CPNE in 9 days!!!!!!!!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 27, 2004

Well, that is 10-12 months for someone just starting out. I have most all the pre-requisites (except A&P which I'm scheduled to take December 23 and I also took NC I a few weeks ago). I'll be able to finish as fast as I can afford to pay to take the tests, which I figure will be two a month.
I've been shopping for my books on eBay, built up my study library and I'm rearing to go.
Applied to EC, sent in my college transcripts and nursing license and application fee a couple of weeks ago and am just waiting for my acceptance letter so I can go ahead and sig up for NC 3 (I'm expecting they will waive NC 2 so I won't have to take that).
So when I get the acceptance letter I'm going to go as fast as I can. What excitement!
I'll do whatever it takes to see that I get through the CPNE before summer. At least get my first try at it (I hope I don't have to take it twice but realize it is a possibility). Yes, I can fly across the country if I have to. I just want to get finished. I'm not the type who likes to play tiddely winks.

I'm not sure I'd've sent in my application for licensure and that fee, etc., because (at least for most states, if not all) it is only good for a year. Generally, people are encouraged to do that about 2 to 3 months before graduation.

Kudos to you for your enthusiasm, though. I think it probably has helped you get a good sense of what it's about and how to make the system work best for you and your goals, to read posts of people here. I know it helped me a lot too.

I would suggest that while you are waiting permission to start taking the rest of your tests, you might join the yahoo group nontradnurses and check out the notes collected for the various exams. Collect those on your own hard drive (or print them out if that works for you), and then you can begin to prepare for all the exams. That way, when you are ready to take each exam itself, all you have to do is review.

Also, although you may feel very confident, and you may be right about your predicted succes on exams, it's uncannily easy to have a bad day or be sick and unable to reschedule without losing your entire exam fee (oh, yes), or get a fast case of the heebie-jeebies and not make a passing grade on an exam. If that happens, you have to wait something like 90 days to retake it, which, if it is your last month of before registering for the CPNE (can't do that until you have completed every last one of the academic exams), will slow you up considerably.

Thinking ahead about the CPNE is good--fewer surprises that way. The odds are very good that you will make it in your first attempt. You seem like you prepare very thoroughly. When the time comes, remember that once you have registered for the CPNE, that's when you start making very friendly weekly calls to each of the RPAC's (regional performance assessment centers)--I think there are, like five, including the one you have chosen as your first choice, so that your name is at the top of their list when a cancellation comes.

Plan on taking EC's three day refresher course on careplanning and skills too. They call it CPNE and Skills workshops. Incredibly valuable.

Good luck and welcome to the EC fold! (I never doubted for a moment that you would do anything else.... :) )

Jo Dirt · Nov 27, 2004

I'm not sure I'd've sent in my application for licensure and that fee, etc., because (at least for most states, if not all) it is only good for a year. Generally, people are encouraged to do that about 2 to 3 months before graduation.

Wait a minute, the people at EC told me that before I could sign up to take any NC tests past NC 2 I would have to apply to and be accepted to the college, which meant turning in my application with the $65 fee, my nursing license and college transcripts...what am I missing out on here? I didn't send any application for RN licensure, if that's what you meant.

About the bad days and heebie jeebies....after ten years of school I know all about those, lol. I can handle it, ol' cucumber head they call me

kimlpn · Nov 27, 2004

I think she meant licensure for RN...You are right you must apply to the college before you can go on to NC3. Follow the EC content outline and you will be fine.

Kim

Wait a minute, the people at EC told me that before I could sign up to take any NC tests past NC 2 I would have to apply to and be accepted to the college, which meant turning in my application with the $65 fee, my nursing license and college transcripts...what am I missing out on here? I didn't send any application for RN licensure, if that's what you meant.
About the bad days and heebie jeebies....after ten years of school I know all about those, lol. I can handle it, ol' cucumber head they call me

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 28, 2004

I didn't send any application for RN licensure, if that's what you meant.

My dear cucumber head, that's exactly what I thought you meant. :imbar

I'm sorry--I've had a rough week and I misread your post. I hope I didn't cause you any inconvenience or panic. My motive in responding as I did was purely friendly and supportive.

In my experience, what they tell you at EC, you can depend upon.

Again, my apology....

opalmRN · Nov 29, 2004

Wait a minute, the people at EC told me that before I could sign up to take any NC tests past NC 2 I would have to apply to and be accepted to the college, which meant turning in my application with the $65 fee, my nursing license and college transcripts...what am I missing out on here? I didn't send any application for RN licensure, if that's what you meant.
About the bad days and heebie jeebies....after ten years of school I know all about those, lol. I can handle it, ol' cucumber head they call me

Ahhh, I think if I'm not mistaken in order to take anything past NC2 or to be able to take any NC practice exams, you need to enroll not just apply.

Applying is $65. With this EC will do a "unofficial" review of your preivous work and give you an idea of what courses in addition to the NCs you may need. Enrolling for the first year is $900 ($925 if you pay in installments) which gives you an official review (which requires official transcripts), enables you to purchase practice exams, gives students access to all EC weblinks and most importantly assigns strudents an advisor(s).

If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

Jo Dirt · Nov 29, 2004

Ahhh, I think if I'm not mistaken in order to take anything past NC2 or to be able to take any NC practice exams, you need to enroll not just apply.
Applying is $65. With this EC will do a "unofficial" review of your preivous work and give you an idea of what courses in addition to the NCs you may need. Enrolling for the first year is $900 ($925 if you pay in installments) which gives you an official review (which requires official transcripts), enables you to purchase practice exams, gives students access to all EC weblinks and most importantly assigns strudents an advisor(s).
If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

You're correct. (I'm doing the installment plan):balloons:

CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P · Nov 29, 2004

I also tested in Racine... Great site....Just keep your Care Plan simple and doable. It is important to remember that if you fail a lab or PCS, don't give up!!! Just trudge on through Sunday. Take one PCS, at a time. Don't worry what your classmates are doing....You can do it!

opalmRN · Nov 29, 2004

I also tested in Racine... Great site....Just keep your Care Plan simple and doable. It is important to remember that if you fail a lab or PCS, don't give up!!! Just trudge on through Sunday. Take one PCS, at a time. Don't worry what your classmates are doing....You can do it!

Let's give it up for CSLee3!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 29, 2004

i also tested in racine... great site....just keep your care plan simple and doable. it is important to remember that if you fail a lab or pcs, don't give up!!! just trudge on through sunday. take one pcs, at a time. don't worry what your classmates are doing....you can do it!

chuck, i was just thinking of you the other day. i am assuming you passed.

way to go ! ! !

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Nov 30, 2004

Yeah, back to Medicrnohio's original post here-------------

Madison + 1st weekend in Dec. = you'll pass

How do I know? Because this was my weekend and my site, and I can just feel that you will. :)

Another pointer to add-- cross things off as you do them and again (in a different color) as you chart them. That way your eyeballs won't be scanning over the same things over and over again making you go crazy. I used a pencil as i did mine and a highlighter as I charted them. Worked like a charm.

Another thing that is a must---- count on there being roadblocks. Just plan on it, because there most likely will. Rarely will a PCS just roll along with zero changes from the one you have mapped out in your head. If by chance it does, then you're a lucky duck. But if it doesn't (and it won't), just roll with it. That's all you can do. That's what every passer has had to do during their PCSs, and you'll be able to do it too.

During your down-time, just chill. Do things that are stimulating (so as not to dwell on what happened that day or what will happen the next day) but obviously not overly stimulating. I spent one of the evenings eating pizza and drinking beer with a cousin who lived in the area. It was one of the best nights of my life, just because of the mood I was in (and this was after failing 2 labs). It's all what you make it.

My thoughts will be with you this weekend!! Best of luck to you!!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 1, 2004

Good luck to you this weekend, Medic!!!! If you have a laptop, take it with you and post if you need support!

You can do it!!!!!!!!!

medicrnohio, RN · Dec 1, 2004

Thanks to everyone who has wished me well and to those who have provided me with some great tips. I will be off tommorrow and will be back Monday morning. I will post my results on Monday sometime, maybe earlier if I can get my laptop to work while I am there.