Complaintsboard.com ec reviews-- yikes!!

LoopsRN2 · May 14, 2011

good afternoon all,
I can attest to some of your fears re: cpne. But, as an EC grad, recent RN, i can honestly say, the preparation i put in, made the difference. I failed the cpne my 1st time. I didnt get angry nor upset, but reviewed what i could do better. I am proud to say I had many supports who helped me get thru this program. Study, practice & study some u can do this. more. If u spent time on theses negative comments, it will deter you from conquering the cpne. If

Thanks for your input!! It is reassuring! May I ask how you prepared as far as workshops or conferences?

BeachieRN84 · May 14, 2011

Oh man I stumbled accross this board at one point, it's pretty horrible stuff, but I knew what I was getting into when I signed up as far as looking up the CPNE pass/fail rates. EC is my only option and I plan on doing everything possible so that I am in the 60% that do pass.

Determine2b · May 15, 2011

The big difference is that a student has more than one chance in a brick and mortar school and an easier route all the way around. , without incurring the wrath of an instructor. The testing situation at EC is a different all or none situation. Yes, you can repeat it twice, but that does not make it change for the individual. There has been more than one person who, for instance, remarked that they were "followed" by an additional EC staff person. No matter the true reason for such an "observer", the result is added unnecessary stress on the student. Nowhere near the atmosphere found in a traditional clinical experience from week to week. Not everyone, well prepared or not, can survive such "scrutiny" cloaked in the verbiage of "assessment".

@Caliotter3: I don't exactly agree with your statement of B&M school. "In essence, all one needs to do is to show up for clinical, prepared, and do as expected"...at least in my previous program it took a lot more than that to pass clinicals. First of all, you get one shot at clinicals. Any student who failed the clinical component for that semester, fails the entire course even if your exams were "A". You can repeat a course ONE time but you can NEVER repeat clinicals. In other words, whatever you do, make sure you pass the clinical for the entire semester even if you fail the theory exams. Also you must pass validation of skills and MED calc by 100% each semester or you're out. Another big challenge in B&M programs which I suspect is very much equivalent to CPNE is doing your MED PASS which is done in two semesters. You are responsible for passing meds for four patients throughout the entire 7hr clinical and you have to prepare your med sheets, prioritize your patients etc. You are watch keenly by the instructor in your skills performance which are IV primary start, IV piggyback, IVP, SC, IM, PO, Tube feedings.

This is very stressful because you still have to prep for exams, papers, labs all during the same period of time. And even if you pass you still have to be very careful thru to the end of semester. Instructors can fail a student clinically for leaving a bed in the lowest position or even losing a medication. So, IMHO after looking at the CPNE outline and all the workshops offered and the amount time we get to practice I actually think it's doable and potentially less srtessful than the scenarios I explained here.

caliotter3 · May 15, 2011

I described my school and I would hazard an educated guess that the same holds true for other schools, just as you might say the same holds true for your view of the matter. The only people who failed clinical at my school were those who got on the wrong side of a particularly vindictive instuctor and those who truly made a production out of not being up to par. I knew of at least two people who walked into clinical days without having done their prep, and they waltzed through the day without getting caught. They talked about it. Those students would not have waltzed through an EC CPNE weekend without preparation.

ambirrgrrl · May 15, 2011

Forgive my ignorance, but what is EC CPNE?

Determine2b · May 15, 2011

I described my school and I would hazard an educated guess that the same holds true for other schools, just as you might say the same holds true for your view of the matter. The only people who failed clinical at my school were those who got on the wrong side of a particularly vindictive instuctor and those who truly made a production out of not being up to par. I knew of at least two people who walked into clinical days without having done their prep, and they waltzed through the day without getting caught. They talked about it. Those students would not have waltzed through an EC CPNE weekend without preparation.

Are you referring to LPN program or RN program? In my RN program no student could get away with not prepping because we get our clinical assignment the night before. We have to show up with a patho work up for the dx, s/s, meds lookup and 1 nsg dx along with 4 interventions and 1 outcome. On day two: 2 more nsg dx, 4 intervention for each along with measurable outcomes. At the end of clinical every thing must be completed including pt teach, referrals and documentation. We cannot write in post conference and we all submit our folders which are graded and given back in a couple days with a Satisfactory (S), Unsatisfactory (U) or Need improvement (NI). We all are anxious to get back our folders because we are graded in about 20 areas and if we do not see all (S)s we get nervous because too many NI and S can result in clinical failure. Just prepping for clinicals take me all night every week x2dys. If this wasn't stress I don't know what is!

fatcat0899 RN · May 15, 2011

Thanks for your input!! It is reassuring! May I ask how you prepared as far as workshops or conferences?

I'm sorry! Last post got cut off. i did a workshop early in my studying. But set up a mock lab @ home & practiced while my dgt watched.(she watched rob's video & knew what i should do.) & had a wonderful former student who help whip me into to shape. Find a study partner &study @least 4-5hrs/day whip me in shape

LoopsRN2 · May 15, 2011

I'm sorry! Last post got cut off. i did a workshop early in my studying. But set up a mock lab @ home & practiced while my dgt watched.(she watched rob's video & knew what i should do.) & had a wonderful former student who help whip me into to shape. Find a study partner &study @least 4-5hrs/day whip me in shape

Great info! Last weekend only 1 out of 6 passed from the center I want to test at in WI. I am going to apply for MPAC & NPAC, and I think I am probably going to try for EC Workshop in WI for mid July. We have had a lot of boards going on CPNE this weekend, and I really want to stay focused and positive. Did you post a journal at EPN? How long did you do the 4-5 hours a day? EC is not known at all where I am from, but my daughter will be able to help me as yours did. I do have a friend that is applying for a nursing instructors position that will come in handy as well. Thanks again for stopping by to give us some hope Please share your experience when you do your boards as well!!! Good luck!! :yeah:

fatcat0899 RN · May 15, 2011

i did 4-5/day until the day b4 clinical. I practiced on my clients(i do homecare) on my kids. I reviewed dvd's of assessments, & rob's dvd, & other dvd's from various sources. I passed boards may 6, 2011. Praise GOD! Focus on developing mneumonics to memorize the areas of care(sect 2 of cpne manuel), also call your advisor thru ec, they will talk you thru any scenerios

MissingMyErica · May 16, 2011

Here's my opinion for what it's worth. Excelsior College is NOT for everyone and neither is the traditional brick and mortar program for everyone. The bottom line is this .... NOT EVERYONE IS CUT OUT TO BE A NURSE!! That's the plain and simple truth. As far as the CPNE horror stories you read about, I'm sorry...I don't believe them. Is the CPNE subjective? Absolutely, but that is no different from clinicals in a traditional school. One of my close friends is a clinical instructor at a local community college that I attended for my pre-reqs. Imagine my surprise when I heard a bunch of nursing students discussing how "intimidating and mean" my friend was as an instructor. LOL....he is seriously the nicest person in the world and we worked side by side as nurses for many years before he went on for his masters degree! I couldn't believe they were talking about him that way and I couldn't wait to tell him about his "scary" reputation. He told me that the students that find him mean or intimidating are always the ones who aren't prepared and always have an excuse for why they aren't doing well. Bottom line, they found it easier to blame the instructor instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. I think the same can be said for the CPNE. I knew walking into that CPNE that I was totally prepared and that if I failed it would NOT be for lack of preparation. I found the CE's and CA at York hospital to be extremely fair and encouraging. Was it the scariest most stressful situation of my life? Absolutely, but it was also VERY doable. I have so much respect for those people who have failed the CPNE and instead of making excuses they try to fix what didn't work before and pass the second or third time around. I love people like that! I have ADD and a learning disability in math....I had to pay hundreds of dollars to a licensed grade school psychologist to agree to test me for learning disabilities so I could get extra time on my chemistry and algebra classes. I sat in Sylvan learning center twice a week for 2 months with grade school kids to get tutoring in math. It was humiliating, I cried every time I left there but I passed all my classes. So forgive me if I don't have much sympathy for people who complain and try to place the blame for their failures on everyone but themselves. Sorry this is so long, but I just can't stand people who scare other people away from a totally doable program because they themselves were unsuccessful. My graduation date is May 20, 2011 and I will be happy to help anyone who needs it along the way!

dslpninla · May 16, 2011

Great info! Last weekend only 1 out of 6 passed from the center I want to test at in WI. I am going to apply for MPAC & NPAC, and I think I am probably going to try for EC Workshop in WI for mid July. We have had a lot of boards going on CPNE this weekend, and I really want to stay focused and positive. Did you post a journal at EPN? How long did you do the 4-5 hours a day? EC is not known at all where I am from, but my daughter will be able to help me as yours did. I do have a friend that is applying for a nursing instructors position that will come in handy as well. Thanks again for stopping by to give us some hope Please share your experience when you do your boards as well!!! Good luck!!

I am thinking of Wisconsin too- why are you choosing it?Curious as to the pros vs cons. I will be applying for both npac and mpac as well.

dslpninla · May 16, 2011

Here's my opinion for what it's worth. Excelsior College is NOT for everyone and neither is the traditional brick and mortar program for everyone. The bottom line is this .... NOT EVERYONE IS CUT OUT TO BE A NURSE!! That's the plain and simple truth. As far as the CPNE horror stories you read about, I'm sorry...I don't believe them. Is the CPNE subjective? Absolutely, but that is no different from clinicals in a traditional school. One of my close friends is a clinical instructor at a local community college that I attended for my pre-reqs. Imagine my surprise when I heard a bunch of nursing students discussing how "intimidating and mean" my friend was as an instructor. LOL....he is seriously the nicest person in the world and we worked side by side as nurses for many years before he went on for his masters degree! I couldn't believe they were talking about him that way and I couldn't wait to tell him about his "scary" reputation. He told me that the students that find him mean or intimidating are always the ones who aren't prepared and always have an excuse for why they aren't doing well. Bottom line, they found it easier to blame the instructor instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. I think the same can be said for the CPNE. I knew walking into that CPNE that I was totally prepared and that if I failed it would NOT be for lack of preparation. I found the CE's and CA at York hospital to be extremely fair and encouraging. Was it the scariest most stressful situation of my life? Absolutely, but it was also VERY doable. I have so much respect for those people who have failed the CPNE and instead of making excuses they try to fix what didn't work before and pass the second or third time around. I love people like that! I have ADD and a learning disability in math....I had to pay hundreds of dollars to a licensed grade school psychologist to agree to test me for learning disabilities so I could get extra time on my chemistry and algebra classes. I sat in Sylvan learning center twice a week for 2 months with grade school kids to get tutoring in math. It was humiliating, I cried every time I left there but I passed all my classes. So forgive me if I don't have much sympathy for people who complain and try to place the blame for their failures on everyone but themselves. Sorry this is so long, but I just can't stand people who scare other people away from a totally doable program because they themselves were unsuccessful. My graduation date is May 20, 2011 and I will be happy to help anyone who needs it along the way!

What a great write up and experience!! Makes me love you more!!