Lot's of Newbie Questions - Help?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2007

1. I've enrolled - up on-line with correct student ID (finally) Have my 'official' transcripts stamped and unopened which I am mailing today for evaluation. How long before I get the official evaluation letter back from EX with list of what else I need?

A couple of weeks after you send this in.

2. EX Study Guides - OK - I'm seeing Exam Content Guides on EX site - is this the same? I also see the colume to order by mail but there's no check box. I don't want to print out hundreds of papers myself and would rather have a nice little booklet. This possible? How do I get this?

Call the number and ask. I print them out. Although I realized that the ONLY thing I use on them are the little test at the end and the reading, so this time I just printed the test and the pages that give the chapters.

3. I am not seeing anything for NC 1 now on the EC Publication Request Page.

I see Health Differences 1, 2,3 and then it goes straight to NC3-6.

I know things are changing Oct 1 - is this an EC question?

Don't know.

4. Textbooks - where to buy used? Do you use the suggested books from the content/study guides and then try to find used? Other sources other than Ebay?

www.half.com, which is part of Ebay. Or www.amazon.com

5. I plan to get Lisa A's notes for NC's...Anyone use her for Micro or A&P?

Not me.

What other materials helped?

Honestly, I have only used the texts until this last test, NC 4, for which I purchased Lisa's notes. They were okay, but not the incredible wealth of knowledge I'd been expecting. They were very good notes is all, to supplement the reading.

6. Re the new requirement for the IT course. Anyone take it for any cheaper somewhere else and did EC accept it?

The One credit deal? I just took theirs. What, it's $75?

7. And can I please ask more questions later?????!!!!! Thanks much!

No. This is your limit.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 24, 2007

How long before I get the official evaluation letter back from EX with list of what else I need?

You should get an email notification that they've received your transcripts for evaluation, and you should also get an email with a link to your evaluation on the website. After your transcripts arrive, I'd say probably 3 weeks until you get your eval -- I imagine they're a little swamped right now! But you can also call or email for status if it starts getting later.

2. EX Study Guides - OK - I'm seeing Exam Content Guides on EX site - is this the same? I also see the colume to order by mail but there's no check box. I don't want to print out hundreds of papers myself and would rather have a nice little booklet. This possible? How do I get this?

You can email a nursing advisor and ask if they can mail them to you, but it's likely that they're trying to cut down on printing costs by having them only available for download in PDF format. I usually print them so that there's two pages on each page -- cuts the print-load in half, and I can still read it. :)

3. I am not seeing anything for NC 1 now on the EC Publication Request Page.
I see Health Differences 1, 2,3 and then it goes straight to NC3-6.
I know things are changing Oct 1 - is this an EC question?

They're all still there -- check under different sections on the entire page, like "School of Nursing" or something. (You can also hit CTRL + f for "find," and type in "Nursing Concepts 1.") I noticed that yesterday when I was on the publications request page -- they've done a little re-arranging, but they are still all there. They'll have them out there until Sept. 2009, which is the deadline by which current enrolled students have to finish NC1 through NC7.

4. Textbooks - where to buy used? Do you use the suggested books from the content/study guides and then try to find used? Other sources other than Ebay?

I used a mixture of sources -- textbooks (bought used on Amazon.com or half.com), as well as study guides from eBay. I always check my learning from the various sources against the EC exam content guide to make sure I'm covering all my bases. I also have a couple of those "Made Incredibly Easy" books for some subjects -- med-surg nursing, maternal-neonatal nursing, etc. I like them.

5. I plan to get Lisa A's notes for NC's...Anyone use her for Micro or A&P?
What other materials helped?

I also like the study materials from studygroup101 -- http://stores.ebay.com/My-StudyGroup-101 -- their stuff is updated for 2007, but the only downside is that they only have NC1 through NC4 right now. They're working on NC5 right now (but not soon enough for me, darn it! I test on Wednesday).

6. Re the new requirement for the IT course. Anyone take it for any cheaper somewhere else and did EC accept it?

If you're talking about information literacy, that's not new ... and the only way to get out of it is to take a course elsewhere that has the exact same five subject areas (and I'd get it pre-approved by EC, if you find one!), or if you have a Masters degree. I took it a couple of years ago -- it was pretty easy for me, but I have a lot of experience with the subject matter.

7. And can I please ask more questions later?????!!!!! Thanks much!

Yup!

Ashera, LPN · Sep 24, 2007

Thanks much Suesquatch & Lunah! Great info...and fast response! Today...is a stress abuot EC day. Tomorrow will be better!

bkthicklady · Apr 7, 2008

You should get an email notification that they've received your transcripts for evaluation, and you should also get an email with a link to your evaluation on the website. After your transcripts arrive, I'd say probably 3 weeks until you get your eval -- I imagine they're a little swamped right now! But you can also call or email for status if it starts getting later.
You can email a nursing advisor and ask if they can mail them to you, but it's likely that they're trying to cut down on printing costs by having them only available for download in PDF format. I usually print them so that there's two pages on each page -- cuts the print-load in half, and I can still read it. :)
Hello, I recently graduated from LPN school :yeah:and now awaiting confirmation to take my NCleX PN. Ive decided to enroll at Excelsior College for my RN. I would like to get a head start and begin studying for NC 1 before I enroll, I've contacted Excelsior regarding what books I need to for NC 1 and I was told all of them. through reading different post I Realize I dont need all of those books. I've read alot of your responses they were very informative. If its not to much to ask, would you please tell me what books I would need to study for NC 1. I just purchased larends notes from, Ebay, I just want to know what other books I should use to study for NC 1. Your information is greatly appreciated.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2008

bkthicklady, pass the NCLEX before you start studying for Excelsior unless you're far more confident than I.

As to NC1, the guide should tell you what chapters in which books to read. I read them all.

:)

Melinurse · Apr 7, 2008

For the content guides call the Excelsior toll free number and request them by mail. Much easier and free.Textbooks are expensive no matter where you get them. Try ordering from Barnes and Nobel costs same as EC bookstore minus shipping and handeling. Amazon also good resource. Don't rely on books alone to study, use nursing magazines and if you work in healthcare, let your co-workers know what your studying so they can help. Lots of luck!

bkthicklady · Apr 7, 2008

You should get an email notification that they've received your transcripts for evaluation, and you should also get an email with a link to your evaluation on the website. After your transcripts arrive, I'd say probably 3 weeks until you get your eval -- I imagine they're a little swamped right now! But you can also call or email for status if it starts getting later.
You can email a nursing advisor and ask if they can mail them to you, but it's likely that they're trying to cut down on printing costs by having them only available for download in PDF format. I usually print them so that there's two pages on each page -- cuts the print-load in half, and I can still read it. :)
Hello, I recently graduated from LPN school :yeah:and now awaiting confirmation to take my NCleX PN. Ive decided to enroll at Excelsior College for my RN. I would like to get a head start and begin studying for NC 1 before I enroll, I've contacted Excelsior regarding what books I need to for NC 1 and I was told all of them. through reading different post I Realize I dont need all of those books. I've read alot of your responses they were very informative. If its not to much to ask, would you please tell me what books I would need to study for NC 1. I just purchased larends notes from, Ebay, I just want to know what other books I should use to study for NC 1. Your information is greatly appreciated.
I believe you misunderstood my question. My question was regarding what books I would need to study to prepare for the NC 1 theory exam.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 7, 2008

I would definitely invest in the Fundamentals of Nursing textbook. I also bought Med-Surg and Maternal-Neonatal books. I didn't want to rely only on notes.

Melinurse · Apr 7, 2008

Yes, I misunderstood, Nursing Fundamentals by Kozier textbook, I got a good price through Barnes and Nobel, Med-Surg book recommended by EC I got through Amazon was $25 less than would have paid otherwise, a good Peds book by Wong also good choice. :wink2:

bkthicklady · Apr 7, 2008

Thank your for all of your information. :bowingpur