Excelsior College review: fraudulent CPNE 19

I also failed in Atlanta, Ga! I didn't even have the opportunity to show my nursing skills. I would love to be involved in a class action suit.

I am in as I also believe it's a scam

I 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.

I have been a nurse for 20 yrs. and I am ready for this to happen. I graduated at the top of my class and have worked sub-acute setting for the past 15 yrs. When I was writing the careplan for my peds case the CE was sitting next to me talking on the phone to her husband and then called for her schedule at work. Rediculous, I was trying to get her attention to ask her a question and she actually put her finger up and said 1 minute to me.

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.

I have been a LPN for 31 years. 29 of that acute primary care. I was nurse of the year twice in those years. Very respected in my nursing skills, which were quoted way above average. I went to the cpne at Meriter. This was the worst nightmare of my entire Life. The instructors time you, but although they say thier instructors they look to disagree on care plans that are accurate, spend 30 minutes of your Timed time checking with the CA to see if your care plan passed, then talk on thier cell phones constant, and fail you for bad clinical decisions they made if you disagree, or they all cant agree if something is pass or fail. This is a money pit, you are set up to fail and they are good at it. They need that money you paid as many times as they can get it! This is a scam and is a shame to the name of nursing! Please discourage anyone from this program. I do believe a class lawsuit should happen. I will be happy to be included. Its hard to believe it continues.

I would like to be included in the suit also. EXCELSIOR COLLEGE IS A BUNCH OF CROOKS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE.

Please PLEASE PLEASE all of you contact David at Travelm2009@gmail he is moving things far with regard to this. Thank You Celeste.

I totally agree with the above comments and am seriously considering contacting a lawyer. Not only is the entire process unfair, I experienced bias also. I now completely understand why they advise you not to talk to any of your testing peers throughout the testing experience. I was placed in a break room with another student during a CPS which I am sure was an error on the part of both CEs. I submitted my planning care plan to my CE and she left the room to review it after asking for my nursing dx handbook and was instructed to wait for her return. The other student handed her care plan in shortly after I did, her CE barely glanced at her care plan did not touch a nursing diagnosis handbook and in less than 2 minutes handed it back to her and told her she had net the criteria and passed the planning portion of the CPNE. On the other hand, my CE returned about 20 minutes later and informed me I was unsuccessful . I was then escorted downstairs and told I could get some lunch but was oriented to hospital so had no idea where cafeteria was. I asked what time my next CPS would begin and was told "It depends". I asked depends on what and was informed when my next CE was available, which depended on her current student performance. Do you think I would risk leaving the area for even a few mins and forfeit my next CPS, definitely not. So I sat there and waited without so much as a drink of water, anything to eat, or a bathroom break all day long. I could go on and on with how horribly I was treated but I think my point is made. I have over thirty years of nursing experience and have had an excellent grade point average throughout this whole process. Not only did I successfully pass all the nursing requirements, I also had to take numerous online courses to fulfill my general education requirements. I spent countless hours studying for this exam, ordered extra study materials, and attended one of the workshops and was still unsucessful not once but twice. I too, am SERIOUSLY considering legal action.

I failed 3 CPNE's 6000$ worth. I would gladly sue them. Not just because of the money. The emotional anguish they projected on me and the has been immense. I have problems sleeping and am now struggle with self-esteem at work and home. KJB

I wonder how many of us used The College Net Work as 3rd party and were failed as apposed to going through Excelsior exclusively. That is a question worth exploring. How fair it it to have an advocate that works for Excelsior during the PCS? How biased? A paid employee, co-worker to the CPNE examiners, coffee and lunch break buddies? I had no representation there, no advocate and was hung out to dry. In one of my patient care situation an examiner said to the primary nurse I was to get report from "I guess we will have to suffer together on this Sunday." I was one of two students left that weekend. By failing everyone they get to go home early. What do they care? Rudeness and unprofessionalism is OK for them. I'm 52 years old, they treat you like you did something wrong every time you talk or move. Not a smile or reassurance. Where did they get those examiners? They are a grim bunch of women.

I am currently appealing my CPNE that I took in Atlanta. Same scenario as all the others - scary how similar the stories are. I was one of 3 left on Sunday, of whch only 1 person passed. Not at all the 63% first-time pass rate they tout on their website! I know that at least 6 of the 8 of us at the CPNE had taken the workshop and it didn't seem to make a difference. More money in Excelsior's deep pockets! I would definitely be interested in being part of a class-action lawsuit. Who do I need to talk to?

during a repeat pcs. the one that would have determined if I would make it or not. I was set up on the time that I needed to document. the patient requested 30 minutes to spend with his visitors although the CE said that she would give me the extra time that was taken from me she only gave me 10 minutes and then an additional 10 minutes was taken again from my time after I restarted implementation the patient had another visitor a lab tech who had to withdraw blood. then the lunch tray came. I did not have the time to document the wound portion granting me a fail I did all of the critical elements except document the wound because she was hovering over me taking deep breaths telling me the time was up. of the entire 2.5 hours I needed to spend with the pcs I only had a total of interrupted 30 minutes of which I did everything I was supposed to. my previous pcs was failed because I used the wrong "wording" on the outcome regarding an impaired comfort r/t skin rash on the second diagnosis. CE stated that I needed to add the word "comfort" to my patient outcome statement in order to make it work. although everything that I wrote was perfect. she stated you can try again with the next pcs. I think it was BS though. I swear that I saw a smirk on her face when I walked away crying. when I got to the conference room speaking to the CA complaining the CE turned her back on me and did a little dance as she sat down to eat again with a smirk. did she fail and rush me because she wanted to eat? I hope she became sick from her food that day...total set up...

Update Facebook page called "CPNE Class Action" just started.

Anyone on here who is still interested in a lawsuit against Excelsior, please email me at cc1313.mh@gmail.com. Thank you.

Yes this college makes Dirty Money by failing student on Cpne, experienced my self, I was discriminated and humiliated without giving fair opportunity to pass Cpne.

I just took my CPNE for the second time. And of coarse failed When doing my dressing which I passed the first time I was told there was a problem the dressing was too wet. The CA twisted on the gauze 4x4 until her hands were shaking and only got one drop of saline out of the dressing looked at me and said I'm sorry your dressing is too wet. I looked at her and said are you kidding me you could hardly get a drop out of it. The CA told me there was no need to argue the point with her the decision was final. I would definitely join a class action suit.
I waited 6 months for my first date and then another 10 months to try again I sure won't try again. [protected]

They are corrupt. my 1st CPNE, right as I was doing my insulin station (already shaken up from flying, I do not fly) at the most crucial time the examiner jumped up and down in her chair screaming "stop! stop! stop!" my heart right then and there nearly collapsed. I could feel it pounding against my chest and it didn't stop for the remainder of my labs. When the CA looked at why the CE stopped me, she told her I had come up with the correct answer and not to interrupt me like that again. But my chest was pounding so hard and I had never experienced anything like it testing before, (never) I couldn't continue. I really thought I would end up having a heart attack, I could feel my jugular veins tightening I was so startled. failed that. a few years later took #2. was on a roll and that wasn't good, for my examiner. she did everything under the sun to flub me up. from my drip station, after we oriented to the stations, I went back quick before testing because I didn't trust them. my lines were totally plugged. long story short, they failed me and lied, made it look like I didn't understand what they told me. they actually lied, I was livid but kept cool because you have no advocate, nobody. the last 5 minutes where it states to allow the student to finish documenting, my CE saw I was gaining speed. she stopped me and told me I had to follow her out to the floor to return bp equipment, I could not believe and I kept writing. she told me to get up now and follow her. I pleased with her not to do this, I will run out of time, this is my documenting time. she said that I must follow her. I asked her why was she doing this to me and she replied, "that's the way it goes” failed. last year took cpne #3 and due to becoming so weak and never being allowed access to food, I came with a note from the Dean at EC to be allowed to break for food. The CA denied me despite me pleading with her and the letter (I realized this was all a very corrupt plan) and a class action lawsuit was already ongoing and I would never graduate. I almost ended up in the ER from the worst migraine ever, I had gone 12 hours no nutrition, but I was so afraid to be taken there, I told my roommate I didn't trust them, they are playing with people’s lives and now hypoglycemic from a nurse who holds a Ph.D. and specialty in diabetes? I rather take my chances and pray that my brain will stop pounding I was dry heaving, so sick I can't even talk about it. I lost my mother trying to pass this, she kept asking when I would be done so she could have me for her nurse. I lost in total, well we stopped counting in the $50's (flights, exams, taking online workshops, physical workshops, so many ways they would take money. Over $50 grand (2 extensions due to my mother being so ill and passing away). Now my bf is selling his cottage because he had let me borrow me the money throughout the long nightmare. No degree for me, I am so burnt out from trying to learn a strategy to beat this for example; what would pull next? Instead of taking students under their wing and turning out good nurses...no, that isn't what they wanted. They kept your money, the examiners got to go home on Saturday morning if they failed you with full pay for their weekend. while you just lost about $5, 000 in air fares, hotels, uniforms, books, food and what the costs were for you leaving home (sitters, spouses having to take time off while you were gone, etc.). what a nightmare. They had to pay out a possible 9, 000 + nursing students in the class action for repeated failures at the CPNE. In my opinion, they didn't want anyone with experience. I was a 911 medic and also ER medic. great nurses taught me everything I knew. The CPNE exam was so simple yet they knew how to play games to fail whoever they wanted and they did it. How sad :(

I feel like I was discriminated against because I am an older student. Things they failed me on like Vital signs are so subjective, their word against mine. The Ce told me she could not hear the b/p, well I heard it just fine. She made me to feel as if I were lying. So I repeated the skill I got 110/70 on an 11 year old. The b/p was right in line with the baseline vitals, diastolic was mostly in the 60's. The ce failed me because she said she saw it bounce at 80, so her b/p was 110/80. Mind you the chart never had a diastolic b/p even close to 80. But she is the CE, so she was right I was wrong, even though I know I was 100% right. Anyone reading this and thinking about going to Excelsior please rethink, it is a scam. My heart is so broken because I was always a good student A/B and second in my LPN class and I walk away with nothing to show for all my hard work. Excelsior BLOWS!