New here ...

[Lunah]

Not sure where to post this -- figured here was as good a place as any!

Hello! I'm an EMT-P and new-ish RN -- and yes, I am a graduate of the fabled/storied/dreaded Excelsior College (EC) ... it wasn't easy, I can assure you. The clinical exam alone has left many of us with PTSD -- I wish I were joking!

I've been a volunteer medic since 2003, and I first became an EMT-B in 2000. I initially became a medic with the idea of being a volunteer, and keeping my cushy, comfy graphic design/desktop publishing job. However, in 2005 I realized that I needed to work in healthcare fulltime, so I took a big ol' pay cut and went to work as an ER tech. I tried to get into a P-RN bridge that was a couple hours away (online classes, in-person clinicals), but preference was given to local students and I was told I'd never make it off the waiting list. So I finally buckled down and did Excelsior's program in 2007/2008. It was tough -- I don't recommend it for everyone unless you are a) a voracious reader; b) extremely knowledge-hungry; c) self-motivated; d) working in a setting where you have constant patient contact to practice assessments/management. I was blessed (still am) to work with a fabulous bunch of RNs who taught me so much over the last 4 years. I'm an ER RN in the same ER where I started as a tech -- they wouldn't let me leave.

I know how many of you feel about Excelsior (my search-fu, it is strong!), but I'm hoping we can keep the disdain to a minimum. I can tell you it is NOT the easy way to RN. The clinical exam is exacting and stressful and pass/fail ... the pass rate is not high.

I still volunteer as a medic -- can't seem to stop doing it! I'm addicted, I admit it. I've had the same partner since 2002, and he and I joke that it's the longest relationship either of us has ever had. LOL. I'm also starting to collect some training certs -- AMLS recently, and ITLS soon. I'd love to teach someday, but for now I want to be at the bedside or in the ambulance.

I'm also working on my RN-BSN. Six more classes! Good times.

So, hi.

 

[TraumaFX]

Welcome! I'm brand new here also. Sounds like you have allot to offer everybody on the forum - I look forward to your posts!

Bob

 

[Lunah]

Thanks, Bob!

 

[VentMedic]

Welcome!

At least you got your RN before Virginia closed the door to Excelsior.

Just curious, how many hours of clinical were you required?

 

[Lunah]

Welcome!

At least you got your RN before Virginia closed the door to Excelsior.

Just curious, how many hours of clinical were you required?

Excelsior doesn't have clinical hours, just a ginormous clinical exam over 2.5 days. If you're talking about my medic program, that's another story!

 

[8jimi8]

i am a fan of online programs because I know how motivated and dedicated one has to be to even participate in an online program.

Welcome!

Your EMT-P was online as well?

 

[Lunah]

Your EMT-P was online as well?

Oh, heck no. That was 2 years of no sleep/working full-time/school full-time. I did my medic at a community college -- it was a great program. Did clinicals at a Level 1, had fabulous preceptors and instructors who were very passionate about education.

Congrats on your upcoming GN!

 

[VentMedic]

i am a fan of online programs because I know how motivated and dedicated one has to be to even participate in an online program.

Online programs are not a bad idea especially when they are associated with a credible college with regular semester time structure, access to resources and educators/study groups online. Many college healthcare programs do offer their lecture portion online but still require hands on labs and at least 1000 hours of clinical time.

It is when programs such as Excelsior do not provide adequate resource access, time monitoring and clinical hours that they become questionable. Int the states that do allow Excelsior, the nursing licensing boards have mandated the person seeking license to gain at least two years of RN experience in another state, which may also require at many as 800 hours of clinicals before issuing a license.

Those that may state their perception of the difficulty of a course such as Excelsior may have done better in a traditional program where the material would have been covered from a different educational approach thus enhancing the learning process and eliminating some degree of difficulty.

Nursing is the last degreed healthcare profession to accept the online entry program that offers little to no structure but that is changing. Of course, there is the Paramedic which also can be obtained online but in 48 states, it is not degreed. Clinical hour requirements also vary from state to state. As well, the clinical sites can be leniently allowed and some may do coffee or sleep over cinicals on ALS engines with very minimal patient contact.

 

[Lunah]

The CC where I did my medic has started online classroom/in-person clinicals for their ADN program. Had this option been available when I started, I would have opted for that. I can understand why state boards have issues with Excelsior's program, and I don't recommend it to people for that reason. Excelsior's clinical exam requires that a student demonstrate competency as a first-day new grad in a med/surg-type of setting. This clinical exam is commonly billed as a "2.5-day check-off," but I only wish it had been that easy. Actually, I'm glad it's a difficult exam. It needs to be.

In my opinion/experience, the difficulty with Excelsior was not in the subject matter, but in staying motivated without structure. I am pursuing my BSN now, also online, and I am really enjoying having structured semesters and interacting with classmates.

 

[VentMedic]

You also had the advantage of a Paramedic degree program which should have had the college level sciences included. Your ED tech experience and already being familiar with the hospital culture probably helped greatly also.

The problem comes when the "quick fix" mentality takes over. Some want to go through the 3 month medic mills and often it will be these "wonders" that want to do the Excelsior RN program. Some of these grads have a hard time figuring out how to take an oral temp and definitely can not be turned loose on a med-surg floor with 8 patients. Few RN preceptors have enough patience, and shouldn't be expected to, for teaching "RNs" the basic skills and nursing concepts that are obtained in clinicals. It would be like a Paramedic not knowing how to splint, backboard or use a BVM.

 

[Lunah]

You also had the advantage of a Paramedic degree program which should have had the college level sciences included. Your ED tech experience and already being familiar with the hospital culture probably helped greatly also.

Yeah, my Paramedic program was outstanding, and gave me a strong foundation. The 6 people I graduated with (we started with about 20!) went on to be successful medics, and another couple of them went on to become RNs (one through traditional school, another through an accelerated BSN second-degree program). And certainly, treating my work time in the ED as a sort of paid clinical time helped immensely (never to the detriment of "doing my job," certainly). I know a few medics through online forums who have had a tough time ramping up as RNs because they lacked some of the basics, and that is where I see the downfall of Excelsior. In the future, I'd love to see Excelsior offer clinical time. They arrange precepted clinicals in one state already (Arizona, I believe), so I'm not sure why they couldn't do it in more places. Cost is a factor, I'm sure, but still ...

 

[James 61]

Hi! I am am also new here and glad to see I'm not the only new face. Congrats on getting your RN.

 

[ashbug071301]

I am also new to the forum. I actually just took my NREMT exam yesterday and passed. I am so excited to start my new career. Hopefully I can continue my education once I get some experience under my belt. If anyone has any pointers. I would be extremely thankful!