Excelsior LVN-RN

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Specializes in MED SURG.

I am almost done with EC and I am really nervous on the rest of the tests. I have 5 theory tests left and the further I get the further it seams away. I'm having problems studying for the Transition to RN test, I have failed this test before and I am afraid of failing it again, its not a clinical test and there are alot of management questions and I HATE those type of questions. My fear is when you fail a test its not like you can just reschedule the test and retake it, the first time you fail it you have to wait 30 days to reschedule and the 2nd time you fail you have to wait 6 MONTHS and the 3rd time you fail you are OUT! So when I failed this test the first time a YEAR ago, it put alot of fears in me that I can't do this and I'm going to fail again! Now here I am again a year later I have paid for the test and when I look at the study material, it looks like a MONSTER staring at me. I guess I just need a swift kick in the butt full of motivation.

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I just started EC and it is very overwhelming! Good LUCK!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

May I suggest grabbing a paper calendar and assigning specific days to study each section; then focus only on that section for the day. Repeat this cycle until your exam date. That's what I did. I usually took the practice exam (EC and those within the study material) before studying. With the study materials, I would take the same quiz at 8a-12n-4pm just to see if I was retaining the information. In between times, I was reading my choice of study material. I did this on my days off with each and every quiz for each and every EC exam. I didn't study EC material on the days that I had classes (general education stuff) at the community college and I didn't study anything at all on the days that I had to work. At the end of each two-week period, my grades had improved, so I took and passed the real exam. Of course, I already had the exam scheduled for every two weeks and made myself ready...no matter what. I kept going with this schedule until I had completed all of those exams. My motivation back then was to make it to the FCCA before it went live. As an LPN, I wasn't required to take Health Differences. So, I took the other top three listed nursing exams, took a break from 'nursing' exams to tackle the Transitions exam, then returned to my original plan and finished up with the Life Span series.

I have to admit that the one time that I considered dropping the EC program was while studying for Transitions. That exam had sooooo much information, basically a history test, that I almost had a nervous breakdown:wacky:! I was suffering so badly from information overload, that I literally grabbed my keys and was on my way out the door to go and withdraw from the community college and had planned to withdraw from EC afterwards. As luck would have it, my then-husband was coming into the house as I was trying to leave and I guess the look on my face showed that something was majorly wrong. He convinced me to put away all books for one day and do ANYTHING but schoolwork.

Since EC now offers the exams in the form of courses, for subjects that you find difficult, why not just take the course? Yes, it's 8 weeks. But that's equivalent to the waiting period for retaking a failed exam, right? So, why risk the blow to your GPA and wasted money? I know the courses are more expensive, but the longer you remain in the program, the more it's gonna cost anyway, with technological fees, annual continuation fee, exam fees and not to mention that they go up on prices every year (hey, there's motivation right there). I recently failed my first ever nursing exam and as much as I really don't want to sit in the 15-week course:banghead:, I will be in it tomorrow because another failed attempt will only served to delay my completion even longer.

In an effort to keep down the anxiety and feeling of being overwhelmed, just remember that you do have options. Make the changes in your game plan that best works for you....no need to sit at square one when there are other avenues available that will move you along in the program. Good luck to you both!!

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Specializes in MED SURG.

I PASSED!!!!:) 4 more to go!

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Congratulations!

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Specializes in ICU, Tele, IMU,Psych, ER.

Congrats on passing! Getting closer!

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