anyone out there who's lived thru excelsior clinicals?

chip193 · Jun 5, 2005

need any advice people may have for excelsior clinicals and classes! classes so far are going well for me, but i am a nervous wreck for those clinicals. i've heard the instructors show no mercy!! :uhoh21:

It depends on where you go. It also depends on how confident you are in yourself.

The best advice - take the Excelsior College prep course. Do the two day CPNE one and the one day "Nursing Skills" one (they run at the same time - the CPNE course on like Wed. and Thr. and the other on Fri.).

It's doable!

Good Luck.

Chip

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 5, 2005

Take it one class at a time. When it comes time for to start to study for the clinical portion, then concentrate on that. Nothing is impossible, don't let your stress get to you! One step at a time!!

:balloons:

Dixiecup · Jun 6, 2005

I lived through it. It was the most horrible experience of my life but it can be done!

Know every bit of the information the give you to prepare for the clinicals.Memorize each critical element to the letter. Practice, practice practice!!

Practice all the labs over and over and over till you can do them in you sleep.

Make up pt care settings and practice as if you were actually being graded. Throw your kids or friends in the bed and do every step to get used to the time frame and organization.

Familiarize yourself with 5-6 common care plans that can be used for almost any setting. This was the hardest part for me.

You can do it. If you are prepared you will have no problem.:)

RN34TX · Jun 30, 2005

I lived through it.

Had nightmares for months following but I lived.

All of the advice listed above I will second. I did all of those things like taking the workshop/skills lab and made my partner be a patient until he too memorized the entire CPNE book and critical elements and has no nursing background whatsoever.

I don't have any regrets except for dragging my feet out of fear and not doing it sooner.

Do it!

H60Medic · Jun 30, 2005

Without a doubt, the best thing that prepared me for the clinicals was attending the careplan workshop by Chancellors in IN. I was not enrolled in any of thier study plans but had heard a lot of good feedback from those who attending both Excelsior and Chancellors careplans. THey are claiming a 90% pass rate. I do know that three others in attendance that I keep in comms with, and myself, passed first time.

Now before getting there, have your CE's memorized. You will write them dowm prior to implementation phase. Then it becomes an open book practical examination.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 2, 2005

I'm just curious...what hotel did you stay in when you took the careplan lab??

Thanks!

H60Medic · Jul 3, 2005

I'm just curious...what hotel did you stay in when you took the careplan lab??
Thanks!

Studio Six.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 3, 2005

Thanks - I'll check it out.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2005

Just graduated from Excelsior in May and passed the NCLEX 1 week ago - YEAH for me! I to had nightmares about the CPNE. I took this in Racine Wi. All the examiners were very professional and all seemed to want me to suceed. Like the others said, you must memorize all the CEs. Pretend it is like a movie script. When the clinical examiner says "blah, blah, blah" - your next line will be "whatever". I had an IV bag hanging in my kitchen for 2 months and practiced nightly(this was my weakness). My 10 year old was as good as I was with drip rates by the time I went for clinical. I also wrote down all clinical elements as soon as they told me I could begin. I looked back frequently and crossed off what was finished so I didn't forget something dumb. I passed all lab and patient care situations the first time. I did not take any prep courses, just memorized the book. I did help that I am the careplan coor. for my facility so I was already very comfortable with careplans. :balloons: Good luck to you. Don't forget to breath!!