Excelsior College’s earns a 2.2-star rating from 39 reviews, showing that the majority of students are somewhat dissatisfied with educational experience.
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CPNE
Hello all, I took the CPNE, failed, totally humiliated, drained emotionally, the most awful experience in my life, total blow to my self esteem. I have recovered since that initial response and realized so many other competent nurses in the same boat as myself. I noticed a ton of complaints about the CPNE. I totally agree with many of them. I too a nurse for many years, have failed the CPNE. I told my law degree sister about the details and her reaction was "sounds like they are just trying to fail people on purpose". It's a no brainer. I mean really! This test should NOT be that hard but they make it harder than what it really is to generate income! The stuff they fail people on is absolutely insane! They know the test is pretty cut and dry and they are trying to make it a bigger deal than what it is. Everyone I hear who fails always fails over penny anty crap. Seriously, people need to band together and file a CLASS ACTION lawsuit! If it ever got to court before a jury or got it in the media, I'm sure people would be shocked at what is going on here. Also, it seems the CE's are jealous and purposely failing students because they have some personal vendetta against the non-traditional way such as this program. Personally I think ALL CE's should have a masters degree from Excelsior. To boot some of those traditionally educated CE's, I have discovered are idiots, I can't tell you how many mistakes they made in administering the tests, both what I've experienced and other people in the testing have shared. It seems they don't mete out the same standard to the CE's as they do to the test takers.Serious ones too, like wrong med doses! I think these CE's get paid for the whole weekend and then try to fail students so they don't have to work Sunday. That would be interesting to find out, I'm sure it could if a lawyer subpeon'd some records. Something's gotta be done! The problem is it can be costly. I think down the road it will be done, from the looks of all the complaints I see on this board. Oh and for those of you who are going to say "you didn't prepare enough, you didn't study enough, SHUT UP! you don't know what you are talking about! You happened to get a CE who wasn't an a**es like the ones I mentioned above, consider yourself fortunate. The test shouldn't be as hard as they are making it.
biased
, 2012, I arrived for my first day of the CPNE. I am including the "entire picture" so you can see this through my eyes. You will appreciate the situation more this way.
I was first of all, given a letter that said to meet in the lobby at 4pm. I was there at 3:30pm and I sat and waited for 25minutes with no other students or examiners showing up. I looked around and asked the desk clerk if there were other lobbys and she stated, "No, why?" I told her that I was here for nursing student testing and she stated maybe they are down at the lower floor in the "education center."
Now already this is not going well, why didn't I get the right information? Anyway, with my head up and very confident, I head down to the other end of the hospital and down the stairs to the education center. I met 7 other students testing. We were then told to come into a room and to sit down, no smile, no handshaking, no statements asking how our trips were, or even seeming to care at all. Well, needless to say, that made all of us even more nervous. We were then told by the clinical associate all the information on the orientation packet that she read, word for word, off of the paper. She also mentioned security if we were not acting appropriate...wow, what is that about? Now, we are all looking at eachother with the look of dread on our faces. Still, I know that I am confident and I know the study guide front to back and patient care is second nature to me.
We were then introduced to the 8 Clinical Examiner. They were not smiling, and it seems to me they would be excited about new nurses testing and the future of healthcare. I would also think they would be encouraging and calming. So, this begins my weekend for the CPNE. We went to each lab and tested. I did amazingly well on all the stations, until the IM push, I drew up the saline flushes and med with perfect accuracy and the examiner grabs it from me by the "plunger" that is not appropriate and was manipulating, then she states that the CA needs to see it. I was very confused. First, it was drawn perfectly (saline flush) and she was being very rude by snatching. She called the CA over, and the CA said I fail due to 0.2ml over. I looked at it with her and it was not over with saline, it was now over due to air at the tip, where the CE had manipulated the plunger. ( What am I supposed to say? If I disagree, I will be targeted, if I don't say anything then I have to retest on Saturday) . I decided I would just retest on Saturday, because I knew those labs in and out and retesting would be a breeze, and I would not let the CE take it next time. I would just hold syringe and let her see it and then take it back and proceed. ( That was my plan).
We were all sent with one CE after our labs, to go to the floor we would be on the next day, Saturday. I walked with my CE, Dawn, to the elevators. As we were walking up to the elevators I saw a caucasion woman with flushed face, with severe wheezing and in the sniffing position leaning on wall, alone. I was automatically concerned for this woman, as I am a Paramedic and I could tell she was not moving much air and was in acute distress. I looked at the CE and looked at the lady in the hall and back to CE. The CE just stood at the elevator, 5 feet from the lady, looking up at the elevator light waiting for it to open. I was confused at this point. Why wouldn't the CE ask this woman if she was ok? Why wouldn't she offer help? Well, my concern took over and I asked the lady if she was ok and if she needed a wheelchair. The lady had 2 word dyspnea and was diaphoretic at this point. The lady refused help and said that she needed to see her dad and that she wasn't as important as him. I told her that she could ask for help up on the unit her dad is on, if she changed her mind. She thanked me and got on the elevator, and wheezed the entire time so bad that I almost escorted her to the 6th floor nurse station. However, our floor was 5, and my CE got off and said, "Oh, this is our floor, " and got off. I followed her with every ounce of my being, saying this was not right, and we should not have left that lady. I followed CE.
We arrived to the unit and she showed me around, gave me my Kardex for next day and escorted me back down and told me to have a good night. I left and went back to hotel.
The next day, we were sent off with our CE's from the night before and told to hand over our care plans. With the clock ticking, she took my care plan and did not come back for 15min., and then I had to wait for the nurse to give me report, another 20minutes off of my 2.5 hours total. The CE gave me my careplan and told me let her know when I wanted to go into pt room. I told her I would like to gather some supplies for my pt, so I would not be running in and out. It did not seem to anger her, but she was not happy about it. She asked, " Well, what do you need?" I told her and she said, "Well, all that is probably in her room." I said ok and we went in. Of course I followed all the critical elements of knocking, washing hands, identifying pt. My pt was an 85 year old caucasion lady, that was half out of the bed, asking for help when I walked in. I identified first, so I wouldn't fail, and then asked her what she was doing and what I could do to help her. She said she needed to go to bathroom. I noted, she had a foley catheter and she stated she needed to have a bowel movement. Well, I had read her chart and noted that she was supposed to be ambulating, however in report the nurse stated that she did not know. I looked at the CE and said, I don't mind getting her up, but I also don't want to do it without the primary nurse agreeing with my plan. Then the CE stated to my pt, " can we just put you on a bedpan?"
My pt got upset immediately and said that she has been going to the bathroom all night. My CE said ok and allowed me to get her up. I got her up and noted that she had not been bathed in a while and asked her when was the last time she was cleaned up and she stated that she had not been cleaned since she got to hospital 10 days ago. I was appalled, but only stated, " well, I can help you with that." After the bathroom and clean linens, I got the pt dental hygeine, facial hygeine, and washed her back and legs/feet. My pt still had ECG stickers under her left breast that would hardly come off. The pt had a very swollen right arm that was bruised from her fall with fx to her humerus. She rated pain an 8/10 and I requested pain meds for her from primary nurse. I then proceeded to inspect her arm and found the sling and to be cutting off her circulation, she had pitting edema from the sling around her upper right arm and I asked CE if I could loosen it. She said yes, but you could tell she was not happy about me doing this, since I wasn't "assigned". I used my better judgement and loosened it and noted arm swelling and pain from the sling. The pt stated relief of pain as soon as I loosened it. I changed her gown and got her breakfast and then did all of my areas of care. I was running low on time due to all of the unforeseen situations with my pt and still needed to give her meds and only had 15min left. I got the meds, checked them with MAR, Identified pt and gave her the meds and told her to be careful and not to rush swallowing them, because I did not want her to choke and the clock was not more important than my pt.
Quote on Emotional Jeopardy from 19th ed. study guide, pg.144
"Emotional Jeopardy is any action or inaction on the part of the student which threatens the emotional well-bing of the patient or significant other. This area is invoked at the discretion of the CE, validated with th patient or significant other, and supported by data from the clinical situation. The entire PCS will be terminated and failed any time the emotional well-being of the patient or significant other is threatened."
Quote on Physical Jeopardy from 19th ed. study guide, pg.156
"Physical Jeopardy is any action or inaction on the part of of the student which threatens the patient's physical well-being. Students are accountable for the patient's safety throughout the entire PCS."
I had charted everything up to this point and just needed to write her evaluation and sign the MAR.
Well, after I gave her the meds, I told her that I had to go and it was wonderful having her as a pt and thanked her for letting me take care of her. I walked out of room with my pt stating for me to come back later and visit. I told her I would try and left. I got out of room and told the CE I needed to sign the MAR and she stated, " Don't worry about it, you failed, you ran out of time." I looked at her with my mouth open and looked at my watch, it said 10:04. She kept walking and did not look back at me standing, dumbfounded in hall. I caught up with her as she was signing my MAR and I told her, I could not rush my pt swallowing pills, that is physical jeopardy and emotional jeopardy and she said, " Oh, well, that is the rule, 2.5 hours." I was in shock, noting that she had taken so long to even give me my papers back and how long it took for nurse to give me report. Also, I was not going to interrupt my 85 year old pt and leave her choking on pills, because of a clock. I honestly would never even fathom the idea of leaving her until I knew all the pills were down and she was tucked in bed comfortable.
I followed her down stairs and she made me sit in lobby of education area and then the CA called me in and told me I failed. I explained what the situation was, and she said, " Well, you can fail one and still do another, so get something to eat and start your next PCS in 10minutes."
I started to cry and was so upset that I could not think of eating and just sat on the bench and waited for the next CE. I sat there thinking about how wonderful I did for my patient and how perfect everything went and also how I found my pt's origin of pain was because the sling was too tight on her arm and that she did not need to be given so many narcotics ( that she hated anyway, per pt.). I was shocked and honestly in a daze with all that was happening so rapidly.
The next CE showed up and took me to floor 3. I did not talk, I was still trying to recover from the last PCS incident and was in an emotional turmoil. I tried to stay postitive and and tell myself to not be so caring and take so much time with the pt, but it was just not me. If my pt needed something and I could help them, then I would. I followed CE. We got to the 3rd floor and she asked for the chart and the nurse for that pt said she was discharging that pt. My CE asked how long he would be there and the nurse for the pt said, "maybe an hour." The CE sat and thought about it and was actually going to give me the pt and I said, "an hour?"
She looked at me and said, "no, I guess that is not enough time..."
She pulled another chart and started filling out the Kardex. She asked me to give her the time, to start PCS and I told her it would end at 1346 hours. She said it was wrong, then she counted out loud, " 11:16 to 12:16, to 1:16, plus 30minutes is"...and then said " oh you are right."
She handed me Kardex and then had their own private conversation, on my time, and then Rn of pt gave me report. I started writing out my plan step by step and she asked for my Kardex back. She started writing more info on it and then handed it back. I looked over it and noted the changes and then started underlining all of my areas of care, vitals, and managements that I was to do on my PCS recording form. I put a line under each vital I was to do and how it was to be done, for example: Blood pressure( I underlined it and put manual). I also put lines through my areas of care/managements that I was not assigned on my narrative portion. I went through everything perfectly. I was in room with pt and CE. I explained to the pt that I was going to do an abdominal assessment and when I started it, I was stating out loud that I was providing privacy, asked pt about urinating/bowel movements, pain, ( and then the CE interrupted and stated that I did not need to talk out loud.) I told her that I did not want her to be confused about anything that I was doing and I also like the pt to know what I am doing. She sneered and I went on verbalizing what I was going to do and what I was doing to pt. The pt could not lay in a supine position with knees bent for abdominal assessment so I stated aloud that I was invoking CDM( clinical decision making) due to pain and she looked at me like I was crazy. I told her that we have to say that out loud when it happens according to study guide.
Quote from 19th ed. Study guide about CDM, pg.123
"CDM is a powerful tool when used during the CPNE. As in any clinical situation, sometimes events happen to change the plan that you set out to complete. Whenever this happens during the testing situation, you will be required to VERBALIZE your thought processes."
I finished with the assessments and when I tried to implement my pain managements, my pt was refusing so I told her that I will revise careplan.
Quote: pg. 118
"You must first tell your CE that you want to change your care plan. "
During vitals I assessed brachial pulse on pt's left arm (picc on right arm) and asked the CE if she wanted to palpate brachial before I started and she said she would do it on pt's right arm and then she felt the pt's radial pulse (NOT brachial). I said, " You are supposed to check brachial pulse on the side I am doing." She did not reply and went to sit back down. I put blood pressure cuff on pt and asked her for double stethescope and she huffed and got up and gave it to me and I put it over pt's brachial artery after testing stethescope. I proceeded with BP and I took stethescope off and told the pt what his BP was and the CE did not say anything for a minute. I took off BP cuff to do respirations and the CE stated, "are you going to do another BP?" I told her I will check 2 but not back to back, that you are supposed to wait atleast 1-10 minutes in between.
Quote pg.192
"According to the AHA guidelines you should wait one full minute between measurements. You may elect to keep your carefully placed and wrapped BP cuff on the pt's arm."
I told her I will do the other assigned vitals and then come back. She just looked at me and sat down. I proceeded and was very excited about my time and was documenting everything perfectly. I reassessed BP and she asked me what I got and I told her and she did not say anything. I finished with pt and told him I would come back in a few minutes to assess his intake so I could total it and thanked him for letting me help him. I went to make sure pt siderails up x 2 ( out loud), call bell is within reach(out loud), asked the pt if I could get him anything while I was out and he said no, and then stated pt bed is locked, and started to lower bed (not head of bed, entire bed) to lowest and the CE states very loudly, " That's the way he wants it!" I stated to her that I was not lowering head of bed, just the entire bed, so he would not fall or any harm would come to him." I lowered bed and thanked pt again. I stepped out and started documenting everything and revising careplan. The CE came up and said we have a problem. I asked what is the problem, and she stated that I was way off on my BP. I looked at her and said I distinctly heard the Systolic and Diastolic and I was very confident in my abilities to take a blood pressure. I told her that maybe she could get an automatic BP and compare and she said no, she will give me this one. I looked at her confused and she walked off.
I took revised careplan to her and stated I am ready to go back into pt room and implement my new plan and total pt intake and reassess pain. She just stared at my revised careplan and all the blank spots, I told her that we only had to fill out areas we were revising. She told me to leave and go down the hall. She came down with my paper 10 minutes later and handed me my papers. I took them and went back into pt's room. I implemented new measures and reassessed pt and totaled intake. I went back out, charted and turned in my paperwork, 15min early, so all I had was the evaluation phase and that would take no more than 5 minutes.
She had my paperwork for atleast 20min and then told me to come on, that the screaming and yelling up here was too much and she didn't want to get involved. ( There was a pt that had security called for cursing and throwing things just 5 pt rooms down from my pt's room. I heard him screaming the entire last half of my pcs, but never complained about noise.) I followed her down to lobby/education center. She told me to stay out and she went in to see CA. I sat down and was very excited that all I had left was evaluation phase and then I would be redoing lab and going to hotel to rest. It had been a long day.
Well, I never saw that CE again, the CA called me to her and turned her back to me while walking in front of me stating, " what happened Leila? Why didn't you check a pulse? You did everything perfect, except check a pulse." I stated to her that it was not assigned, and that I underlined everything that was assigned and she said she would go check. She came back and said, " Well, this ends your clinical weekend." I looked at her and almost lost my mind! I said, " You are kidding right?"
She said no, and I told her she needs to get that CE and my papers. She refused and stated that I needed to sign a paper and apply again. I told her I did not fail, you failed me, I did everything I was assigned and then more. I was in shock to say the least. It felt surreal to me. I started crying and telling her that this was absolute discrimination. I had been treated horribly the entire time and the CE's don't even know the study guide. I know that study guide inside and out and have studied very hard and this was absolutely a scam. I cannot believe they can even sleep at night after what they did to me. It was a blatant lie and that CE knew it, because she never face me or came near me and the CA refused to look at me in the eyes and just stared at paper. She then told me I should have taken a workshop. I told her I did and she asked if it was an Excelsior workshop and I told her no. So, is this why I was blackballed? Is it their way of getting more money out of me? Are they mad because I did not give them yet another $750.00?
I wrote a statement on that paper and told her I would be turning them in for this to their superiors and this is not joke. I went to leave and the CA said in a very sarcastic manner, " Have a nice day."
I just left. I cried all the way to my hotel, threw my things in my truck and drove 360 miles back home. I have not ever been treated so disrespectfully in my entire life and cannot even believe they call themselves nurses, let alone examiners. I think someone needs to examine them and test them. I truly believe this was unfair and biased. I want a fair test of my skills and knowledge. There is no sense in these women being in charge of examining future nurses.
I have so many friends that were going to Excelsior and because of this, they are withdrawing. They do not want this to happen to them either. I told them the only way I will test again is if I was awarded the appeal and was tested fairly. I really hope it was just a "bad batch" of clinical examiners and clinical associate.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
WOW, that is definitely sad, I hope he won his appeal and yes would love to know where he tested !
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExcelsiorCPNEclassaction/
PLEASE tell me this is an isolated incident! I have spent so much money and now I'm reading this! OMG!
What a nightmare, I was shaking while reading your comment. I went throught the same thing 3 times. I still get upset about the treatment and stressful situations the CE's put me through.
by any chance did you test in Atlanta Ga, had a very similar experience with treatment
Am curious by any chance did you test in Atlanta Ga. I was treated horribly also
blatant lying
DO NOT DO IT! They can fail you even if you do perfect on everything, by going behind you on that Kardex that they "runaway" with for 20 minutes at a time and send you down the hall or into a closed room so you cannot see them. I am telling you, you cannot win unless you have evidence. The Kardex is not a carbon copy that you sign or initial next to each area of care assigned. It should be and I know why they do not want you near them when they review it. what are they hiding? I know!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
i signed up and had my credits evaluated and when i requested to have this written in stone so they couldn't nail me with with other classes i was told all of my science were expired ! my a&p 2 and microbiology courses were taken in spring and summer of 2009... i was told it was a 5 yr limit to transfer sciences courses and i spoke with them may 16th and now there saying 7-1-14 i needed to sign up by may 31 to have them accepted ... maybe someone could have mentioned this ! I totally agree this place is a scam they could have mentioned this and I would have signed up.. "PATTY HOPE" IN ADMISSIONS REFUSED TO TRANSFER ME TO THE NURSING DEPARTMENT. this place is so rude and unprofessional...im going to a community college...
fraudulent CPNE
I just returned from Atlanta Ga after failing the CPNE. Excelsior has no way to evaluate nursing skills with their CPNE so they major on the minors. The whole set up is fraudulent. Nursing students pay a $1900 fee to have their nursing skills evaluated through the CPNE. This in no way evaluates your nursing skills. This means we are paying for a service...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 19 commentsCPNE RIP OFF
I attempted the CPNE in Dec 2011, and failed due "incorrect injection placement and failure to write the careplan correctly". I passed all the classes basically on my own, practiced relentlessly from my home to prepare for "the big weekend" and obtained everything I needed to pass, only to be slapped in the face with a failure. This school couldn't prepare a CNA to work let alone an RN. During my studies it was very frustrating and difficult because there was never anyone to talk to directly to ask questions or confirm ideas. When I finally was able to communicate with a staff member, they provided very little feedback or information. I have come to the realization that this school is a joke! I have to retake the CPNE and cover travel expenses for a second time. I feel like a failure and a disappointment to myself, my family and my career due to the poor education I have received from this institution. I urge anyone who is considering this college to seriously reconsider.
Nina
Sorry to hear about what your story. Mrs. Lesamma John sounds like a nurse who was educated in India. Worked in the US as subpar
nurse. some foreign nursed know their stuff.. but some have poor language and have no clue about the didactic and clinical methodologies used in schools here. I think excelsior should do a testing all these CE And CA before giving them a job. See if they can themselves follow the testing process. Having an RN is not a good indicator that they are well trained in excelsior ways. I think they should look into your appeal. Sounds really silly picking going on... lesamma is trying to cover up that she is clueless...collecting a nice check from excelsior.
I had CPNE on September 25-27. During my 3d attempt, I pass all 4 labs. On Saturday I had my 1st Care Plane : CE left me for 30 minutes; although I finished Planning phase for 15 minutes, and waited for Ms. Leesamma John another 15 minutes, from my 2d CPNE attempt I remember that 1 .5 hours very little time for providing interventions, so weighting for another 15 minutes for CE was not productive time. When Ms. John check my Care Plane, where I choose Dx.: Impaired Bed Mobility. For interventions I used :
1) assist with repositioning ;
2) encourage use bed side rails
Ms. Leesamma John told me that I can not used 2d intervention. I respectfully disagree. I told her that I already used this intervention for one of my Excelsior College Care Plan, and Instructors from Excelsior College accepted it. Ms. Leesamma John left for consultation with CA. When she came back, she told me that Ms. Kaplan gave her permission for using this intervention. I asked Ms. Leesamma John if I can go to the bathroom, and she allowed me to go. I left everything on table with Ms. Leesamma John. When I came back, she open Mosby’s Guide to Nursing Diagnosis on page 540 were it said:” Avoid use of bedrails and restraints unless ordered by physician. I told her that this rules applied to 4rails, that can restrict patient but not 2 rails. Then Ms. Leesamma John told me that she could not find my MAR, and I probably lost it in the bathroom. I did not take anything with me to the bathroom . I even left my purse with her and did not have any piece of paper . Ms. Leesamma John proposed to go with her to look around for MAR. When we were in the corridor looking around one of CNA asked us what we where looking for. I told her than we lost some paper. CNE asked :”Does it paper has blue line on it?” I told her:” Yes, it does”. Ms. Leesamma John asked CNE:” Did you find it in the bathroom?”. CNE responded:” No, I found under the table where both of you where siting” . So, when CNE returned My MAR and I thank her, Ms. Leesamma John told CNE again:” You found it in the bathroom CNE told her:” No, I already told you, I found it in this room, where both of you where siting. I was scared, at that moment I realized Ms. Leesamma John did not interested in checking my skills, she already think, that I am a liar, who tried to hide MAR in the bathroom for no reason. Her words did not even sound as a question 2d time. It was sound like statement, that another person must accepted. The collage requested to sign paper about honesty. Why my CE did not believe me, when I told her that I did not take any paper with me? Why our CPNE Guide had section about emotional jeopardy in relation to patient and the same rule did not apply to our instructors. After that I was not able to control my thoughts. For this reason I want to appeal.
I just came home from Wisconsin where I attempted my CPNE. Prior to taking it I attended a Careplan Bootcamp and had one on one education on writing careplans. I bought the Nursing Diagnosis book they recommended and used it during my CPNE, on the first day of my clinical I wrote me first careplan using the book and the priority interventions that was in the book for my appropriate nursing diagnosis. When I finished it the CE took it and my book and then called the CA who came to me and wanted to know how I came to the outcome and my interventions. When I explained my Rationale to her; which was appropriate she came up with something else wrong with it and failed me, I moved to do my second PCS and the CE done the same thing only as I was writing my careplan she came over and added other things to the Kardex, so when I finished she call the CA again who told me that my interventions would not lead my patient to the outcome and when my rationale did prove it true she again came up with other reasons that was not correct. My support person that went with me has been a Nurse for 30 years and she could not find any reason for the failure. I also asked for a copy of my careplans that I wrote and they refused to give them to me. My intentions were to have a couple of Nursing instructors look at them and give me their feedback. I received very poor reports from the primary nurses and when I tried to get more information I was told they had other patients to care for. Also I do know that their was 8 other students staying at the same hotel and 5 of the 8 failed and all of them for reasons that were absolutely ridiculous. I have been in the medical field for 20 years and working in an Emergency Room as a Paramedic in which I function exactly like a Nurse along with the Paramedic skills that nurses do not get to do, the only difference is the pay scale. I have trained new graduate RN's in the art of being a nurse so it is not like I did not know what I was doing. So my advice to anyone considering Excelsior College's RN program to research and read the comments and see the amount of failures from the program. I am by no means finished with the situation because I attend to challenge the failures and if needed contact lawyers for fraudulent advertising. I know some one out there is going to tell me to put on my BIG GIRL PANTIES ON and except the fact that I failed but guess what I do have my big girl panties on and attend to stand up for my rights because I know they failed me unjustly. They could not even come up with any good reason for not taking my rationales for my careplans. So I guess it is right when people say " Those that can do and those that can't teach!" So I will continue to DO while I investigate how to either get my money refunded or another chance at the clinical free of charge in a different location and not with the same CA and CE's because they all looked like they haven't worked in the real world of nursing in several, several years if at all. I don't know how they can advertise as being STUDENT oriented when they are actually MONEY oriented. I do hope someone from Excelsiors reads all of these negative comments and I hope other potential students research before giving away their money! I hope there is a class action lawsuit against them because I will be right up front to testify.
Play the Excelsior way? Really? Ha! Power hungry fat old bitty nurses who get their kicks out of hazing people...they are sick people. If you happen to fall into their kind graces, you pass, as you get "helped along" otherwise you are doomed. Seems we got another paid EC spokesperson. Most people who do pass this thing have the utmost compassion for those who did not make it because they know what BS and the stressfulness of this thing they call an examination. It should be called an initiation.
Seems to me that there are just a bunch of cry babies on this site. Sorry you didn't prepare for the CPNE...whose fault is that? I'm gonna go with yours. And clinicals...what a joke at a traditional nursing school. I was in the Army for 8 years and can run circles out of these uppity RNs! If you didn't want to play the excelsior way you should have gone somewhere else. I'm betting you used the study guides for the nursing theory exams...why not use it for CPNE. for all you conspiracy theorists on this site go ahead and email me if you have any questions or need a good argument. :) Ann.miracle44@gmail.com
P.S. Clarifying the CE said "some people think this is the Easy Way out". My feeling is some of the CE's truly believe that people taking this program are looking for the easy way out and therefore are condescending to them.
This is the real Imashepherdgirl and I did not post that pro-Excelsior comment! Actually a CE told me that "this is not the easy way out" . I am going to find out how someone got into this account under my name and wrote that comment and possibly pursue legal action about it. I agree with Kayrie. EC did revise the Study Guide and it still is super confusing and contradicts itself in multiple areas. I'm contacting the administrator of this site about the hacking!
Warning looks like there are some possible "plants" on this site. We of course see through it. Really, who gets on complaint boards and is gonna go gung ho for this program? Too funny. Me thinks Excelsior's worst nightmare would be hundreds of people stepping forward giving testimony of similarities of what happened then the truth will come out. Excelsior couldn't do this years ago but now there is this wonderful thing called the internet, and user groups so people can connect from all over and tell what happened to them. Then as they compare notes, can say "yeah, I had that CE too and he/she did the same thing to me". There is a lot of power and arrogance with this school and emotional abuse, psychological games where they try to pin things back on the students, yet they fail to take responsibility for their actions and to boot they take thousands of dollars from people. They seem to never own up to their faults but yet want to put that burden on the students. I think something needs to be done. If anyone knows of a law firm please post it and then everyone should just start putting calls in. It only takes 10 for a class action and I think there are more than 10 out there. P.S. I saw a posting on this site that looks like it was under my user name stating to the affect that I was admitting it was my fault I failed...THIS WAS NOT POSTED BY ME AND I"M NOT SURE HOW THAT GOT ON THIS SITE. I AM GOING TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER TO SEE IF THIS WAS HACKED BY SOMEONE WHO WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO BE EXPOSED. Anyway good luck to all who've had injustice in this situation and I hope justice will be served! I believe the time is ripe!
I just took the CPNE this past weekend (jan 18-20) in Madison Wisconsin. I must say...I read the above posts prior to going & was so very nervous. There were 6 in my group...& I only know of one who failed. Every nursing school has people who do not make it. When I was in LPN school we lost students every semester...but no one called it a scam. I passed...because I had practiced & did everything as I learned it from the study guide & chancellors workshop. It was obvious to me from the first night that the CEs were looking for the critical elements...if they were there...you passed...if not...you failed...not their fault. In what clinical setting is it ok to retrieve items from a trash can? Please tell me so I can avoid it! This is not ok. I failed the IV drip lab the first time...not the CE's fault...mine. When I lowered the tubing I did not recount...gravity can chane the drip rate...again MY fault. File a lawsuit if you want to waste your time...but America needs a lot more people taking responsibly for themselves. Yes I passed...because I prepared. Study & then test again instead of whining about who is to blame. I've failed test in my life...I took responsibility & moved on. All of these cry baby posts almost made me back out of the entire test. Thankfully I decided to judge for myself.
To the above comment! That study guide has a some holes and that's why they just revised it! To the above comment. Also in regards to Care Plans, they vary from each institution...I believe the prior posting praising Excelsior is a paid Excelsior Employee posting. Most people who truly pass the CPNE do not have such a self righteous attitude, they know how hard it is and how the CE's are. In fact one of the CE's told me "People think this is the easy way out" They must use that phrase when they train their CE's because it seems they all have this preconceived notion that non-traditional testers are "taking the easy way out"...interestingly, it's even put in quotations like she quoted it from her CE training program.
disorganization
I have attended Excelsior College, and had to leave. I had the most difficult time obtaining answers to any of my questions from any department and when I did receive an answer is was a half answer. There was always a step missing and an "Oh well, I'm too busy" attitude on their part. I got so frustrated that I changed schools. I had the distinct impression that they (advisors/etc.) only tell students part of what they need to know. Then when a student is locked into something they end up getting hosed and have to stay as they cannot transfer or change anything after that without penalty. I left before my previous degree became a disaster. I should have put a substantial down payment on a nice new car. That would have been more useful.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience, because I have nothing but great things to say about Excelsior. I recently graduated from their Liberal Arts program, so it might be an issue with the staff involved in their Nursing program. I've always found the academic advisors very helpful. Any issue I had was addressed immediately. As far as your law suit, I think the big issue seems to be with the fact you didn't pass. Nursing is challenging and I think it says a lot that Excelsior is considered to have a tough program.
I will keep everyone updated as we move forward. I want my money back and I don't want RNs out in the field that don't have clinical experience. All traditional nursing schools require a certain number of clinical hours to graduate. I don't understand how some states are allowing people to obtain their RN without documented clinical hours. When I first signed up for Excelsior I thought it was a program just for working LPNs and EMTs and that eventually we would have to show documentation of our clinical hours through our employers. I took the workshop and met people that were not working LPNs or EMTs. Present at the workshop were a CNA, LPN who took ten years off from nursing to pursue other interests, the medical assistant who held up a med cup and asked me what it was and what the markings were ( he passed CPNE...OMG) and a former animal trainer that had failed out of real nursing school due to not passing the math test with 100% accuracy. That's the other thing...why isn't there the math test that must be passed with 100% accuracy as there is at all other nursing schools. As you read in my previous post, the CAs and CEs aren't even competent in basic math. There was a person present in the room during the whole IV drip situation and is willing to testify.
I failed the IV push the first time because although I loosened the syringe it got stuck causing it to jerk forward too fast and I had to stop a few seconds before administering the rest of the med. You're not allowed to stop at all...no big deal...I had a second try. I had passed all my other labs and two PCS by my second try at IV push. I wasn't sure but I may have contaminated the tip of my first flush, so just to be safe, I decided to throw it out and draw up a new one. At my facility, it is a strict policy to only dispose of sharps in sharps containers due to cost and being "green". I automatically put in the regular trash and instantly realized my mistake and was going to remove it after I completed the other elements and put it in sharps as excelsior wants it. The CE stopped me immediately. I argued that there is nothing in the study guide that states we are not allowed to remove a non-contamidated barrel from the garbage. The CA stated that we don't remove things from the garbage...the CE had already taken it out of the garbage and placed it on the table so obviously they do remove things from the garbage. The CA told me to appeal. I did appeal on the grounds of not being allowed to correct my mistake and that there is nothing stating that I couldn't have removed it from the garbage to put in sharps. I received a generic letter from the dean of nursing stating that I failed CPNE and so forth. She did not address the issue of my appeal so now it's on to court and I am going to make a big deal about it. In my former career, I was an editor and reporter in NYC and I still have many friends and contacts in the business. Nurses do, at times, have to remove items from the garbage especially if working with children, the elderly, the developmental disabled, and the mentally handicapped.
completely agree and I am looking into a lawsuit at this time. I don't even know where to begin. I failed at Albany for dumb reasons nothing that reflects nursing skills or knowledge. I graduated with the second highest grade from LPN school. After failing CPNE, I decided not to give Excelsior another penny. The thing about the CPNE is that it is ridiculously easy for an intelligent seasoned LPN, but so easy to fail because they judge on minor things that aren't related to nursing knowledge or skills. You basically just have to take CPNE workshop and study study guide and do exactly what they tell you to do. There was a man that passed CPNE that was an army medic twenty years prior and admitted to us that he hadn't had any clinical experience since. There was another young man that worked in an family MD's office as a medical assistant. He answered phones, filed and took vitals...he passed CPNE. I can't believe that some states are allowing these people to become nurses with no clinical experience. California is the only state that sees Excelsior nursing for what it is. Anyway, my first lab was the IV drip. I completed everything and the CE told me she had to get the CA. The CE told CA that I did everything right but my drip calculation was wrong. It just so happens that I have BS degree and had studied math for a while so I was 100% positive that my drip factor was correct. I showed my calculations to CA and she said it appeared correct but they had a different answer. I continued to defend my answer. Finally after about 5 minutes, they realized they were looking at the answer to the wrong question and I passed that lab. I wrote a letter to the dean informing her of what occurred, because I'm sure people have failed CPNE because the CE & CA said drip was wrong. I think a class action lawsuit would be just because there are A LOT of stories out there of shady actions on the part of the CEs and CAs. My friend had a CE that was on her cell phone most of the time during the PCS and looked at her VS and told her that there was no need for her to do a second set! She passed. If I had a CE that did that for me, I would have passed as well. My friend is willing to testify. I have more stories too. Everyone should start talking with lawyers and we should stay in touch. I an also going to protest accreditation of Excelsior nursing because not everyone passing this program has proper clinical experience and it endangers peoples lives.
What degree were you pursuing?
Was thinking about signing Up?
I have been a LPN for almost 10 years now and I am at a cross roads. I want to go back to school to be a RN or do something else. The issuse is, I need to still work. The problem, there aren't any schools in my area that has the nursing classes on Sat or at night. This means I have to look in other areas. I did a search on the internet to find online nursing programs and Rue Education came up. I talked to the rep and she told me how much it would cost and I would be getting the degree from Excelsior College. She explained the testing and the clinicals. At $150-175 a month its doable. The issues I have is with the Clinical portion. I have read almost all the complaints on this site and others about the clinical experience. It sounds horrible. I cant see paying $2025 plus travel expenses and then end up with a fail.
I have read many responses that say you have to do it the Excelsior way. What the [protected]@ll is that? I understand it is a college and they make there rules but come on. There should be a standard way of doing things. Plus it sounds like the Excelsior way is decades old. I agree there should not be a pass or fail. There should be a point system. The pass or fail went out with the 8 track player. My husband and I have thought long and hard about this and I think our decision will be a NO!
Back to the drawing board. One question: Is this the only school that does it this way? Are there others out there?
CPNE clinical testing
My son who has been an LVN for the past 22 years applied to the excelsior CPNE program 2 years ago. He first tested for his CPNE clinical at the Mansfield, Ohio location in January 2011. He failed his third and last hour of the examination because his final assessment of his assigned residentwho had a diagnosis of COPD had been on O2 at 6L vis nasal...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 17 commentsCPNE
CPNE is unreasonable, failure rate is high and they seem to be out to fail everybody. They are out to make money only. Please join group CPNE Unreasonable to file grievance. Or contact me at [protected]@yahoo.com.
Suit in progress and is filed. Send me Email if interested in joining us. Funny how people are asked to get on a complaint board to contradict any time there is a complaint. Thanks Celeste choban33@yahoo.com
Totally agree. Please see the previous comments and join my board to add you to the list of people how are getting together for a suit. Thank you Celeste...
Agree with your assessment. We have started a suite. Please call me, contact me, at [protected] / or choban33@yahoo.com. We have to communicate in person as Donald J is affiliated with them and communicates with them, he also does not understand the "Complaint board" concept and continues to harrass us. Respectfully, Celeste. PS Donald J you may not contact me either by phone or E-mail. If you do I will press charges as a Federal Evaluator for harrassment. You have been warned that this would constitute a federal offense.
Many students in this forum complaint about CPNE failures.
If you believe that Excelsior College has committed fraud or deception, file your complaint with New York's Attorney General Office. You can file your complaint online.
My advice to anyone planning to take CPNE in the future, wear a good unobtrusive body camera while you are taking the exam.
Do not allow any college to rip you off with a simple clinical exam.
Contact me if you have any question, taocoh@aol.com
I just passed my CPNE. Failed my first time. I made a stupid minute error my first time. It's a necessity to have a high failure rate on the CPNE. Some think it's simply a nursing competency. I tested with 5 others and 3 of them were ###s. Thank goodness they weeded them out by day three. If you prepare properly you will pass. If you half ### it, you will fail. Anyone can take simple, multiple choice tests online. Doesn't mean you should be a nurse though. The CPNE is a necessary evil that separates the cream of the crop from the half wits.
This school is a scam...one's whole degree is based on the pass/fail of a single exam after paying the school tons of money and wasting a ton of time studying for all of the former exams...absolutely horrible!
==Warning==
Nursing program considered a scam by many. Nursing program final (CPNE) sets the student up for failure, high stress and embarrassment. Unacceptable failure rates, about 30% of 1st and 30% of 2nd time atempts at CPNE final fail. CPNE final costs $2, 025 and any 1 mistake made may fail the entire CPNE and no refund. High failure rates equal big profits for Excelsior College.
Some States do not approve their nursing program and will not issue an RN license to Excelsior College graduates because: Excelsior's nursing program does not meet minimum State RN board standards. CA is one of the States that will not. See www.rn.ca.gov/whatsnew.shtml (last paragragh) and www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/excelsiorcourtdecision.pdf and www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/excelsiornewsrelease.pdf . So check with your State board of nursing before you enroll.
See www.complaintsboard.com, and search CPNE or Excelsior College. Here you will find over a hundred complaints from Excelsior College students. Consider these warnings before you enroll. A traditional college or technical school may be a safer choice.
Special note for Donald J.
Donald J.,
you're either an idiot or a payed Excelsior employee. Because, no one in their right mind would continually come here and respond to other peoples complaints in support Excelsior College unless they were paid to do so.
So, Donald J, which are you? Idiot or payed Excelsior College employee?
I have had people ask about the Excelsior College RN program and I do not recommend it. I know a few people who have gotten their RN through the program. Three years and $15, 000. later I had nothing but a bad attitude and broken heart. The monster three day clinical exam at the end was the worst experience of my life. I took the exam 3 times and could not pass. This was not for lack of studying as I passed sections of the exam each time. I just couldn't get through the stressful three days and be perfect, which is what it requires. The pressure is enormous. There is the huge expense and everything is timed. Then there is the slightest tolerance for error. The first time through, after the labs on Friday night I had a sleepless night with severe palpitations. I am amazed that I didn't have an MI. My hands shook so hard I could barely hold anything, let alone give some kind of injection or timed IV infusion. I tried a couple of medications during the next two tries to control my performance anxiety. The whole experience was making me a drug attic. I'm the time of person who hates to take an aspirin. I would estimate that every time they test 8 students, 1 or 2 pass. It is a very low percentage. As I said, I do know people who have passed but this is not for everyone. Save your money. Take the time to go through a standard program and have that piece of paper (diploma) at the end. I wasted so much money and time. The other thing is that none of the nursing courses can be applied to standard programs as they do their clinicals every semester so none of the curriculums match up. I would love to hear from others who gave it their all and could not pass. I once saw a saying, you only fail when you stop trying. I stopped when they made me. I requested the opportunity to try it a fourth time as I have severe performance anxiety and was denied.
I passed CPNE on my first attempt. The first time pass rate is about 65% or so. However, like other successful CPNE test takers i studied for months. I had about 3 1/2 years LPN experience in LTC. I had no hospital experience at all! I too was nervous the weekend of CPNE. I slept about 5 hours the entire weekend and ate very little. Please do not let the above post change your mind about Excelsior College. CPNE is difficult but it is doable. Whatever you put in this program you wil get out.
Robin RN is probably paid by Excelsior...seems they have a lot of plants on this site. Anyone interested in a class action I'm in. I think the CE"s are paid for the weekend and purposely fail the students because they can have Sunday off. They also make comments like "some people think this is the easy way out". Lets find out what goes on behind the scenes and get stuff to the surface...a lawsuit will do just this! it is time and I want my money back!
As a seasoned LPN and now RN from traditional programs, I would think all of the "little things" do matter as this brief clinical display of skills represents the 700 or so hours required by traditional programs. I have taken courses thru Excelsior for a certificate r/t Health Care Management and found them wonderful learning experiences.
Excelsior CPNE is the biggest farce that higher education has seen. This is not a learning program in the least. This is a test of unrealistic perfection and subjective criticism. No experienced clinical nurse can ever be as perfect as the Excelsior examiners expect. But the examiners are allowed to make wrong patient scans, incorrect med. scans, and hold cell phone conversations while judging your competence. I did pass my 2nd time, but only because I stood up for myself with the examiner and CE. There was 9 LPN's that started the CPNE in Chambersburg and I am the only one who passed. That in and of it self speaks volumes. Any program with that kind of pass/fail rate should be examining itself, not failing all of the students and continuing to take their money and time. One of the LPN's who failed for her 3rd CPNE now has to begin another RN program with NONE of her earned credits from Excelsior transferring, no other programs in South Eastern PA will accept any of her credits. A class action suit is probably warranted along with a state board of nursing investigation.
completely agree and I am looking into a lawsuit at this time. I don't even know where to begin. I failed at Albany for dumb reasons nothing that reflects nursing skills or knowledge. I graduated with the second highest grade from LPN school. After failing CPNE, I decided not to give Excelsior another penny. The thing about the CPNE is that it is ridiculously easy for an intelligent seasoned LPN, but so easy to fail because they judge on minor things that aren't related to nursing knowledge or skills. You basically just have to take CPNE workshop and study study guide and do exactly what they tell you to do. There was a man that passed CPNE that was an army medic twenty years prior and admitted to us that he hadn't had any clinical experience since. There was another young man that worked in an family MD's office as a medical assistant. He answered phones, filed and took vitals...he passed CPNE. I can't believe that some states are allowing these people to become nurses with no clinical experience. California is the only state that sees Excelsior nursing for what it is. Anyway, my first lab was the IV drip. I completed everything and the CE told me she had to get the CA. The CE told CA that I did everything right but my drip calculation was wrong. It just so happens that I have BS degree and had studied math for a while so I was 100% positive that my drip factor was correct. I showed my calculations to CA and she said it appeared correct but they had a different answer. I continued to defend my answer. Finally after about 5 minutes, they realized they were looking at the answer to the wrong question and I passed that lab. I wrote a letter to the dean informing her of what occurred, because I'm sure people have failed CPNE because the CE & CA said drip was wrong. I think a class action lawsuit would be just because there are A LOT of stories out there of shady actions on the part of the CEs and CAs. My friend had a CE that was on her cell phone most of the time during the PCS and looked at her VS and told her that there was no need for her to do a second set! She passed. If I had a CE that did that for me, I would have passed as well. My friend is willing to testify. I have more stories too. Everyone should start talking with lawyers and we should stay in touch. I an also going to protest accreditation of Excelsior nursing because not everyone passing this program has proper clinical experience and it endangers peoples lives.
CPNE failures
Excelsior College fails nursing students unfairly. If you have taken the CPNE and treated unfairly please contact me at [protected]@yahoo.com Please include when and where you tested and how you were failed.
Together we can change things.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
A friend from the East Coast called me up not too long ago about her experience with the CPNE. She failed. She was to measure with a measuring cup of some sort how much Ensure formula she had given to her patient from an unopened can of Ensure. Instead, she just copied down whatever amount the label on the can says. The patient is on strict I&O.
You see how incompetent their professors are? They go by the book instead of their brain. They are taught in school to think critically, but they are not motivated to think at all because their pay is low.
They are doing their job part-time to earn extra money. The light in their head is so bright that it blinded their brain.
Thanks for the diligence. Keep the complaints coming . There is power in numbers. Please also see the CPNE unreasonable group for further instructions. Thanks. Celeste.
There is a law firm in Tampa Florida that does class action lawsuits against for profit schools. It is John Hoyer investigative law firm, look it up on the web. I just contacted them with my experience at excelsior. they have a fraud button on the website that you can email them your story.I hope everyone who was defrauded and had their hard earned money taken from them contacts this firm. I told them that if excelsior expects 100% perfection from their students then they should expect 100% perfect behavior and conduct from their CE's and CA, so if you have stories about CE's who acted unprofessional or gave different treatment to different people, please tell them about it. I hope we get this class action lawsuit moving.
Donald, actually it is not always the CE's. I failed on the PCS after the CE wasn't "sure" and had the CA come up. I heard the CE say she thinks she "knew what I was saying", CA failed me. I had a CE actually take off her high heels in an empty room and walk around barefoot. We all know how housekeeping cleans (I know they are busy etc, I am not putting them down), plus others walk in/out room with their workshoes on. Would you EVER walk barefoot anywhere in a hospital? So really, they are testing us?
Did I fail because of CA/CE or me? Who knows I think it was a combination but I will be appealing as the one area of failure, I found no such "rule" in the study guide. Am I looking for a "pass" no, just a retest without penalty/fee.
I will keep everyone updated as we move forward. I want my money back and I don't want RNs out in the field that don't have clinical experience. All traditional nursing schools require a certain number of clinical hours to graduate. I don't understand how some states are allowing people to obtain their RN without documented clinical hours. When I first signed up for Excelsior I thought it was a program just for working LPNs and EMTs and that eventually we would have to show documentation of our clinical hours through our employers. I took the workshop and met people that were not working LPNs or EMTs. Present at the workshop were a CNA, LPN who took ten years off from nursing to pursue other interests, the medical assistant who held up a med cup and asked me what it was and what the markings were ( he passed CPNE...OMG) and a former animal trainer that had failed out of real nursing school due to not passing the math test with 100% accuracy. That's the other thing...why isn't there the math test that must be passed with 100% accuracy as there is at all other nursing schools. As you read in my previous post, the CAs and CEs aren't even competent in basic math. There was a person present in the room during the whole IV drip situation and is willing to testify.
I failed the IV push the first time because although I loosened the syringe it got stuck causing it to jerk forward too fast and I had to stop a few seconds before administering the rest of the med. You're not allowed to stop at all...no big deal...I had a second try. I had passed all my other labs and two PCS by my second try at IV push. I wasn't sure but I may have contaminated the tip of my first flush, so just to be safe, I decided to throw it out and draw up a new one. At my facility, it is a strict policy to only dispose of sharps in sharps containers due to cost and being "green". I automatically put in the regular trash and instantly realized my mistake and was going to remove it after I completed the other elements and put it in sharps as excelsior wants it. The CE stopped me immediately. I argued that there is nothing in the study guide that states we are not allowed to remove a non-contamidated barrel from the garbage. The CA stated that we don't remove things from the garbage...the CE had already taken it out of the garbage and placed it on the table so obviously they do remove things from the garbage. The CA told me to appeal. I did appeal on the grounds of not being allowed to correct my mistake and that there is nothing stating that I couldn't have removed it from the garbage to put in sharps. I received a generic letter from the dean of nursing stating that I failed CPNE and so forth. She did not address the issue of my appeal so now it's on to court and I am going to make a big deal about it. In my former career, I was an editor and reporter in NYC and I still have many friends and contacts in the business. Nurses do, at times, have to remove items from the garbage especially if working with children, the elderly, the developmental disabled, and the mentally handicapped.
completely agree and I am looking into a lawsuit at this time. I don't even know where to begin. I failed at Albany for dumb reasons nothing that reflects nursing skills or knowledge. I graduated with the second highest grade from LPN school. After failing CPNE, I decided not to give Excelsior another penny. The thing about the CPNE is that it is ridiculously easy for an intelligent seasoned LPN, but so easy to fail because they judge on minor things that aren't related to nursing knowledge or skills. You basically just have to take CPNE workshop and study study guide and do exactly what they tell you to do. There was a man that passed CPNE that was an army medic twenty years prior and admitted to us that he hadn't had any clinical experience since. There was another young man that worked in an family MD's office as a medical assistant. He answered phones, filed and took vitals...he passed CPNE. I can't believe that some states are allowing these people to become nurses with no clinical experience. California is the only state that sees Excelsior nursing for what it is. Anyway, my first lab was the IV drip. I completed everything and the CE told me she had to get the CA. The CE told CA that I did everything right but my drip calculation was wrong. It just so happens that I have BS degree and had studied math for a while so I was 100% positive that my drip factor was correct. I showed my calculations to CA and she said it appeared correct but they had a different answer. I continued to defend my answer. Finally after about 5 minutes, they realized they were looking at the answer to the wrong question and I passed that lab. I wrote a letter to the dean informing her of what occurred, because I'm sure people have failed CPNE because the CE & CA said drip was wrong. I think a class action lawsuit would be just because there are A LOT of stories out there of shady actions on the part of the CEs and CAs. My friend had a CE that was on her cell phone most of the time during the PCS and looked at her VS and told her that there was no need for her to do a second set! She passed. If I had a CE that did that for me, I would have passed as well. My friend is willing to testify. I have more stories too. Everyone should start talking with lawyers and we should stay in touch. I an also going to protest accreditation of Excelsior nursing because not everyone passing this program has proper clinical experience and it endangers peoples lives.
Don't know don't care.
Hmm...wondering how much Donald J is getting paid right now...
No, you're wrong. it doesn't only take one bad CE. It would take at the very least two different bad CE's, because you have to fail either two lab sims, two adult PCS's, or two pedi PCS's.
CE's do not "steer" students. CE's are silent observers. If a CE interjects or offers advice during a PCS, especially advice that would fail a student, then the student would be able to file an appeal and the appeal would be granted.
I agree that stress is a big factor, but during the CPNE the student is expected to operate at the level of a new grad RN, not as a student. The CE's and CA do not intentionally make the environment stressful. It just is what it is. I challenge you to find an Excelsior grad that *passed* the CPNE and says that the CE's were mean-spirited, rude, etc. 100% of the time, these statements come from failures who do not accept responsibility for their errors.
I took a workshop from an Excelsior grad that graduated several years ago. According to her analysis -- and she does a TON of research on the issue, since CPNE workshops are her primary source of income -- the CPNE has actually gotten significantly less complicated than years ago when she passed. Reviewing the upcoming changes in the next CPNE edition, I can only assume that this is true. Again, your statement only comes from second-hand information from failed students who are shifting the blame from themselves to the CE's.
As for the "low success rate", you're neglecting to take into account the average number of students who fail out in a traditional nursing program. The average fail out rate in traditional programs is MUCH higher than the fail rate of the CPNE. The only difference is that traditional programs fail out each semester, while Excelsior's CPNE fails you at the end. Some traditional programs will also make you take the whole nursing program again if you fail a course twice. So, from a money-making perspective, I see no difference in having a student repeat the CPNE vs. having a traditional student failing out halfway into a program and having to take the whole program again.
Ask yourself this -- why is it that 100% of the students who were in the workshop that I took have all passed the CPNE on the first shot? We had 14 people in my workshop (it was not the official Excelsior workshop). What are the odds that 100% of our group just "got lucky" with their CE's and PCS's? That's BS. We all passed because we all knew what was expected of us and we all prepared properly. If you study and know the critical elements and if you practice, practice, practice, you will pass the CPNE. All it takes is knowing what Excelsior expects and doing it. Nothing more. Just like any other nursing program, you do things the way the instructors tell you, not the way you think they should be done.
As a nurse educator, I would expect you to be able to differentiate between subjective and objective information. As a nurse educator, I would expect you to appreciate the necessity of studying and comprehending the information that you're being tested on. And as a critical care nurse, I would expect you to understand the need for discipline and self accountability.
Donald J, you are flat out wrong! I am an Excelsior graduate and I am currently a Critical Nurse and a Critical Nurse Educator. I never went through what these poor students are going through. Things have definatley changed. Seems like making money on repeat testers is the priority now. Any program with a success rate that low has to look inward and ask, how are we failing our sudents? If it was a public school with graduation rates that low, we would be blaming the teachers not the students! You are very lucky if you get a CE that is fair and not out to get you. There are a lot of great CEs, but it only takes one. I am learning from students first hand of testing scenarios that are totally unacceptble and set the student up for failure. They create such a stressful environment that the student 's hands are trembling so bad they can't even hold the syringe. I am a nurse educator and no student should be made to feel that way. I have learned of specific situations where the student was on the right track and thrown off course by a CE. You cannot expect nursing students to be that perfect. Students are passing the Critical Elements but failing because they are so nervous their hands are trembling and they are running out of time. This is unacceptable. I am embarassed to be an EC Alumni. I will never refer any student to this program again! I'm a very experienced RN, but based on what I'm hearing, I'd fail too. Something is very wrong with that!
associates nursing program
Have spent huge amounts of money in the associates degree nursing program. I would recommend anyone considering this to reconsider. It is not a good program. I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. No teaching. Final clinical exremely costly and only graded pass or fail. So sad to find this out the hard way. Hope to give someone else the heads up. Also...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 22 commentsCPNE failure is rediculously easy.
I just finished failing my CPNE. I have been an LPN for 15 years. I currently work in an acute care hospital. I have been working slowly twards my RN for many years now. I graduated from LPN school with honors and never had an issue with clinical while in school. Just felt that was necessary background. On the first day of my exam from hell, was the 4 labs. I passed the first 2 labs but then failed the second two. On the first failed lab I was packing a sterile dressing, after the dressing is complete they take off the outer dressing and examine the gauze you packed your wound with. The wound on this fake arm was very irregularly shaped and because the packing overlapped the edge by about 1mm, I failed. Next lab was IV push, because there was an alcohol wipe over where the name would have been on the MAR when I stated I would verify the patient's name and date of birth, I failed this lab. The next day was 2 patient care situations (PCS) and repeating failed labs. The first PCS I performed everything perfectly until it came time to do the eval. My rationalle for chosing my care plan was worded wrong-FAIL. Second PCS CE got pulse of 105, I got 115, so did the dinamap twice. The CA said I should have been concerned that this pulse was higher than the patient's baseline of 112. Second try on the wound lab, this time my gauze packing wasn't close enough to the edges of the wound-FAIL and out. Wasted $1900 for the CPNE, traveling expenses, cost of new uniform tops, and sneakers. It was a stressful, awful experience. I feel cheated. They are just looking for anything to fail you so they can charge you for the cost of the exam all over again. I don't know if I want to give them any more of my money. I even told the CA it was the worst experience of my life. The thing that really surprised me is that the examiners were very nice, but once she involved the CA in any way there was no chance of even the smallest thing being up for discussion. I don't recommend it.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
it's a scam and very subjective. it also has nothing to do with good nurse/not good nurse. it has all to do with politics. absolutely nothing to do with "real" nursing as in "skills." most i've seen fail have a lot under their belt and if you have half a brain, most likely you are the one they will fail. (not all but many)... if you haven't started yet--don't. go to your community college, you will be a much happier person and omit a lot of stress, bills and not end up taking a gamble with your future. I am sure it's the perfect solution for those who passed but again, this exam is not done fairly. many were slipped by when they failed and others were failed for nonsense. it's a conflict of interest to have the clinical by this staff. you should take your exam by a state examiner that has NO monetary or other interests. this is a series of secret games not exams. (it's their secret, they fail you, they get to still keep the big pay for your weekend and go home but you lost out on that money, travel, hotel and your weekend. why not pay these examiners by the hour so if they fail you and they go home, they go off the clock too? hmmmm. that's only ONE part of the game here. (scam) .
Sometimes it depends on where you test. When I was studying and practicing for my CPNE, I paid a lot of attention to what was other students and instructors were saying on the Excelsior Peer Network which I think is now called the Excelsior Community or something like that on their web site. Where you test has a lot to do with passing. If you failed, maybe you need to evaluate where you tested and test somewhere else, where the clinical examiners are more professional and fair. By the time it dawned on me what the CPNE was and how my whole three years I had spent on this program all was dependent on the CPNE, it was too late for me to do anything about it but prepare. For my first nursing exam, I used a publishing company to prepare. I did ok, but I didn't really learn much of anything. Then I started using Excelsior's books and resources only and there was a big difference. I did so much better on theory exams and learned a great deal. I think Excelsior has an excellent theory component when you learn from their books and resources. Setting up a MyEC student account on the excelsior website should be a must. You MUST also have a strong theory and critical thinking base to practice safely. Anyone can learn hands on skills. We teach family members hands on skills as nurses. You're going to need more than that no matter what school you go to. There are some nurses that graduated from traditional programs that have no critical thinking skills whatsoever and I have to wonder how they were ever able to sit for the NCLEX. I went to a traditional nursing school before Excelsior to get my LPN. Even at a traditional program, you should be opening them books and absorbing as much as you can make sure you have an understanding of rationales as opposed to just memorization. Yes, in some aspects, I think Excelsior is a great school as far as theory.
My problem with Excelsior is the clinical component leaves lots to be desired. There should definitely be a 360 hour preceptor component after the CPNE. Give that student some hands on RN clinical teaching on Telemetry, Neuromedical, GI, Orthopedics, ICU step down. And as far as the CPNE, it needs to be more fair and the school should offer better teaching preparation for it. Its highly objective. If you are already in too deep and have completed all your nurse theory and gen ed courses and would loose too much money if you don't take your CPNE, do it. Just make sure you're careful of where you test. If you're not in too deep or just considering enrolling in Excelsior, then don't do it. Run the other way.
Ok now here's the short version. Guess what it is...DO NOT GO TO EXCELSIOR COLLEGE!
DO NOT GO TO EXCELSIOR COLLEGE! Please do not go. I was able to pass my CPNE on the first try. But I will tell you this, If I had it to do over again, I would NOT go to Excelsior for my ASN. Do yourself a favor and go to a traditional BSN program. You will have more job opportunities and your degree will be more respected. Yes, that's right. Go to a tradition bachelor nursing degree program. And if this is not feasible than do a traditional school ASN program to get your RN and then go to a local RN to BSN program, NOT EXCELSIOR. Pretty soon the associate degree RN's are going to be phased out. Now I have to say, there are some Excelsior grads that run hoops around traditional ASN grads as we sometimes have a much more stringent clinical and stronger theory base. Not true for all Excelsior students. Good and bad nurses come from every school Excelsior and traditional nursing schools alike. I would had liked to have had more RN clinical learning experience as a student. I also don't like the fact that all this money can be invested in general ed and theory courses, travel expenses, CPNE expenses, just to loose it all in a day over something simple like not aspirating for blood before flushing an IV line. The CPNE grading is highly objective. When I was preparing for the CPNE, other students on the Excelsior Peer Network, which I think is now called the Excelsior community, told me about which testing centers were the best and which ones had hateful, unprofessional CEs and CAs. For this and many other reasons, I would not choose Excelsior again. I'm not saying I didn't get an excellent education, because I realize now that I did. But I don't like how many unsuspecting students and LPNs get cheated out of their ASN degree by some at Excelsior. Its just heartbreaking. I have experienced so much emotional & physical pain in the past that I think I'm just numb to some things so I was prepared for failure of the CPNE, but thank God that never came to be.
Excelsior College "CPNE" is difficult, but certainly not impossible. My advice is to review the study guide at 100% accuracy before attending the weekend session. Also, even if you have had many years of nursing experience as a LPN, etc, it doesn't matter. I tell students that you should, "Do it the Excelsior way", because it's "Their way or the highway". Previous health care experience doesn't matter. Several inaccuracies and you are on your way to failure. Good luck, everyone!
There is an Attorney who is representing Excelsior nursing students in a class action lawsuit. Google it. This is a serious deal people! Stay away from these crooks and if you've been affected by them already, find this attorney.
Jesus Christ what kind of school is this.
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT ENROLL INTO EXCELSIOR COLLEGE! RUN AND HIDE FROM IT! THINK OF IT LIKE A BAD CASE OF GENITAL HERPES! WHEN YOU THINK EXCELSIOR COLLEGE THINK OF HERPES!
In all seriousness though, this "learning institution" is the farthest thing from anything remotely resembling a learning institution. The CPNE is not about testing you on what you know, it is about finding a mistake no matter how small it is and failing you for the entire PCS because of it! It really is a scam, and if they wanted you to be successfull they should at the very least let you do a mock PCS from start to finish, then at the end of it tell you all of the mistakes you made throughout it so you will learn what not to do! This is just plain torture, it is absolute misery, and they keep getting away with calling themselves a Nursing school! Can anyone honestly sit there and say that if they had a choice to do it all over again they would do it through Excelsior? Even the people who passed the first time are telling you they would go conventional. Listen there is a better way to test people on being a Nurse, but Excelsior wont make money that way. If you are still not convinced this is a scam ask yourself this, why is Excelsior college so unwilling to change the way they grade their CPNE as pass/fail to point system? They will say because Critical Elements are the very least that should be done, but what they dont want to admit though is that performing the critical elements perfectly without face to face instruction on it is not what conventional nursing programs require you do to pass your clinical! In a conventional Nursing Program you are instructed on how to perform all critical elements, and then you are tested on performing it. A conventional Nursing school fosters an environment for learning! Excelsior college feels they have to foster the most stressfull environment, with no learning or instruction involved what so ever!
I only took and failed the CPNE once years ago and I think that is enough. All I paid is for nothing including traveling for conference and testing. The teacher for conference and examiners are mean and I don't believe they themselves can pass the CPNE.
I agree! I can't wait to be done with Excelsior! What a horrible experience!
Hello im from down south and took my clinical portion down here as well. I did pass the first time around but I do agree with many. Excelsior college is WAY to picky. A big money cow! I saw a girl fail because the instructor said she didnt wash her hands for a minimum 20 sec, but she did. What it was is that the instructor were to busy talking and didnt pay attention. Then the instructor that i had on my second day when i had the patients, didnt even look or pay attention when I had administered insulin. Good for me but I saw may fail for stupid reasons and the worst part is some of these people were on their last try and failed. I felt so bad I even cried with them. Some of these people borrowed money for the clinical portion. Some of these people had families and tried to better themselves and excelsior failed them for really small things. Im glad Im done with excelsior and will never deal with them again. The instructors make you so nervous. The first day when i was in lab the instructor came real close to me while I was testing and kept pacing back and forth, I was totally nervous. If I had to do it again I would have gone traditional route.
Discrimination and Racism
Excelsior College and Discrimination and Racism Tactics
The best way to improve the college and stop discrimination and racism is to get 'rid' of Kutchner (commencement organizer) and Janice (MLS program director). These are the most 'hateful' women the devil ever invented. They are the most 'jealous' people, God allow to slip through his fingers. These so-called women are the 'biggest liars' and troublemakers which is a waste of 'life' itself.
There are so many influences these animals have poisoned the staff with concerning women of color. From their insecurities all the way to their 'rudeness' and undiscipline behavior. I'm so glad I don't live in Albany, NY so I would NOT have to ever come across these animals ever in this life time.
The President's mind has been manipulated with their fabrications and treachery that he's a victim to these animals treachery. Maybe John needs to retire himself.
I graduated with their poor excuse of a degree (meaning the uncreativity, bland degree) but was "so called" held from pursuing a Master's from Excelsior due to 'racism, discrimination and manipulation of those animals fabrications. In other words, until you 'clean-out' your college and begin with a 'fresh' newly fit, unblemished staff, the school will never go past my lips as a great school. I will let everyone know what a lousy, unprofessional, fabricating, jealous, discriminating and racist staff that is employed there.
In other words protential students are:
Not allowed to ask questions about the school, its curriculum, course etc.
Not allowed to ask questions about the 'instructors' communicating regarding courses or grades,
Not allowed to ask questions regarding any disagreements about grades, book requirements etc
Not allowed to ask questions regarding graduation commencement, requesting cap and gowns to be mailed to paying students, without retailiation from Kutchner.
Not allowed to ask questions regarding Masters program emails when there is a contradiction regarding what type of programs or choices to succeed in the Masters Program without retailiation from the Director namely Janice.
FYI: This 'Janice" has a negative reputation in Excelsior as well as Kutchner. It is all over the website in 'rip-off'.com. This Janice enjoys to spreading rumors about other human beings, but I feel sorry for her and her mother who obviously didn't 'nurture' her or taught her about loving oneself so you can love someone else.
I can go on and on but I will no longer waste my time with these idiots at the school and I do not consider myself an alumni of Excelsior.
Can you give actual examples or any clues as to what they did that was discriminatory? Clearly you are angry so something must have happened but if you only express rage at the culprit without any evidence it doesn't give you a case. I honestly can 't tell if you have a case or not from what you have written. Try resubmitting this in a way that is more meaningful.
I actually just obtained an undergraduate degree from Excelsior. Although I'm only 24, I need to work for a living like many Americans. Going to a traditional college wasn't going to pay the bills. I found Excelsior both challenging and rewarding. It was by NO means the experience of the above complaint. Any issue I had was immediately addressed. I actually had a professor who was unable to open my final paper. Because of this, it resulted in a "C" grade. I emailed my professor who didn't respond. (Honestly it was my fault, due to it being send in the incorrect format.) I explained the situation to my academic advisor who immediately received a response from my professor and my grade increased to a "B". I have nothing but great things to say about my experience. I'm now enrolled in law school (Wayne State Law School in Detroit, MI). It's actually a great school and the Excelsior degree was held to as high a standard as any other.
I agree this person comment. African Americans think twice before you make this mistake and enroll in this institution. You will face serious discrimination at the ending of your course, making it not worthwhile.
Can I Say, a little looney, maybe? this person is Crraazzzyyyy!
Your egregious use of the English language makes me immediately doubt the validity of your complaint. I'm curious how you completed all the essay work required by an online program. Plagiarism, perhaps?
The person who left the comment against EC is way off her meds.
WOW, if it was that bad, why did you not pursue legal action. Discrimination is not allowed, so if true, as you state, I would have pursued other avenues.
Clinical (CPNE) $ SCAM
I signed up for Excelsior College LVN to RN program with high hopes. I passed all 8 computer exams, which I feared most. Little did I know...after traveling to 3 different states (Nevada, Indiana, NY) to attend CPNE workshops and after purchasing everything and anything they offered, I traveled once again to Wisconsin to take my CPNE. (Mind you that I had a full wkshp. set up in my living room, after attending 3 wkshps., I could have taught the class) I was instructing a patient to deep breathe and cough and I was called out of the room by my instructor and she told me that I failed, because upon stating to the patient to breathe in I did not us the word "forcefully" when I instructed her to exhale. There were 7 students taking the CPNE that wknd. and all of us failed. CPNE #2, traveled to ? (can't even remember now) I was doing my abd. assessment and listened to bowel sounds in 4 quadrants and instructor continued let me finish exam, then called me out to hallway and told me that she thought my stethescope was not low enough in the right quadrant (although she also heard positive BS. When I left, there was still 1 person out of 6 left. All the others failed and I never found out if the person left passed or not. CPNE#3, I traveled to Plano, TX and there were 6 people in my group. AS you can imagine, I was VERY nervous by this point. During the classroom stations I was the last one to do my IM injection. I used my hnd for the landmarks. Gave the injection and the examiner asked me to not remove my needle. She then got a plastic stiff tranparency and attempted to lay it over the buttocks/hip. By now there were 2 ppl. involved, they removed my syringe, leavin the hub/needle in place. This was on the black line of their poor fittinbg transparency and hey agreed tht it was unacceptable location. I argued about everyones hand is a different size and the laminate/transparency does not curve to the correct "plane" of the buttocks. Failed, I burst into tears and tole them that I had spent $30, 000 on this program and 2 years. It is definitely a money scam. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS PROGRAM. Today, after 2.5 years, I am still so bitter and hurt. I continue to work as an LVN and am having a difficult time deciding on going back to the classroom.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have always been an excellent student (A's and B's). I too feel the CPNE is very subjective. I failed for a b/p the the ce first said she couldn't hear, I heard it perfectly fine. Took the b/p again 110/70 and 11 year old. Her baseline in her chart was 110/68-100/65, yet the ce said I saw it bounce at 80, so I got 110/80. I failed. She never even heard the b/p she said she saw it bounce at 80, funny the patient baseline was never even close to 80 diastolic in the chart. All I have to say is I feel so humiliated and RIPPED OFF! I never should have gone to that second rate school. It took over a year to get into test. I know in my heart I would not of had a problem passing a traditional program. The biggest mistake of my life. Please if anyone thinks this is going to be an easy way to get your RN, think again because a huge percentage of students get nothing in the end.
You have ti stay focus what ever you do. Also be careful the words that come out your mouth... What you speak is what you receive... Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ◄ Mark 11:24 ►While we like to think we have conscious control over what we attract, what we do in life, and how we behave, the truth is, the subconscious has most of the control. So when you aren't attracting what you want in life, it's an indication that unconsciously you have low expectations for yourself. Even if on a conscious level you make every effort to achieve something, unless your unconscious carries synergistic expectations, then it will be difficult to achieve.
LET THINK POSITIVE FOR 2013.
CHEERS LOVE YOUR NEW NURSE T.M.
I think I figured out why the CE's like to fail people. They probably get paid for the whole weekend and don't want to be there/have weekend plans and don't want to get up at 6am on Sunday. So no incentive for them to come back the next day. Then they look for the smallest thing to fail a person on, because NO ONE is perfect especially NOT the CE's who themselves made ridiculous mistakes! I have seen it first hand and was appalled that I'm paying this money to watch them argue over what was proper procedure. If you pass consider yourself fortunate, you had a CE who was decent and fair. They put on a good front but I think many of them look down on the test takers as "less than" them because they are not master's level and didn't go the traditional route. If a class action law suit is ever filed I think the payments of the CE's should be looked into to prove my theory right!
I am sick of reading about people saying that if we fail then we did not prepare. Well, let me tell you something. I studied for 6 months straight and everyday. I was failed because these so-called examiners could not hear the blood pressure right and I told her to get the automatic and compare ours and she refused and got mad. Well, everything was perfect, so how could I fail, well guess what...magically a new check mark appears on my Kardex that was not there in the beginning and oops you forgot, you fail. That is bull%$% and you know it. Also, failed me for holding my pt's hand which put me 4 minutes over my 2.5 hours and she said I went over on time, FAIL! coincidence? I think they are racist, biased, and jealous. I have never been so disrespected in my life. I am appealing as we speak. I will have those examiner's jobs when I finish.
I passed my CPNE last year (2011). Yes, The CPNE is a pain.
I am a single parent with seven children and I passed the first time. I had to repeat only one patient and it was my stupidity.
My CPNE was located in Texas and there were 6 of us. 1 person failed, we all knew she would. There was other person who was repeating the CPNE for the second time. This person forgot to do something and failed his first patient, so he left and never returned.
The rest of us passed. It can be done.
graduated excelsior college in 2005, best investment i have ever made, hardest thing i have ever completed. Passed cpne 1st time, i studied my butt off for over six months. If you didnt pass you didnt prepare. And personally I wouldnt want someone that could not pass the cpne caring for me, it is a test of the basic fundamentals of nursing practice. If you cant committ to learning the basics then maybe nursing isnt for you. Oh yeah and in case you didn't know nursing can be very stressful, you managing your stress during the cpne is part of the exam.. I have worked MS/ICU/CTICU have managed a short term rehab facility and am currently a nursing supervisor. Without excelsior college and their scam of a nursing program i'd be doing menial labor right now. I don't work for them, but i would in a heart beat (originating from the atrial depolarization of the sa node), you'd know that if you studied your cardiology content. Maybe it wasn't even excelsior setting you up, maybe the patient you were caring for did it to you., ... Take some accountability... let the comments roll..
tgLPN, sorry for your failure. Wish things would have turned out different for you. I know it is difficult to pay that much money and have nothing to show at the end, especially after we study for such an incredible amount of time.
Regarding your intervention failure, the CPNE study guide says interventions are to help a patient achieve an outcome that will move a patient to a resolution of a problem. Obtaining a blood pressure wouldn't help a patient achieve an outcome. I really don't understand the "left leg weakness" as a related to problem. What was the NCP that you used?
Please share...
Excelsior is a scam! I just finished taking it for the second time. The CA told me that I was a clinically competent nurse (have worked on pcu for 5 years). But, they failed me because I used "obtain a blood pressure" as an intervention in my planning phase care plan which they said was "monitoring" And then, for using "left leg weakness" as a related to. Everything was else was perfect! But they failed me anyway. $2025 out the window, plus the cost of hotel and travel. The Mosby's nursing diagnosis book lists these phrases as acceptable. If it's acceptable to nursing, why isn't accetable to Excelsior? I believe they have to fail so many students and pass few. I know people who have passed this and lucky for them-they weren't the ones chosen to be failed. Also the CE told me "I could never have done this program" Oh really? Then why are you participating in the rip off?! I'm filing complaints with the board of nursing, U.S. department of Education, and Excelsior's Dean of Nursing.
I just passed CPNE this weekend. It is very doable. You have to know your stuff inside and out! Excelsior is not a scam. They have set guidelines you must adhere to, or, you don't pass. I saw absolutely no prejudice, nor favoritism. I studied for 6 months solid and do well under stress. CPNE is no other than a HESI exit exam. If they let everyone pass with out being able to see them work, what would happen to nursing as a profession? Oh, I am just an LVN from Texas who succeeded at the CPNE. I don't work for, nor have I ever been employed by Excelsior.
I was just given a presentation by a rep from College Network and when I asked him the percentage of people passing the clinical, he told me 61%. I told him I would not comit to the program without a 90% passing rate. I told him I would not throw my money on a gambeling table with those odds. I talked to a friend who did the program and he told me out of 8 people in his clinical group, he was the only one that passed, BTW he is now a MSN now. Then I got on this site, OMG, Im so glad I did not spend the money on their program! Thanks
failure of the cpne exam
I was failed on my cpne r/t something that the CA said I should have done. According to the cpne manual, this was not written in the m anual. I complained but to no avail. Yes, they are quick to shove a piece of paper in your face and tell you to try again. That is, You must pay another few thousands of dollars again. One day someone will uncover this big scam.
Read full review of Excelsior College and 39 commentsAstronomical Failure Rates
A student spends years and thousands of dollars pursuing her RN degree with Excelsior. After all the tests are passed, she can finally take the CPNE - an examination of her nursing skills. Mind you, this costs $1825 to take. That's not including the airfares to get there (no, they don't test in every state - only a few). Oh, and you'll need to rent a hotel...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 43 commentsScam
Students spend thousands of dollars trying to obtain an RN degree thru Excelsior College. There are yrly student fees, test fees, books costs, flash cards, dvds, skills bag, workshops, clinicals, airfares, hotels, car rentals... None of it cheap. All of it way, way, way more than a traditional nursing school. CA won't let Excelsior grads even test for their...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 28 commentsIt's a scheme.
I was enrolled in the LPN to RN program via The College Network (another group of crooks). This college charges all kinds of fees that go up on a regular basis. They claim that they are there for the student, but that is not true. Calling them is a headache, if you can get anyone on the phone. The lost my application for clinical. When I finally got to...
Read full review of Excelsior College and 111 commentsExcelsior College Reviews 0
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