EC Students, Do/did you purchase books?

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 31, 2005

I bought the books THEY recommended. They give you a chioce of about three in the back of each study guide for each subject matter. I found that the materail for the exams pretty much correlate to the material in the recommended books. I would not have risked doing it any other way.

You can probably find a lot of the recommended EC books on eBay and save yourself a lot of money. Just a thought. :)

eborgelt · Jan 31, 2005

I am fairly new to EC, so hopefully people who have been with them for longer will post also. I just took and passed NC1 this am with a B. I didn't really use any books at all to study. I belong to the Yahoo group nontradnurses. I downloaded the NC1 files on that site and studied from them. I probably could've gotten an A if I would've studied harder, but I've been working a lot of overtime lately and didn't even start studying till this am a couple hours before my testing appointment.

Elizabeth, LPN

willtm · Jan 31, 2005

I used the fundamentals book I already had, it was not the one EC recommended and it was fine. I also used a different peds and OB book and it was also fine. I've made As on all the tests I've taken so far, NC 1 -4. I think that any good textbook that covers the material will work. You can search on line for information for free. There are also yahoo groups that have files to help you with each of the tests also for free. Hope this helps:)

this may seem like a silly quesiton but we all know money is an issue for many of us. I was wondering if it is necessary to purchase the books recommended by excelsior or can I use my books from LPN school (Med Surg, A&P, etc) to learn the material for the exams.
do most ppl buy all the materials? If I understand correctly, many just use other books on the subject(cheaper if u already have one or if u can find a random one online or in a used bookstore) and find the info they need thru the internet.
Of course I want to save money but if not having the actual EC books forces me to retest, then I might as well buy THEIR books the first go around. what do u guys think?
Im an LPN student looking to get a headstart on some of the courses so when I graduate Im well on my way already. thanks in advance for any input. :)

Jo Dirt · Jan 31, 2005

I bought a nursing fundamentals book to study for my EC tests but that is about it. I managed to pass NC 1, 3 and 4 without any special books, just looked up the material in my books from LPN school.

I bombed NC 5 but I can't blame any textbooks on that. It was just me.

Also, I have a Mosby's medical dictionary from LPN school (the blue one with pictures) and it has been indispensible.

I've even heard people who say if they can't find it in a book they can find it online.

Laurie888 · Jan 31, 2005

I've used a combination of my old nursing books, books on my unit (I'm not a nurse, I'm 'just' a secretary), notes from various websites, and a couple times used study guides which I then passed on to recoup $$ spent. And except for one exam, which I seem to have a blind spot on (failed twice, partially I think due to the 'real life' vs. 'book' factor) I'm done with the NC exams and have done well.

JKohler · Feb 1, 2005

I've only taken NC1 and have bought the "required books" up to NC3. I did not purchase them through the school though...I shopped on-line for used books and save dquite a bit of money. I figured buying the books that would match the required readings would be easier than fishing through an old book and it maybe not having exactly what they wanted you to study. One example...I started buying books 4-5 months ago, according to the Excelsior book store required books. In December I started studying for NC1...I went to read the pharmacology book I bought way back when...using a new content guide I just recieved in the mail and realized they updated their books, different author e.t.c.. I had the hardest time finding the required reading in the old book. Ended up selling it and getting the new one.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 1, 2005

BikerNRS -

You'll use a lot of the same books for the other courses. I bought a lot of the recommended books by EC, but I bought them through different websites and have saved a ton of money. I didn't have the basic nursing books to start out with in the beginning. Try getting the ISBN # of the recommended book and search places like Amazon, Ebay, Cheapbooks.com, Walmart.com, sometimes Barnes & Noble has terrific prices - shop around and you'll really find some bargains.

Best of luck to you!

:balloons:

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 1, 2005

I used all of my LPN school books, plus a NCLEX-RN book. I had no problem finding whatever I needed. I had a stack of books sitting on my kitchen table for months on end, and I had to do a lot of flipping, but I would've had to do the same thing had I bought the EC recommended texts. I did buy the Fundamentals that they suggested for my CPNE prep, only I didn't spend the $80 on it in their bookstore--- I got it for $19 used on half.com.

JKohler · Feb 1, 2005

I use this website called ecampus.com, they will do a search using the ISBN, and then you can do a compare prices for that book available in all bookstores; B&N, wal-mart, powell's, amazon, half.com e.t.c

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

HALF.COM......THANK YOU!!! I was going crazy trying to think of the other site that I purchased some books and couldn't think of it!!! I haven't bought books in a while.

My mind is half-baked right now studying for NC5!

Thanks for jogging my tired memory. :)

:balloons: