I signed up for the payment plan program right before it expired at the end of September.
To me, that seemed to be the way to go.
So far, I have completed Health Safety, (skipped out of Health Differences due to LPN license) Reproductive Health, and will take Chronicity next week. My goal is to be on the CPNE wait list by January 1st. I plan to take Microbiology in January, and A&P in February through Excelsior.
I just can't help but feel sometimes that this is too easy almost. I am passing these classes with minimal studying and a majority of it seems as if it is a review of my practical nursing courses. I have read that they get more difficult, but I am wondering if the foundation has been laid already and I learned more than I originally thought I did in nursing school the first time around.?
Another part of me feels that this is the way that it should be; you learn what you need to learn, you quit wasting time in classrooms listening to an hour lecture for 16 weeks only to test out of the material anyway. A lot of my previous nursing school experience was self taught because I didn't understand the instructor, didn't care of the instructor's style, etc.
Anyway, I am pleased at how "do able" this actually is. I am trying to do an exam a week between now and Christmas, but I may space myself between the Lifespan classes because those seem a bit more in depth.
What information have you been using as your basis for studying. In need of reassurance that I am on the right track.
I purchased a Comprehensive RN NCLEX book and have been using that and study guides.
Lisa Arend's do NOT impress me. She is so paranoid about her notes and material that I won't purchase another one. I understand she has a product to sell, but it's notes for crying out loud. On top of that there are errors galore and it's not organized very well. With that said, I have been REALLY impressed by Study Group 101. Lots of extra tidbits, information, and very organized. I purchased their Chronicity cd, and this has been the best I have used by far.
What impresses me about LA's notes is that she did not just start selling these two days ago. She has had plenty of time to clean them up and make corrections so that she has a better product to sell. The fact that she makes no effort to do so says a lot about the quality of her effort to begin with.
Well this may be off topic but, If you decide to buy the "required" text books from half.com (which I recommend, I got everything for Health Safety for $91 including shipping) do NOT choose media mail, spend a little extra for fast shipping! Media Mail can take up to three weeks, and I have no patience....sigh
I used SG101 and the EC practice exams. I found the exams easy. I went to a very good, very tought LPN school that well prepared me for EC. I also use my LPN med-surg book for reference.
I need the cowbell - xanax won't work, I'm a fast metabolizer. Cowbell all the way baby!
Thanks for the tip. Is there a big variation in Lisa notes than studygroup 101. i purchased Lisa notes on Cd about two years ago and never used them. Or would you suggest studygroup.
I found SG101 to be very true to the EC content. I recommend them, and they were really cheap. I also purchased the Care Plan and Assessment review, well worth the money. I just wrote my first careplan in a year, and, compared to the local CC, it was a dream.
I purchased the SG101 notes today. I will continue on Monday with the studying and I will also use the practice test to study. Hopefully I will have continuous success.
I am passing these classes with minimal studying and a majority of it seems as if it is a review of my practical nursing courses. I have read that they get more difficult, but I am wondering if the foundation has been laid already and I learned more than I originally thought I did in nursing school the first time around.? 
Oh Well, lesson learned!
RNandRRT
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