Excelsior Pass Rates!!!

BrillyD · Oct 11, 2012

As far as I can figure from reading posts and forums, more people pass the CPNE than fail it.

The advice I keep getting when I ask about it is to read the study guide and practice, practice, practice, practice care plans, practice mneumonics, practice assessment (out loud), practice skills, read the study guide, practice care plans, practice mneumonics, practice assessment (out loud) .......:***:

I suppose it is because it is the final exam and they need to know you know what your doing! I plan to take extra time to practice and take a workshop!

Dave_In_Florida, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 11, 2012

Someone I know passed on their first try. They had to re-mediate on the last day because they grabbed a subq needle to do an IM injection. If they can pass on the first try, then anyone should be able to.

alodocios · Oct 25, 2012

I passed at grady on my first try. i think the rate is 60 or 66% about 2/3 pass. You just have to prepare well and know exaclty what they tell you to know. The next part is learning how to think in a high stress/pressure situation. This is great training for the real world. It is not really the test that does most people in, it is the stress they put on the test and themselves and the lack of preparation. you have to be honest enough to say i am not ready and i need to work on...... and when i know it in my sleep forwards and backwards then i will test. It really is a self reflection issue. You have to use the resourses they give you to study, use the forum, use the nurses that are hired to answer your questions. ask all questions, watch video that corresponds with how the bible.....OOOPS, I mean study guide, and read the guide and know the guide, almost be able to quote the guide, no , be able to quote the guide. I had to quote an area in the guide when the CA said she didn't think one of my interventions was acceptable, it saved my butte.

MMAnurse · Oct 26, 2012

Excelsior is not a ripoff. The CPNE is pretty wicked hard and should be. It is their only chance to evaluate you in a clinical setting.

I totally agree. We as students need to take reaponsability for our actions...

BeachCathyRN · Oct 27, 2012

CPNE is very do-able and not nearly as hard as I made it in my mind. I took a workshop both online and in person, practiced labs, charting and careplans daily and came in so prepared that it was so much easier than I thought it would be!! There were 7 the weekend I took it and 6 of us passed, the one who didn't had not taken any workshops and was using a 2nd edition Mosby's not the 3rd edition they recommended because someone gave it to her and she didn't want to spend the extra money - that worked out well for her. :no: The key is practice, practice, practice and after that practice some more. :woot: Good Luck to everyone-Excelsior best thing I ever did for myself - No regrets here!!!

BarbaraNM, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2012

CPNE is very do-able and not nearly as hard as I made it in my mind. I took a workshop both online and in person, practiced labs, charting and careplans daily and came in so prepared that it was so much easier than I thought it would be!! There were 7 the weekend I took it and 6 of us passed, the one who didn't had not taken any workshops and was using a 2nd edition Mosby's not the 3rd edition they recommended because someone gave it to her and she didn't want to spend the extra money - that worked out well for her. The key is practice, practice, practice and after that practice some more. Good Luck to everyone-Excelsior best thing I ever did for myself - No regrets here!!!

Cathy... sounds like you were SUPER prepared... that sounds like a formula for success! Where did you take your CPNE?

BeachCathyRN · Oct 27, 2012

Utica and I loved it!! :laugh: Small hospital and everyone who worked there very friendly and helpful. I also took Sheri Taylor's online and in person workshop and definetly could not have passed without it. By the time I did CPNE I could do each lab in 7 min or under and I could do care plans without the Mosby's-thanks to Sheri's help with care plans.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2012

EC grad from 1988. We had 8 people at our exam and 3 did not pass. I did fail one of my pts, but went on to pass the second 'make up.' (I didn't re-assess the breath sounds after cdb a lol, because she felt like she was going to pass out. Had I told the instructor why I skipped that part, I would have been ok, but I didn't. MY bad), but I passed the first time. One did not make the first session with the IV's. Another with their pt's. They failed the first and the make up. It is nervewracking, especially when you are given a time frame to complete things.

Also, back then, the BSN had to do the CPNE as well. I decided right there and then, a brick and morter would be easier, lol. At least you can have an off day at a clinical and not fail.

However, if you keep your cool and focus, you can do it. I don't know if it's the same now as it was back then, but there was no break, that second day, taking care of pts. We went from one to another with zero break. No lunch, etc..It was like being on the job.

Know the care plans, what their criteria is for EVERY skill. You have to be able to be recall it under stress. If you study, you will do fine.

tnmarie · Oct 30, 2012

The current pass rate for the CPNE is 61% (Exam Details for CPNE - excelsior.edu)

However, pass rates for students taking Lynn or Sheri's workshops are 97% and up according to their respective websites, and I have yet to hear of or speak with a student who took a workshop and failed. I think some students go in with the attitude of "I've been a nurse for x amount of years, so I don't have to study". I certainly don't believe that Ec "fails you for money", but since you don't get clinicals, they understandably want to make sure that you can apply everything you learn in a clinical setting and *actually* function as an RN. There's only one way to test that, y'all. Frankly, I'm glad it so "hard".

I am submitting my application today and my plan is to practice so much that muscle memory kicks in no matter how nervous I get. I also have the added advantage that to become a military medic, you had to go through a similar ordeal.

mrstookielpn · Oct 30, 2012

........I think some students go in with the attitude of "I've been a nurse for x amount of years, so I don't have to study"......

EXACTLY! I was told this very thing by an excelsior grad who failed on attempt 1 then realized it wasn't about how long she had been a nurse in the hospital setting, but about her know what "excelsior" wanted her to know.

Even though she failed before passing she had nothing but positive things to say about the program.

jlynn167 · Nov 10, 2012

I've passed 2 of the nursing tests so far and have been reading horror stories about CPNE (I know I shouldn't be worrying about it just yet, can't help myself!). So glad to read some positive experiences!

I am in the same boat as you, Raisin. Two things are making me look past the negative I have read regarding the CPNE. First one being all the positive experiences I have read on this site (I'm so relieved I found this site)and my second being my devotion. I will pass all exams on the first try, I will pass my CPNE on the first try, and I will pass my state boards on the first try...I can do this and so can you! We've got this :up:

katy c · Sep 26, 2014

does anyone think their experience as an LPN has helped them in the cpne settting?