Excelsior A&P exam...I passed!!!

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WOW, what an experience! I started studying back at the end of August, at a very slow pace off and on and around Christmas decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and schedule the darn thing. So, last night in the east coast snowy weather, off I went to the Sylvan learning center. You are given 3 hours to complete the test. I was given 160 questions, and let me tell you, it was tough...no TOUGH, probably one of THE hardest tests I've taken, and I've had my share.

I would say that there were 40 questions that I KNEW, answered right away, and didn't have to mark them to review later. The remaining 120 had to be thought out, meticulously, situational questions, using all of your knowledge on the subject. There was definitely no simple definitional questions, you just had to know your SH-T!, if you know what I mean and there was no way around it unless you did know your ****, ooops sorry!

Halfway through I started to break out in a sweat, my face got flushed, my hand started shaking and I thought I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack. But, by some grace of God, I finished, with 15 minutes to spare (yes, it actually took almost 3 hours to finish)

and I PASSED....with an "A"......I am still freaked out about it. I left the testing center speechless, mouth agape, in disbelief. I am SOOOOOO relieved that it is over.

To anyone out there in the process of studying, take your time, know your hormones, urinary system, it was mostly physiologic type questions, but a lot of "if this was/was not present, then what would be the result here?". Another example if XYZ circumstances were present, then which hormone would be increased/decreased?"

Like I said you really need to have your foundation down pat in order to be able to work out the circumstances in your head.

whewwww,,, I am glad it is over :) :) ....now onto the next and final 2 prereqs....Statistics and a Humanities elective...still pondering?

K

Kim

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WOW, what an experience! I started studying back at the end of August, at a very slow pace off and on and around Christmas decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and schedule the darn thing. So, last night in the east coast snowy weather, off I went to the Sylvan learning center. You are given 3 hours to complete the test. I was given 160 questions, and let me tell you, it was tough...no TOUGH, probably one of THE hardest tests I've taken, and I've had my share.

I would say that there were 40 questions that I KNEW, answered right away, and didn't have to mark them to review later. The remaining 120 had to be thought out, meticulously, situational questions, using all of your knowledge on the subject. There was definitely no simple definitional questions, you just had to know your SH-T!, if you know what I mean and there was no way around it unless you did know your ****, ooops sorry!

Halfway through I started to break out in a sweat, my face got flushed, my hand started shaking and I thought I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack. But, by some grace of God, I finished, with 15 minutes to spare (yes, it actually took almost 3 hours to finish)

and I PASSED....with an "A"......I am still freaked out about it. I left the testing center speechless, mouth agape, in disbelief. I am SOOOOOO relieved that it is over.

To anyone out there in the process of studying, take your time, know your hormones, urinary system, it was mostly physiologic type questions, but a lot of "if this was/was not present, then what would be the result here?". Another example if XYZ circumstances were present, then which hormone would be increased/decreased?"

Like I said you really need to have your foundation down pat in order to be able to work out the circumstances in your head.

whewwww,,, I am glad it is over :) :) ....now onto the next and final 2 prereqs....Statistics and a Humanities elective...still pondering?

K

Kim

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Wow Kim Congrats... what an accomplishment, Keep it up, you'll be finish in no time.

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Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.

wow kim, that's great! i too passed a&p in december with an A, and reading your post brought back those anxious memories! i also started studying back in august, and it took me that long just to get through the study guide, and reasonably feel like i knew my stuff.

so you've only got two more prereq's to go? are you doing your prereqs first and then the nursing courses? i would love to keep in touch with someone who is also going through excelsior and is just starting out, it keeps my motivation up to know there are others who are experiencing this as well. are you going for your ADN or BSN?

best wishes to you! and congrats and passing a&p with an A!

heather

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

:bowingpur :w00t: Awesome!!!! An A in A&P is awesome. :)

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I made a B on the A&P exam this past December, but then I only studied for a week and a half.

Congratulations.

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That is unreal, way to go an "A". I felt such hope when I read this. I have only taken one test, NC1 made a B. I take NC2 on Saturday. I have all the pre-reqs to take so I think I am going to try Lifespan if I pass NC2. Wish me luck.

Again WAY TO GO!! That is so awsome!!! :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yeah: :yeah: :biere:

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Thanks to you all for your congrats! It is really such a HUGE relief to be done that monster of a test, lol.

It was definitely not easy. I am the stay-at-home, work-at-home (LOL), mother of 3 ages 10, 5 and 2,,,,whewww, unbelievable huh? But, that only goes to show you, that it CAN be done.

And you know, it makes me feel like I must really have my foundation down pat, which is so uplifting and encouraging, especially with what is to come.

Thanks again everyone!

I am onto CCCOnline statistics....yet another BEAR of a course.

What are you all taking for Humanities elective?

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Specializes in Mental Health, MI/CD, Neurology.
:bowingpur :w00t: Awesome!!!! An A in A&P is awesome. :)

I totally second what 3rdShift says...... that is just wonderful!! Congrats! :balloons:

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Congratulations, I remember how hard that was, I had studied for 6 full months and also made an "A".

Ethics for me was by far the hardest to study for and the hardest test to take. I made a "C" and was thrilled beyond belief to have that one behind me.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Thanks to you all for your congrats! It is really such a HUGE relief to be done that monster of a test, lol.

It was definitely not easy. I am the stay-at-home, work-at-home (LOL), mother of 3 ages 10, 5 and 2,,,,whewww, unbelievable huh? But, that only goes to show you, that it CAN be done.

And you know, it makes me feel like I must really have my foundation down pat, which is so uplifting and encouraging, especially with what is to come.

Thanks again everyone!

I am onto CCCOnline statistics....yet another BEAR of a course.

What are you all taking for Humanities elective?

Way kool. :balloons:

And what memories it brought back reading this!

A&P was my very first EC exam I took.. back in March of 2000..wanted to get the biggie out of the way first. :rolleyes: Studied that for about 8-10 weeks.

And got an "A" as well... could NOT believe it, after all those truly difficult questions. And not having been in school for 25 years or more. :uhoh3:

That was it.. I figured if I could get an A on THAT, I could ace anything.. and I did ! (Even Microbiology.. which was every bit as difficult.. if not more so.)

I set the bar high after that.. and aced every exam to follow. I was out to prove something to MYSELF. And I did just that. What a feeling !

Keep up the good work ! :)

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Well I made a B on NC1 and NC2. I have decided to go ahead bit the bullet and do A&P next. You guys have given me hope that it indeed is possible. Do you that have taken the exam recommend a study buddy? I am guessing it is hard to stay focused and motivated with so much info. I am still on cloud nine from passing NC2 yesterday I am ready to just jump in and get started.

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