As the former Chief Nursing Officer of several organizations, my experience with Excelsior RN graduates has been extremely positive. In each of these organizations, two of my key initiatives were to increase the overall focus on professional advancement opportunities as well as the pursuit of Magnet status. The Excelsior College Nursing program was a degree option we were able to offer to currently employed LPN’s. Many of these nurses chose to pursue their degree through this e-learning approach because they found it to be more effective in terms of both time and cost. My organization was proud to provide both financial assistance and scheduling flexibility to our LPN’s throughout their degree completion process. As these LPN’s became RN’s, they demonstrated education and professionalism that clearly impacted the level of care at the bedside. Not only did The Excelsior College path to becoming an RN help achieve many of my personal organizational goals but it also paved the way for many individual nurses to take on leadership responsibilities at the bedside or continue their education and move into formal managerial roles.
As the national challenge related to the shortage of RN’s continues, accepting the Excelsior College Nursing program within the state of Virginia not only enhances the personal and professional growth opportunities for individuals but also supports the overall healthcare needs of both the state and the nation.
I support the proposed amendment to re-instate the Excelsior College RN Program and appreciate the opportunity to share my personal perspective.
