I'm finally on my road to being a LPN to RN!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

I studied from 8am-8pm 4 days per week for two weeks for each of the nursing exams. Grew a wild hair on one of them and studied for only a week....barely made it outta the testing center alive. (Don't recommend that at all!). Pay very close attention to your study information in a way that you will be able to recognize the questions that are asked when you see them. A&P was horrible for me but I landed a B....was aiming for a C, and expecting an F. I studied for 23 days for that one. It was hard for me because science/biology/math are like foreign languages to me. I did more crying than I did studying because NONE of the information was sticking. I gave up and decided to go ahead and get that F out of the way of Thanksgiving. So thankful to bring home that B! This was 3 years ago. So, if I passed this exam, it was not designed for anyone to fail it!! Good luck! :up:

Tru-Nurse · Dec 13, 2013

I studied from 8am-8pm 4 days per week for two weeks for each of the nursing exams. Grew a wild hair on one of them and studied for only a week....barely made it outta the testing center alive. (Don't recommend that at all!). Pay very close attention to your study information in a way that you will be able to recognize the questions that are asked when you see them. A&P was horrible for me but I landed a B....was aiming for a C, and expecting an F. I studied for 23 days for that one. It was hard for me because science/biology/math are like foreign languages to me. I did more crying than I did studying because NONE of the information was sticking. I gave up and decided to go ahead and get that F out of the way of Thanksgiving. So thankful to bring home that B! This was 3 years ago. So, if I passed this exam, it was not designed for anyone to fail it!! Good luck!

LOL! God bless your heart! I'm in a position to dedicate similar time to studying. How long did it take you to finish all the exams and Clinical weekend?

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Dec 13, 2013

Enrollment to RN-in-hand was 10 months. But things were different then. The FCCA was on paper; I had no distractions at home to interrupt my studying; I picked a date for an exam and paid for/scheduled it before I even started studying for it and I allowed nothing to cause me to change that date. I was always there an hour before my actual exam time. Your choice of study materials has practice questions. I took those once in the morning before studying, did some reading, took those practice questions again around noon, did some reading; questions again around 4pm; did some reading; and final practice for the day at 8pm. I did that every day that I was off because I was on a mission and I aimed to complete it.

Also, back then, they had the packaged program where everything I needed, including the price of the exams was covered under one monthly cost of $120. By the time that second payment rolled around, I only had 3 exams left to take. They don't offer that now. If I had to pay full price for each exam, I would probably still be there trying to cover a lot of territory inch by inch. Also back then, the curriculum was different: didn't require math, no particular order to take the nursing exams or sciences; and I was sitting in a community college knocking out some general education requirements while I was studying for EC nursing exams. In the CC, I took no-brainer courses like art, English, etc., so that I only had to study for the EC nursing exams. I had a plan developed from the beginning and I never veered off course until I was done!

Tru-Nurse · Dec 14, 2013

Wow how quickly things have changed. Prices are through the roof, but I will make it happen! Thanks for the insight BSNINTHEWORKS.

mrnurse504 · Dec 30, 2013

Good luck bro. I start in January 2014. I will transferring my a&p courses credits in, but I will keep you in mind along the way through my other courses.

NursePooda · Dec 31, 2013

Good luck guys!!!! You put in the hard work you'll def see the results!!!!

Maltruistic · Dec 31, 2013

I just started right before Thanksgiving... my A&P was expired (9 years old), so I tested out of it with a B. I honestly only used the practice exams and studied the subjects on them I didn't do well in. I did transitions, and to me that was terrible- mainly history and memorization- but I passed at least with a C. I am taking Health and Safety on the 2nd and feel good about it... I am not much of a reader without a good outline, so I do the practice tests and study/review what I miss or major subjects from them. I am doing okay so far, on the A&P practice I got a 64%, the transitions a 59%, and health and safety an 82%, so it works for me-a friend of mine gave me ALL the studyguide 101s and Lisa Arends, but that is just way tooooooo much for me to sort through... like others I will procrastinate without a deadline, so I register to test within a week so I can just do it... critical thinking and math/science I am good at, but I HATE history, so the grades speak for themselves. I didn't consider this route until my last job where 3 of the RNs had done it so I took a stab at it (thanks to the GI Bill). I think it's doable, you just really have to focus... I am going to be done and ready for the FCCA by the 2nd week of Feb at the rate I am going, so I need to figure out how that works. Good luck, and if you need a study buddy, I am in TX- so let me know!!

EquestrianBarbie · Jan 2, 2014

What are you using to study?

Tru-Nurse · Jan 3, 2014

Mrnurse504, thanks for the well wishes bro. Definitely pulling for you as well. 2014 is our time!

Tru-Nurse · Jan 3, 2014

Thanks NursePooda. I'm definitely not playing around, it's time! How far along are you in the program?

Tru-Nurse · Jan 3, 2014

I'm using Studygroup 101. The Excelsior practice exams and Vangonotes for when I'm on the go and can't read. I'm almost ready to test but the bottom line is consistency. You have to study and be honest with yourself about your retention/comprehension.