Online Nursing Degree?

Nursing, -- Excelsior college... can someone really receive their nursing degree online? Is this a reputable?

• college? What states would not accept this degree? I know, I know, who would want a nurse with an online degree but after looking at all the prerequisits on nursinglink.com, I ...show more

• Answer:

  Excelsior, formerly Regents, IS legit. However, you are mistaken that there is no clinical portion. To get their ADN--associates in nursing: "Admission to our associate degree nursing programs is open to: Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, paramedics, military service corpsmen, individuals who hold degrees in clinically oriented health care fields in which they have had the opportunity to provide direct patient care (e.g., physicians, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants). Also, individuals who have successfully completed at least 50 percent of the clinical nursing credit hours in an associate, baccalaureate, or RN diploma nursing program may be eligible for the program if they apply within 5 years of completing their last nursing course. The necessary documentation, such as copies of licenses, certificates, and official transcripts must be submitted with the admissions application. The Undergraduate Application for Admission (online and PDF) identifies required supporting documentation required for admission by each category of applicant as well as additional admissions criteria." https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/School_of_Nursing_Admission_Policy "The Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE®) is a skill-based assessment designed to measure a student's ability to demonstrate the expected behaviors and skills of a beginning-level associate-prepared nurse. The CPNE is administered at three Regional Performance Assessment Centers (RPACs) located across the United States (Albany, NY; Atlanta, GA; and Madison, WI). Further information about the RPACs is available via the following link. Regional Performance Assessment Centers (RPACs) The examination provides the following: 1:1 evaluation by a master's- or doctorally prepared clinical examiner who was trained to administer the examination Actual or simulated clinical situations that serve as the basis for the examination A carefully controlled and monitored examination experience that allows for a fair and objective assessment of your knowledge and skill no matter where or when you choose to complete the examination A comprehensive study guide is provided that describes the examination requirements in detail. Excelsior College also offers workshops to help you prepare for the CPNE. Students enrolled in the Excelsior College associate degree nursing program must complete one performance examination: the CPNE." https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/Clinical_Performance_in_Nursing_Examination What they are doing is recognizing the fact that nursing clinical skills are experiential and some folks, depending on their WORK setting, are being taught the skills of an RN. This is like the concept of the diploma school nurse (few such programs remain) where basically you signed your life over to a hospital and they worked you hard and gave you some theory on top of that. If you survived the program, you could sit for the exam. It's highly unlike a CNA would be allowed into the program--the level of care they are trained for is incredibly limited and they tend to work in places where there are either few RNs (like a nursing home) or in understaffed areas (hospitals) where the nurses would be hard-pressed to get them up to speed. An LPN or someone with military med experience is far more educated and experienced than a CNA (if the CNA practices within his scope of education, training, and legal duties). There is such a serious shortage of nurses in the US (and throughout much of the world) that a way to get those working in the medical field to recognized degrees is necessary.