Excelsior Exams and Saunders

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse/Addiction Nurse.

How are you using Saunders to study for your exams? Does anybody have an outline they've created for themselves that they're willing to share?

Thanks,

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I used saunders to study for my nursing exams. I never bought books for the exams. I took the practice tests, then studied from the nclex book. I took an exam every 1-2 weeks until I was done.

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Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

I dont think there is any one way to study. Just find out what works best for you and keep at it. You'll do great. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

I go over the EC content guide and then I compare it with my Saunders and pick out the chapters I need to study. For most of the core nursing stuff, I did the required reading in the M/S textbook first, then reviewed with the Saunders. Helps bring it all together :-)

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Specializes in Telemetry.

The reason I liked the NCLEX book is because it is so condensed. In my opinion, I think the reason people never finish excelsior is because they become overwhelmed with the content of the recommended study materials. Taking 3-4 months to study for these exams just seems way too long. Sometimes too much information is just that TOO MUCH INFORMATION! It becomes way too overwhelming. Everyone has to do things their own way, but I feel like it can be very easy to procrastinate and I've seen people take years to finish or never finish at all. I got some great advice from a friend and it really worked for me. She told me to schedule my tests every two weeks because I work better under pressure and I always cram for the last week anyway. So that's what I did, and then I started scheduling them weekly. Not something I'd recommend, but because I spent around 9 weeks locked up in my room every spare minute I could find. But, I got the whole program done in less than a year, while I know people that have been trying to finish for years!

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I love saunders because it breaks everything down.....

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WHAT is the Excelsior ASN program like?

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Specializes in med/surg, geriatrics, corrections.
WHAT is the Excelsior ASN program like?

Self paced, self study. It's really what you make it and it depends on your learning style. IF you are self motivated and a self learner you can do it. However, if you need structure, if you are a procrastinator, if you need a lot of guidance then this program is definately NOT for you. Many come into the program thinking it's an "easier" way to get their nursing degree......that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. You have to keep motivated and in the end there is three days of hell that we affectionately know as the CPNE. Those of us who haven't gotten there yet can only imagine what it's like and those that have endured it have NIGHT TERRORS about it for weeks after. I'm not trying to discourage you because I don't know you but no one can ever accuse me of sugar coating everything. Personally, I LOVE Excelsior. I've had all my prereqs out of the way since 2005 and been a LPN since 1993, I couldn't be persuing my dream right now if it weren't for Excelsior. I have two exams out of the way(three as of tomorrow) and will possibly take another before the end of this month. That will be FOUR exams TWELVE college credits in ONE MONTH. This is all because of self motivation, and determination. Many complete the program within a year and that is my goal also. If I had to piece it together at a local community college it would take me another five years. So, IMHO Excelsior is great but only IF....

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Specializes in ED.

I wanted to mention that the section on test taking actually very much helped me.

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I used saunders to study for my nursing exams. I never bought books for the exams. I took the practice tests, then studied from the nclex book. I took an exam every 1-2 weeks until I was done.

I'm considering this but my NCLEX review book is from like 2006. I was in an RN program but didn't make it. I just took H/S and used some of the texts, the module and practice exams. I'm onto the next exam and don't want to buy anymore texts.

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Specializes in ED.
...Many come into the program thinking it's an "easier" way to get their nursing degree........

I have to interject with the fact that Excelsior is by no means easier. I have taken classes in person which I think are the easiest, then online which are not too bad but more work than in person and the self-paced self-study which are the hardest but in my opinion worth it.

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Is the saunders book the recommended book according to ECs content guide? I haven't enrolled so I don't know but ive seen TONS of people mention saunders. Which Saunders book is the one everyone is talking about? Is this book the only material you used when testing every 1-2 weeks???

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