? about Excelsior

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 8, 2003

I just posted something that could refer to your post too! It's under "NE1 Have Any Used RUE,Chancellors or Excelsior Study Guides or Books FS"

:)

StinkyMcStinker · Feb 8, 2003

Ive found the study guides most helpful, and remember many many test questions coming directly from the books, MY problem has been with the CPNE (see thread topic).

Rock, LPN, RN · Feb 8, 2003

Hi Stinky:

Exelcior has everthing you need. You are wise not to

start until you are ready, because once you enroll, fees

start to accumulate.

You need to work in an acute-care setting in order to

be able to pass the clinicals. A nursing home, just won't

do.

Good Luck !!

:kiss :chuckle

debRNo1 · Feb 9, 2003

Originally posted by Rock
You need to work in an acute-care setting in order to
be able to pass the clinicals. A nursing home, just won't
do.

sorry ROCK got to disagree with you here. :imbar

I had NO acute care experience and worked as an LPN for 10 years in LTC. I passed the CPNE with no repeats in 2001. :roll

I used my residents to practice up on VS and assessments. I used my charting to practice documenting. I set up my dining room with all kinds of confiscated "items" and made a fake arm and bought an IV pole and a teach steth too.

Practice and preparation is the key to passing the CPNE

lots of luck

deb

Rock, LPN, RN · Feb 9, 2003

Hi DebRN1:

You are a very unsual person. The average person, like

myself, would need to work in an acute-care facility to

become familiar with equipment, acute-care procedures,

etc.

I took my clinical in Albany, in an acute-care hospital. You

have no idea beforehand what the instructor is

likely to ask you to do.

I would not have been able to pass if I had not been work-

ing in an acute-care facility for the past thirty (30) years.

:kiss :roll :rolleyes: :nurse:

debRNo1 · Feb 9, 2003

Originally posted by Rock
You are a very unsual person.

I guess Ill say Thank You - Im above average HUH :rolleyes:

You are expected to act as a new grad would and they cannot ask you to do more than what would be expected of a new grad

As far as equipment you are allowed orientation and able to ask questions too. True you dont know what they might assign you or what the "instructor" might ask you to do to -but it will certainly be one or more areas of care that you are assigned- if you know the critical elements for ALL care areas you should be able to pass with or with out the acute care experience.

An organizational tool like the grid is a help in keeping track.

The CPNE is as big as the room you are in with your pt.

I went to St Peters in Albany- did you go there too ??

deb

Rock, LPN, RN · Feb 10, 2003

denRN1:

I believe it was St. Peter's or the Veterans'

Hosptial. It was back in 1980, and I'm trying

to block it out.

I had to rent a hotel for three (3) days. I

had to drive in heavy snow about three (3)

miles from the hotel to the hospital each day.

I know that some people told me that they

were coached. I definitely was not. Some

of the instructors were very nice, and

others were a little *****y. I detected some

animosity toward men in a couple of them.

Nevertheless, I was able to pass. I went

to the graduation ceremony in Albany. I

do not relish driving two hundred (200)

miles with nothing to look at except asphalt.

I never want to go back again.

Rock

:chuckle :crying2: :biggringi :saint:

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 10, 2003

Heyya Rock-

Although acute care experience may be beneficial to a CPNEer, it could also stick them with some bad habits that would knock them out of the CPNE.

One thing that I do think is beneficial is for a person to feel at least moderately comfortable in a hospital unit setting. I think that's the worst part for paramedics in the program--- it's all foreign territory to them. I think back to LPN school and how petrified we all were the first time we stepped onto the floor. Imagine a CPNE student stepping onto a unit for the very first time? That's where shadowing a nurse before hand is beneficial.

And there are tons of un-unusual (that's a word now ) people who pass their CPNE first try who don't have acute care experience. In fact, most I know have never worked acute care, including myself. I did a year and a half in a clinic and the last 4+ years in a psych. halfway house. No repeats baby.

debRNo1 · Feb 10, 2003

Originally posted by Rock
I had to rent a hotel for three (3) days. I
had to drive in heavy snow about three (3)
miles from the hotel to the hospital each day.
I never want to go back again.

I hear ya ROCK I went to Albany (famous for their snow !!) in March 2001 for a workshop with Excelsior. I beat the snow driving up but it snowed sooo bad that they made the 2 day workshop ONE day. The city closed down and here I was stuck in a hotel room all alone until I had the guts to get behind the wheel and drive home :mad:

I made my CPNE appt in july and never did want to see waist deep snow again

I dont think that instructors "coach" the students but they will give a passing hint if you listen very carefully. You are a vet taking it sooooo many years ago and things certainly have changed and evolved over the yrs. The study guide is now very much an indepth learning tool. There are online groups and enrolled students get the benefit of services offered including access to the nurse educators to answer any nagging questions.

It was an experience I will never forget especially the name of the hospital :confused: I agree with Spazzy Nurse because ALOT of people I met online did not have the hospital experience and the bad habits that come with it. My group of study partners ALL passed and very few (if any) had actual care experience. We played by their rules and followed the CE's to a tee and were all able to pass.

Passed with no repeats YES it is UN- unusual just a matter of being organized well prepared and having a phone book size study guide info stuffed inside your brain.

deb :nurse:

Rock, LPN, RN · Feb 10, 2003

Deb:

The rules must have changed considerably since 1980.

I know definitely that some people I worked with said

that they were coached. I didn't assume this, they

confided in me because I am the one who told them

about getting a RN from Albany. They were most grateful

for the information and we remained friends for many,

many years. In fact, I ran reunions for twenty (20) years

after we all parted.

Right now, you could say that I am semi-retired. I

just left a nice cushy job in a school of nursing. The

job was fabulous, but the traveling was not.

Now that I am way up in my 70s, I can be very selective.

:kiss :kiss :confused: :roll

Bundles of Joy · Feb 18, 2003

Hello Everyone,

I think everyone experience is individual. I am a LPN also enrolled in the Excelsior Program and I have experience of an RN because in Illinois (my home town) LPN's are trained on an RN level also, LPN/RN work side-by-side, there have been cases that I have started an IV. This is left up to the facility to decide the protocol. I enjoy my LPN experience, yet I can't wait to advance further into nursing. I love reading your comments. They are helpful.