competent to pass that weekend clinical, we would not be in possession of an ASN degree. Those evaluators told us NOTHING! We had to go in and prove with 100% accuracy that we knew what we were doing. We were given an assignment to do and if we could not do it based on their specifications, we failed. To question the clinical skills of EC nurses is to question the evaluative skills of the MSN and PhD evaluators.
My two cents on the matter....
Am I right that Excelsior does accept work experience (lpn) as counting toward Rn clinical experience?
I went through both an lpn program and lpn to Rn program,and I really didn't see the difference between clinical skills. Sorry to anyone I might offend,but that's my opinion.
I graduated from Excelsior back in the stone age when it was Regents College and California still liked us. (And yes, I have a California license and have had one for 20 years). Have never had clinical difficulties or problems getting licensed. Except for California, iirc the states that have problems with EC grads will allow endorsement in for licensure after a certain amount of hours as an RN, so you can pretty much work anywhere as an RN eventually. If you don't mind the VA or other federal facilities, you can even work in California on another state license.
I don't think there are any states (including california) where I am unable to work as an EC grad, but I've been an RN for over 20 years. EC at the time was affordable and quick (cost me around 2K and took exactly 6 months to the day). Recently I did my accredited BSN through WGU, which cost me around $3600.
Did it help me in my current position? Not really. It wasn't even a necessity where I work now. That said, I do think it's wise to consider getting a BSN as not doing so may limit further employment opportunities. I live in the middle of rural nowhere, and the local hospitals are insisting on a BSN within three years of hire. It's possible when the next shortage hits that the tide may change, but I and many others are just getting it over with now.. just in case. :)
So an Excelsior grad will still be able to have licensure endorsement to Georgia after 5 yrs as an Rn?
I graduated from Excelsior back in the stone age when it was Regents College and California still liked us. (And yes, I have a California license and have had one for 20 years). Have never had clinical difficulties or problems getting licensed. Except for California, iirc the states that have problems with EC grads will allow endorsement in for licensure after a certain amount of hours as an RN, so you can pretty much work anywhere as an RN eventually. If you don't mind the VA or other federal facilities, you can even work in California on another state license.
I don't think there are any states (including california) where I am unable to work as an EC grad, but I've been an RN for over 20 years. EC at the time was affordable and quick (cost me around 2K and took exactly 6 months to the day). Recently I did my accredited BSN through WGU, which cost me around $3600.
Did it help me in my current position? Not really. It wasn't even a necessity where I work now. That said, I do think it's wise to consider getting a BSN as not doing so may limit further employment opportunities. I live in the middle of rural nowhere, and the local hospitals are insisting on a BSN within three years of hire. It's possible when the next shortage hits that the tide may change, but I and many others are just getting it over with now.. just in case. :)
So an Excelsior grad will still be able to have licensure endorsement to Georgia after 5 yrs as an Rn?
I'd be able to endorse to GA, as my LPN training encompassed all areas and even if it didn't, I have more than enough experience to count in GA even if I wasn't an LPN first. There's a document under georgia spelling it out.
And no, Excelsior doesn't 'count' LPN training when adding up hours for 'clinical'. The 'clinical' is a competency based three day exam no matter how much or how little LPN experience you have.
(And yes, I have a California license and have had one for 20 years). Have never had clinical difficulties or problems getting licensed. Except for California, iirc the states that have problems with EC grads will allow endorsement in for licensure after a certain amount of hours as an RN, so you can pretty much work anywhere as an RN eventually. If you don't mind the VA or other federal facilities, you can even work in California on another state license.
BostonFNP, APRN
2 Articles; 5,584 Posts
Sadly that's the problem with nursing's indecision on BSN entry. Make the choice and grandfather in existing RNs and this isn't an issue.