New Excelsior Student Asking First Question

caliotter3 · Jul 29, 2011

One of the best things you can do to prepare is to purchase and do the practice exams from Excelsior. You get two versions. The first exam can be done before study and the second after study; many people do them this way. You will get a very good idea of the type of questions and you can gauge how your study methods are working. As for study material, one extreme is the person who has gained knowledge (probably from a previous recent nursing program) and goes into the test with little review. They are able to pass the test based on what they already know. This is possible. Then there is the person who must immerse themself in the material to gain enough understanding to pass the test. Most people are somewhere in the middle.

Txffmedic · Jul 29, 2011

First I want to say Hi to everyone and thank everyone for contributing to this website.
I've been lurking for a while and have read some valuable information. Now that I've completed all the pre-nursing classes I can (can't get approval for Info Literacy via Penn Foster till I pay to enroll); so moving on to the NUR 104 course. Since some information on this site is dated(couple years old) can anyone give a streamline method of reading materials for NUR 104 Health Safety?
I have, Fundamentals of Nursing Textbook(reading chap 11-17), and just got SG101(actually printing out now). Is this enough material for passing the exam, or is there additional material to read?
Thank you,

Hello, I can't answer your question but I noticed you are a paramedic. I am also a paramedic trying to find those with a similar background as mine to see if excelsior is worth it. Can you give us some of your background and why you chose excelsior? I have 21 years of experience as a medic with no in hospital experience and still undecided about going this route. Sorry I'm off your subject. Thanks!

caliotter3 · Jul 29, 2011

Hello, I can't answer your question but I noticed you are a paramedic. I am also a paramedic trying to find those with a similar background as mine to see if excelsior is worth it. Can you give us some of your background and why you chose excelsior? I have 21 years of experience as a medic with no in hospital experience and still undecided about going this route. Sorry I'm off your subject. Thanks!

Check out posts by LunahRN. She was, (and still is (think she still holds the certification)), a paramedic, who did the EC program.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 29, 2011

Yes, I am still a paramedic, but I also had a lot of in-hospital experience.

Txffmedic · Jul 29, 2011

Yes, I am still a paramedic, but I also had a lot of in-hospital experience.

So, what are your thoughts concerning those paramedics that do not have in-hospital experience?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 30, 2011

I think they're probably generally at a disadvantage when making that transition from EMT-P to RN, but everyone is different. As I've said in other threads, I think working in an ED for as long as I did made the transition easier. Not easy, but easier.

Mommymedic · Aug 1, 2011

Hello. I am also a PA paramedic, and almost done with the EC ASN program (just have the clinical components to satisfy after my final exam in a few days). I have found your book knowledge is extremely helpful, however, it doesn't give you what you need clinically. I opted to take a pay cut and started working in an ER as a tech so I could interact with the nurses to gain experience and also to ask questions.

Where are you a medic in PA? Local to Philly area by chance?

PaParamedic · Aug 10, 2011

Ok, time to reply.

I scheduled my H&S test already. Per the practice test A (got a 76), I found the recommended chapters weak on the material, but in defense of the book, it did expect you to know A&P and referenced earlier chapters. So now reading over some SG101 stuff.

As for where I'm a medic, in the Allentown Area.

As for clinical time, I am constantly receiving job postings for ER tech at my local hospitals. Might be a pay cut, but it would give me both the hospital-environment experience and a foot in the door for a later job at the hospital.

Thank you for the replies.

Mommymedic · Aug 14, 2011

Ok, time to reply.
I scheduled my H&S test already. Per the practice test A (got a 76), I found the recommended chapters weak on the material, but in defense of the book, it did expect you to know A&P and referenced earlier chapters. So now reading over some SG101 stuff.
As for where I'm a medic, in the Allentown Area.
As for clinical time, I am constantly receiving job postings for ER tech at my local hospitals. Might be a pay cut, but it would give me both the hospital-environment experience and a foot in the door for a later job at the hospital.
Thank you for the replies.

I took the pay cut and left a FT job as a medic.. well, had a baby in there too, but took a position with Lukes in the ER as a PCA. Not sorry one day I made that choice. Although, we are budgeting a bit until I am done, I am close to the end now, so not much longer. I enjoy the ER immensely. It gives me the experience we will need...with nursing documentation, the lingo (aside from what we know prehospital) as well as procedures and how to perform them. I am lucky enough to have an nursing educator in the ER and although I don't see her much, she will be able to help fine tune where I am deficient. Plus... Lukes likes to keep their own in the network. Not sure I can say that about LVH...

PaParamedic · Aug 14, 2011

I've even looked into volunteer work at clinics/hospitals down south(bucks/philly areas). As a vollie it seems that I can shadow RN's and get most out of time, and not risk losing my job. Got a while, took the H&S exam, and figure it will be a while before lookign at the cpne.