Any New Excelsior Students?

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Hey Everybody I am a new student to Excelsior so I am looking for anybody who is a new student to keep in contact with. I want someone to push me and vise versa. Also would like to speak with former students who can give advise etc.

I just enrolled in the program and I am a CA student. Please I don't need any lectures about the issues with CA. Believe me I am well informed about the obstacles as I do have a plan B. I live in the Bay Area and there are plenty of federal jobs here for RN's. I will get my license through Arizona because they do have a 120 hour clinical rotation that must be completed before sitting for the NCLEX. IMO, I do feel that I need a clinical rotation practicing on stuff like IV antibiotics, working with PICC lines etc. But that is just my opinion. Then I will move on for my BSN-MSN. So with that negative comments about my plan aren't welcomed.

Please provide some positive feedback about the school and what you did to succeed. Which sites for the CPNE did you choose and why?

Thanks Everybody! Barbara

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Did you have any problems convincing the EC people to allow you to enroll? Just wondering. Seems they were very sensitive about this CA thing when it was such a big issue some years back. Just piques my curiosity.

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All they asked me to do was to sign a waiver form. As soon as I signed the waiver form and sent it back I became officially enrolled. I am excited to be enrolled and now I have to begin my studies as I plan on taking one exam every 2 months at the latest. I want to be fully prepared before I take the exams as they are pretty pricey. If I can take an exam before the 2 month period that would be even better but my goal is not to go beyond the 2 month period.

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I think you're taking a big gamble by going this route.

Good luck and I hope it works out like you've planned.

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I've done my research and as I stated I'm mentally prepared that I wont get licensed in CA but in the end I will have my RN and CA can't take that away from me. I can still work in CA in a federal hospital/clinic with an Arizona license so I'm ok with that. I just want my RN and the schools in CA are too impacted for me to wait around any longer. I'm fed up with CA and plan on moving away as soon as my youngest one goes to college so it will be a win win situation for me.

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I've done my research and as I stated I'm mentally prepared that I wont get licensed in CA but in the end I will have my RN and CA can't take that away from me. I can still work in CA in a federal hospital/clinic with an Arizona license so I'm ok with that. I just want my RN and the schools in CA are too impacted for me to wait around any longer. I'm fed up with CA and plan on moving away as soon as my youngest one goes to college so it will be a win win situation for me.

I understand, and as I said, I truly do hope it works out for you.

As for EC's exams, I did most of them in a week, devoting roughly forty hours of study time to each exam, so you can easily beat your self imposed deadline if you choose. You sound motivated and that's crucial to doing a program like this.

I wish you well with your studies.

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I wish I had 40 hours of free time a week to devote to my studies. I have two kids I need to care for and they have their activities that I have to attend. How as your CPNE? How did you study for the CPNE? What advise would you give regarding studying techniques. Anything is helpful and thank you in advance.

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I wish I had 40 hours of free time a week to devote to my studies. I have two kids I need to care for and they have their activities that I have to attend. How as your CPNE? How did you study for the CPNE? What advise would you give regarding studying techniques. Anything is helpful and thank you in advance.

I'm waiting on a CPNE date then I'll be done.

As far as study tips StudyGuide101 is an incredible resource. Their flash cards are great. The EC practice tests are a must have and Saunders NCLEX review was a good supplement but their test questions are way easier than EC exams.

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I absolutely loved Saudners for my LVN exam. It was very thorough when it went into explanations as to why the answer is what it is. I did take a look at the flash cards from MyStudyGroup and I'm going to print them out tomorrow and use them when I get a chance to look them through. I'm going to do the Reproductive exam first. I worked in a OBGYN clinic so it is still fresh in my mind. Then I will go back and do the Transitions. I scanned through transitions and it seems so boring and dry. But I am one determined woman to finish. Luckily I have the support of my family. I need to find Saunders for RN and order it. thanks for the tip Medic and let me know how your CPNE goes.

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I absolutely loved Saudners for my LVN exam. It was very thorough when it went into explanations as to why the answer is what it is. I did take a look at the flash cards from MyStudyGroup and I'm going to print them out tomorrow and use them when I get a chance to look them through. I'm going to do the Reproductive exam first. I worked in a OBGYN clinic so it is still fresh in my mind. Then I will go back and do the Transitions. I scanned through transitions and it seems so boring and dry. But I am one determined woman to finish. Luckily I have the support of my family. I need to find Saunders for RN and order it. thanks for the tip Medic and let me know how your CPNE goes.

Unfortunately you won't be able to do Reproduction first. You have to take the exams in phases which consist of phase one and phase two. You can't move on to phase two until you're done with phase one and Reproduction is in phase two.

The good news is that Reproduction was one of the easier exams. I had no OB/GYN experience other than a 12 hour shift in L&D during my paramedic clinicals ten years ago and I've never had any in-depth education on reproduction other than what I've picked on from previous relationships and I made an A on that one. I'm not kidding when I say it was easy, super easy.

I also highly recommend joining the Excelsior Nursing group on Facebook. Lots of people in there, including yours truly, that will share their experiences and thoughts. Even if you don't do Facebook, it's worth it just for that. I honestly thought about deleting my Facebook until I stumbled on that page.

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Hi Medic85907,

I am finishing up FCCA. What preparation and or workshops are you doing to prepare for CPNE?

I already enrolled in Robs and Sheri Taylor's online workshop. Just curious if you are doing an in person workshop? I am super nervous about it. Any thoughts?

[email protected] if you want to e mail me. I know it's a hush hush discussion on this board.

Thanks!

Liz

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Hi Medic85907,

I am finishing up FCCA. What preparation and or workshops are you doing to prepare for CPNE?

I already enrolled in Robs and Sheri Taylor's online workshop. Just curious if you are doing an in person workshop? I am super nervous about it. Any thoughts?

[email protected] if you want to e mail me. I know it's a hush hush discussion on this board.

Thanks!

Liz

Right now I'm just reading the study guide and learning mnemonics. I'm gonna do ROb's CPNE but I'm torn about a hands on workshop, I've thought about doing Sherri Taylor's workshop in Atlanta but I'm living on a disability pension which doesn't leave much room in the budget.

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