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.
Excelsior might have something, so you may want to check with them. As far as I know (it's been a while since i did the program) fed loans weren't available.
Thanks for your responses... So it sounds as though it's true that you can't get financial aid in the form of student loans.. bummer!
Though you can't get student loans for ECs nursing program, EC has scholarships you can apply for. My friend got one that was enough to pay for her CPNE and her graduation fees. I applied but didn't get one. Check out the link for student aid on the EC web page. Good luck.
Specializes in Dementia, Developmental Disabilities.
Glad to hear that, so far, for you the nursing courses are doable. I chose to do all my general ed courses first through Excelsior, will be testing on A&P in May and then only have Micro left. I have been reading blogs that state having studied like 7 months each for the nursing exams, that got me doing addition and thinking..."When exactly will I finally be done?". I'm a pretty determined self-studier and, I feel, a thorough LPN. This gives me some hope. I would really like to complete my nursing exams over the summer/fall and sign up for the dreaded CPNE by the end of the year. This will entail a 2 year process up to that point, which is what I had planned on. I purposely did all my courses and exams first so I can dedicate all my studying to the CPNE once it is time. Also, where are the workshops held? I don't see a listing anywhere. I am in CT. I plan to take my CPNE in NY, I see there are like 5 different sites available there. Any input on the particular sites that anyone has gone to? Thanks so much for the support!!!
Specializes in Dementia, Developmental Disabilities.
Where in CT are you? I'm in Eastern CT. I've been an LPN for 4 years in Long-Term Care and have 2 pre-reqs left before moving onto the nursing courses.
Glad to hear that, so far, for you the nursing courses are doable. I chose to do all my general ed courses first through Excelsior, will be testing on A&P in May and then only have Micro left. I have been reading blogs that state having studied like 7 months each for the nursing exams, that got me doing addition and thinking..."When exactly will I finally be done?". I'm a pretty determined self-studier and, I feel, a thorough LPN. This gives me some hope. I would really like to complete my nursing exams over the summer/fall and sign up for the dreaded CPNE by the end of the year. This will entail a 2 year process up to that point, which is what I had planned on. I purposely did all my courses and exams first so I can dedicate all my studying to the CPNE once it is time. Also, where are the workshops held? I don't see a listing anywhere. I am in CT. I plan to take my CPNE in NY, I see there are like 5 different sites available there. Any input on the particular sites that anyone has gone to? Thanks so much for the support!!!
I did most of them in 2-3 months (mostly 3 months). The only thing that took me longer was stats (5 months)
If i remember correctly, they notified me of the CPNE workshops when they occured in CA (where I live).
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.? 
LPN_2005/RN_10
296 Posts
I had to take a extra part-time job and took out a loan at my credit union.