Excelsior...Any end in sight?

[4YearNurse]

Doing LPN to RN through Excelsior, finished all pre-reqs except Micro with them (waiting awhile for that one, still traumatized from A & P). Just passed Health Safety and started studying Transitions to RN (boring!). Still have other nursing courses, CPNE and yes Micro. Started to get discouraged and feel there is no end is sight. Only incentive is working everyday as an LPN Charge nurse, doing the work of RN and getting LPN pay. Really wondering at this point if I will have the energy or ability to pass CPNE when I someday finished these exams. Tend to overstudy...taking 2-3 months per exam. I hear of others studying a couple weeks and taking 2-3 exams at once? Please give me any encouragement you may have...really need some! Thanks.

[caliotter3]

Two to three months is too long. You are doing this to yourself and you are aware of it. From now on, limit yourself to one month for study except for the CPNE. Get a calendar, mark off the days, and stick to your plan. You can do this.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the Distance Learning for Nursing forum

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I finished via Excelsior and girl, just keep on plugging on. I earn $9 an hour more than LPNs doing almost identical work. There's your motivation.

[BeachCathyRN]

I found that when I scheduled the test one month out I really buckled down and study the whole time and yes still go in nervous but pass each time. I too thought there was no end in site but keep it up and before you know it there are just a few left!! I have Lifespan 2 and 3 and have a test this week for 3 so god willing I will be down to one and I really never thought I would be saying that!!! :w00t: Like you every time I cashed my paycheck that was my incentive to keep it up, stopping now just keeps you where you are so just keep going - you can do this!!! As for the CPNE worry about it later just concentrate on the exams for now - one step at a time - we can do this!!

[BetterMeRN]

Do Micro now while u still have the energy. I saved it for last now I feel exhausted, after studying and passing the CPNE I ran out of energy. I think the concept exams were all fair. None of them were too hard. I thought the same thing too but hey look at me only one exam stands in my way. You will get there.

[ria007]

I took Micro at the community college it was cheap and I didnt have the stress of another exam to worry about... Just took lifespan 2 and passed it feels good to be so close to my goal...If 2-3 months is how long it takes you then stick with what works. Between work and family that might be how long it takes to study for an exam. I took months for some and weeks for others... one test at a time. Best Wishes

Maria

[4YearNurse]

Thanks to all of you for the encouragement...it really helps. Family is there, but they really don't "get it". I just need to suck it up and snap out of my rut...it sounds like others have been where I am and have succeeded and that is the best help! I also think planning my exam a month away is good incentive to putting a plan in place and sticking to it. I tend to procrastinate with "life" after getting out of work and only study on weekends, that would help stick to the plan and I will do that. I figure I will take Micro once this distracting summer weather goes away regardless of where I am with the other exams...I agree leaving it for the end would be a mistake...I want the CPNE to be the grand finale. Anyway, thanks so much for the help. One last thing, I have taken health safety, doing Transitions to RN now, any other suggestions on which order to take the others? Thanks....my LPN paycheck!

[PomPomRN]

I have been plugging away, too, for way too long. I took Micro before A&P, got a B on Micro. It really wasn't that bad, It was one of the subjects that I studied the least. I am on Transitions and have been looking at the same words for about 4 months!! (crazy I know), but I have two boys close in age and they are making me crazy this summer, can't keep them busy enough so the books get pushed aside. I seriously need to refocus and hammer this stuff out. I feel English is gonna be my worst-haven't written a complete sentence since I graduated from LPN school!! lol Well we all just have to keep going to get to light at the end of the tunnel and reaqp the rewards of those initials RN at the end of our names! Good luck to all who are studying - YOU CAN DO IT!

[smiles04]

Don't you dare give up you are rockin and rollin and working on top of everything you go girl. When I took the prerqs that seemed the longest but school flew by. This program sounds great. You WILL GET THRU so quit this gripin and the pay yes it's much better and yes same clinical however as a RN it's all more leadership oriented. Get your mind set around that. DO NOT thing like a LVN when you take that test think like a RN a leader of the team a manager. The rationales are hard but you can do it. You go get em.!!!!:dancgrp:

[TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN]

Hey i feel ya... i took H&S first and only studied for 30days and passed with an A...went on to A&P and have been studying it now since MAY 23...lol...i was going to take it monday but had to reschedule (again) due to my husbands work and doctor appts. So now it's Aug 20 and THAT is my final reschedule...but it has been HARD for me to study it! it's boring to me, yet the nursing exams are fun for me and i like them...i don't like A&P and had to get out of that frame of mind...i am now going to try to take an exam every 3wks so we shall see =) good luck, buckle down and lets move!

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I am rooting for you. I have taken FAR longer than I should have to complete this program but I WILL complete it. In the end that's what's important. Just don't quit.