I received my ADN thru , at the time, Regents College  University Of New York in 1990 ,which  is now called Excelsior.I am contemplating going back for further education.For me, it is a wonderful way to learn.The traditional classroom setting at this point in my life would be impossible with family, work and my hectic life.I was 19 when i did it before and it did take alot of self discipline and commitment. My mom was always there to encourage me, remind me how important it is be diligent with studying etc , so i did get a system down.I thank mom soooooo much for her guidance and direction,i was able to get a system down,graduate and have a fun life during that time.You have to keep a schedule, stick to it and  you will be finished in no time.I am not sure how it is now, but at the time, you had to have current nursing skills/education and / or at least finished med surg 101 from another accredited nursing school. to get in to the nursing program.I was also working  full time as an aide then extern.Good luck and God bless!!

Gosh I didn't realize there were so many other doing this! I am in the adn program too. I have a love/hate relationship with it right now. Keep in touch. Tips, advice whatever would be soooooo great!

I started studying on my own 4 years ago.  I am now finishing my last two online classes and have two more "on my own" classes.   I have really enjoyed my studies thru EC and would recommend this program to anyone.  I must take the clinical which I fear immensely, but will cross that bridge when I get to it. ( I have been an LPN for 24 years)   My best advise, make sure you have a study partner.   Mine has been my biggest reason that I have gotten this far.  I have never met her in person, but hope to some day soon.  She has pushed me into finishing my dream.   

Thank you Becky !!! 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

jane

It can be done and very rewarding. In Georgia there are over 1400 Excelsior students.  900 of them I tutor for their nursing concepts and they are making it through at a decent pace.  The hurdle after the nursing concepts is the CPNE which is your clinical weekend which is a difficult task but can also be done as well and then onto your NCLEX.  Keep your chin up, dig your heels in and 'JUST DO IT'!  Good luck to you.  Look me up if you have any questions.  Would love to help out!

Don't go into this thinking that it is easy, quick or less expensive.  I just graduated from Excelsior College this past weekend!

I have been an LPN for ten years.  I started working on my ASN at a local community college then realized I would have to leave my job to finish.  I enrolled in Excelsior College (approximately $3,600).  I finished all the required nursing books and exams ($220/per test) in about 6 months (that is fast! and expensive).  I applied to take the required CPNE and had to wait nearly 9 months beforeI could take the exam($1800).  I took a CPNE preperation workshop ($800 + hotel room epenses/driving/flying).  I failed the CPNE the first time I took it.  So I re-applies (another $1800 + hotel/flight fees). Another 8 month wait.  Second time, I passed!  (total expense approximately $10, 300). 

It can be done.  I did it.  The CPNE exam was the most stressful thing I have ever been through as a nurse, but it is completely passable.

Any questions, let me know!

Kendra

I had friends who did it, and I did look into it. For me, it was knowing myself, and my self discipline. I was afraid I'd find reasons to put studying on the back burner if I had gone this route.I was newly married for a second time, and had a daughter. It was better for me to go the traditional route. I was able to stay on track with school even when my daughter threw every teenage drama she could at me.

Everyone is different, and I do have a very good friend who was determined and did it. She is now a DON of a LTC facility where she started out as an LPN. My advice is if that's what works for you, then do it. I was always scared of what I heard were very hard clinicals to pass. I did have one nurse I worked with fail in 1992. She paid $1000.00 to take the cliniclas in New York, and she failed the 1st time, but passed the 2nd.

  Hi  I'm starting on my rn also been a lpn for 13 years thinking about excelsior

no matter which i decide i did find out that you will still need the prereqs

just finished my ASN with Excelsior....first check their web site excelsior.edu   they will send you LOTS of information about the program if you ask online or by phone. Basically you can earn your credits in different ways

1  study on your own and  then take their challenge exams (they will even tell you what texts they use)

2 take the course at a local college or colleges (make sure the curriculum meets the requirments by checking with an excelsior advisor)

3 take the course online with Excelsior

4 this is the hardest.....bring all your educational stuff(CEUs staff ed certifications etc ) together and see if you can get some credit for life learning  through the portfolio program

once you have met the academic requirements you can take the 3 days of HELL known as CPNE...most of the trouble with the CPNE was my own fear,,,if you are working in acute med surg you are already doing all of the things in the tested "Critical elements"

 my advice is to keep in close touch with your advisor by phone or email.....mine was awesome 

luck to kennedy 32

I am going to take the CPNE March 12, 13, and 14th in GA.. I believe EC is harder than traditional classes because you must be disciplined. There are many distraction at home and lots of temptations to put studing off til later. But it is worth it. Congrats to you Sassy43 and good luck on your NCLEX_RN.

I had a friend who did it, but she said she had to be very disciplined. Not everyone is able to do that. I felt I didn't have it in me to do Regeants, so I went to a traditional university. I think it all depends on what kind of self motivation someone has to do home study. I know myself pretty well, and I don't think I would have been able to stay motivated. I had a few family crisises in school, that would have forced me to put school on the back burner. With me attending a regular school , I was forced to finish.

I also see the expense. I piad less to get my BSN than what I see someone paid to get their ADN with Excelsior. Again, it depends on circumstances. To anyone trying to do it, good luck. I admire anyone trying to better their education.

Hi I am in the Excelsior program presently be aware a it changes quite often. For example prior to your CPNE now (2200 w/o hotel and transportation) you have to coomplete a FCCA (3 computerized asssessments). You need to scedule them months out and be completed with your nursing theory exams. Tip-save your a & P, Micro etc...for last as you can have them left and still apply for you  CPNE and FCCA exam.

I was deployed all the time so that is why I chose Excelsior, otherwise I would have gone with  an online or more traditioanl program.

It is doable for sure but you need to read through all their material as there are constant changes. The program is updating again in October.

The little rules like have to be done with X class first before you can schedule 3 months in advance can cause major issues if you are on a timeline.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I have 3 tests and my CPNE left...

I created a blog when I was studying for the CPNE. I have expanded it to my lastest studying for the NCLEX. There is a wealth of information there. I rewrote the study guide as that is how I remember thing, mneumonics, videos, links to other resorces such as other blogs, education websites that are open for shareing, flash cards. meditaion and stress releif method. Even yoga links and jokes. I hope to create some good resources for the NCLEX as I am finding other than here most sites say free but they charge. I just want to share what I found for free. Oh  - it is ad free except the books i bought and the workshop link. LPN to RN - http://vickie-myjourney.blogspot.com

Good Luck to all - be determined and don't give up.  Vickie

This is very encouraging.  I have been considering Excelsior for over a year now. Was wondering what the process is to get started.   I've heard that you can take certain classes before you have to register.  Just not sure how to get started.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.