CPNE Why the long wait???

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 19, 2004

Believe me, you'll be glad it took 4 months to get to the CPNE. I just got my "carjack" (CPNE study manual) a couple days ago, and it'll take me a few months just to get through it all. It's HUGE.

If you only need 2 gen. ed. courses, go ahead and get the nursing exams done first. You can take the CPNE when you're done with those, and within 8 credit hrs of being done with your gen. ed. portion. I'm CLEP-ping Biology and Sociology during my wait (already did them, but more than 5 years ago, so no credit for them applied). So, get those nursing courses done first, then finish the last of your gen. ed. during the wait.

You can also ask to be put on the back-up list for a facility in case anybody cancels their slot. I know a couple people who did this and only had to wait a few weeks.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

I almost hate to bring this up, but I think the only courses that have the 5 year max on them are A&P, Micro and algebra. I got credit for my sociology, psychology, English comp and whatever else, and some of them were from, like 1975. (no joke)

You might want to check on those two before you go to the trouble of retaking them.

On the other hand, if they are going to make me retake them (after teaching related courses on the university level as an adjunct prof!!), I need to know so I can gnash my teeth and swear in private.

As far as joining the Excelsior crowd, come on in, "the water's fine!"

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 1, 2004

Funny that you mention that...where were you a few months ago?...lol. I talked to my academic advisor via email on Friday afternoon, and you're right. She didn't say anything about Math courses, though. I didn't get credit for an Applied Mathematics course I took over 5 years ago. I thought it was the course, but maybe it was because of how old it was. I didn't get credit for Soc. because it was taken at a design school which is now defunct. Biology, I'm OK on.

I'm going to go ahead and start their BSN program after the CPNE, too.

The advisor also gave me new info that if we continue onto the BSN, we get to forego 30 credit hrs now instead of the 15, and the capstone will be changing to online. Makes things a lot easier to manage. I might go ahead and take Ethics while NC7 is fresh in my head still, and before my current registration ends. It had a lot of the same components. And Pathophys has a lot of the same components of all the NCs, so maybe I'll get a head start on the BSN tract.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

Funny that you mention that...where were you a few months ago?...lol.

Sending out Christmas cards, actually!! :chuckle

My understanding about the math course is that it must be algebra or above. Applied math wouldn't meet the basic requirement. My (former) traditional school is now accepting only stat as the math course. But I think that's their option--the BON must not be requiring it because other accredited schools in the area are still accepting algebra, and not even before admission!!

Don't know about capstones, etc., so you are waaaaaay ahead of me!

I enrolled in September, and the count for my courses (before the nursing ones) was around 30, so that may have started already.

You may wish to consider leaping straight to the NP course if you are going that way. I found out recently that Stony Brook (in NY) has a nontrad course that accepts ADN grads (licensed RN, of course).

It ain't cheap, but the benefits afterward are worth the effort if you can get the funding.

I'm thinking I'll go that way. (who needs another bachelors or masters degree anyway?)

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 1, 2004

Thanks for the info Chris! Do you do local clinicals with Stony Brook? I have been writing out for info from the different schools to see what my best options are. I really don't think I'll do EC's MSN unless I want to go into Informatics or Management. If I could Bridge into another program and do an NP tract, while doing most of the didactics online, that would be great! My line of thinking is that I'm going to continue on the higher education path while I'm still in the mode. Otherwise, I'll wait several years before going back again.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Feb 2, 2004

YW!

I don't know much about Stony Brook's particulars, but they do have a nice website at http://www.snyusb.edu (I think).

I did a search for nurse practitioner distance and got this back:

http://adam.cc.sunysb.edu:8765/query.html?col=sb&chorificet=iso-8859-1&ht=0&qp=&qt=nurse+practitioner+distance&qs=&qc=&pw=100%25&ws=0&la=en&qm=0&st=1&nh=25&lk=1&rf=0&rq=0&si=0

What little I know, I learned from an EC grad here in the Dallas area, who doesn't have a BSN, who said that Stony Brook accepted the EC ADN as sufficient for their NP program.

Good luck!

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 2, 2004

Thanks Chris! I'm checking it out right now.

DMoon · Feb 2, 2004

One of the reasons for the wait is that the CPNE is a one-on-one process over the course of several days. Except for your orientation the first evening, it's you and a Masters-prepared evaluator for the whole exam. This limits the number of students they can evaluate at any one site at any one time. It's a very exacting exam. One of the other posters is exactly right--you'll need those months to prepare!

Best wishes!

Dakota

TennNurse · Feb 9, 2004

I took my CPNE a few weeks ago, and when I scheduled they told me that different sites have different wait times. Atlanta is closer to me, but Plano got me in sooner, so that's where I went. Also, I asked to be called with cancellations, and so I got to go even earlier than I'd planned.

(That study guide was huge, but pretty simple and to-the-point, and I passed on my first try after studying for less than 3 weeks. It really wasn't bad.)

upgreach · Feb 9, 2004

I wanted to thank all of you for responding to my question...I still have not heard back from EC r.e. my transcripts etc., but I've been working the the NC content so I can begin taking the exams asap. TennNurse-How long after you took CPNE did you know you passed?; How long after you passed CPNE did you grad. and get the paperwork that allows you to sit for boards? Any info. would be helpful! Thanks Again!

PennsylvaniaNurse · Mar 28, 2005

I took my CPNE a few weeks ago, and when I scheduled they told me that different sites have different wait times. Atlanta is closer to me, but Plano got me in sooner, so that's where I went. Also, I asked to be called with cancellations, and so I got to go even earlier than I'd planned.
(That study guide was huge, but pretty simple and to-the-point, and I passed on my first try after studying for less than 3 weeks. It really wasn't bad.)

I just got a cancellation in Plano TX and I'm starting to freak out. Could you please give me a run down on the Hospital and what you thought of the CE's? I hadn't chosen Plano, but I'm willing to travel to get an earlier date and thought maybe info from someone whose been there would help. Thanks.

Sheila