Excelsior Study Time?

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Specializes in Maternity.

Hello All! Scheduling my 1st test, Health Safety, for next week. Took the practice test A before studying and got a 75 so I'm fairly :uhoh3: confident I can be ready by next week.

My advisor called me today and kind of took the air out of my balloon when I told her that I wanted to finish everything in a year (need info lit, 2 credits A&P, and nursing tests). Told her I could dedicate about 4 hours a day to studying and estimated that it would take me 14 months :confused:. Financially I need to be done before then.

I know they say you should spend 130+ hours on each test but want to know how much everyone else did? I know it's very different for each person so that's why I want everyone's input please so I can get an average idea :)

Thanks again Peeps!!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

If you feel confident then I say go for it! Esp if you are doing well on the practice tests. You can decide how fast you finish, not the advisor..they get to charge you that nifty little student assoc fee eeevvverrryyyy year so it is in their best interest to encourage you to go slow :rolleyes:

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Specializes in SN, LTC, REHAB, HH.
If you feel confident then I say go for it! Esp if you are doing well on the practice tests. You can decide how fast you finish, not the advisor..they get to charge you that nifty little student assoc fee eeevvverrryyyy year so it is in their best interest to encourage you to go slow :rolleyes:

That is so true didnt think about that when i was reading the OP comment. i have no gen ed requirements so i plan to be done before my year is up. due to take health safety next week:uhoh3:

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You will have a better feel for this after you take the first exam. Good luck.

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Specializes in SN, LTC, REHAB, HH.
Hello All! Scheduling my 1st test, Health Safety, for next week. Took the practice test A before studying and got a 75 so I'm fairly :uhoh3: confident I can be ready by next week.

My advisor called me today and kind of took the air out of my balloon when I told her that I wanted to finish everything in a year (need info lit, 2 credits A&P, and nursing tests). Told her I could dedicate about 4 hours a day to studying and estimated that it would take me 14 months :confused:. Financially I need to be done before then.

I know they say you should spend 130+ hours on each test but want to know how much everyone else did? I know it's very different for each person so that's why I want everyone's input please so I can get an average idea :)

Thanks again Peeps!!!!

Only You know what you're capable of doing. go at your own pace what works for YOU! then i'm sure the advisor was giving an estimate of what the average student in your situation can handle. everyone is different. i study mostly everyday i got to its too much info for me to cram in my brain at the last min for an exam. i took transitions with minimal studying and used SG101. next week its health safety and on from there.

Good luck

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I finished A&P and all my nursing exams in 5 months. I was taking a test about every 3 weeks. My exam dates were as follows:

A&P: May 14

Nursing Concepts 1 (now Health Safety): June 4

Nursing Concepts 2 (now Health Differences): July 3

Nursing Concepts 3 (now Chronicity): July 31

Nursing Concepts 4 (now LS1): September 4

Nursing Concepts 7 (now Transitions): September 17

Nursing Concepts 5 (now LS2): September 26

Nursing Concepts 6 (now LS3): October 17

Then I took Micro on November 28 while prepping for CPNE stuff. As you can see by all the "nursing concepts," I was under the old curriculum.

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Specializes in homecare, rehab,sub acute.

I agree with the others take you first test then you will know your study habits and get a feel of how fast you can go with this program. I talked to my advisor once since I enrolled in August and since then I have taken 3 Nursing exams ( Health and safety, Repro, and Transitions) and taking Chronicity next Tuesday. I should be done by early January with my last 3 Lifespan exams. She was skeptical that I could do it in less then a year but so far I'm proving her wrong. Good Luck !!!

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Specializes in Maternity.

Thanks so much everyone! I helps greatly to know others have done it in a year or less. I am determined!:yeah:

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Hello All! Scheduling my 1st test, Health Safety, for next week. Took the practice test A before studying and got a 75 so I'm fairly :uhoh3: confident I can be ready by next week.

My advisor called me today and kind of took the air out of my balloon when I told her that I wanted to finish everything in a year (need info lit, 2 credits A&P, and nursing tests). Told her I could dedicate about 4 hours a day to studying and estimated that it would take me 14 months :confused:. Financially I need to be done before then.

I know they say you should spend 130+ hours on each test but want to know how much everyone else did? I know it's very different for each person so that's why I want everyone's input please so I can get an average idea :)

Thanks again Peeps!!!!

You CAN go fast - but you have to be extremely dedicated & motivated. I took Nursing tests 3, 4, 5, 6 + the 7th one (I registered prior to Sept. '07 & therefore am not required to take the newer additional assessment exams) beginning at the end of January 2009 (began studying right after christmas)& took the last one in the middle of August 2009. So that's 5 nursing exams that took me 8 months. & I studied ALL the time - 4-6 hours a day. I will add that I may have OVER studied if there is such a thing. I got all A's. I know this sounds horrible - but if you plan on stopping at your associates degree you can do it will all c's. So if you don't study as hard you can get through it & still be an RN - but of course you have to pass the CPNE & the boards. Good luck!

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Specializes in Neurosurgery/neurology.

Hi LunahRN what study method did you use I have 4 test to take the lifespan series and transitions but I work full time and really need to get these three test out the way quickly as possible what do you suggest.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Hi LunahRN what study method did you use I have 4 test to take the lifespan series and transitions but I work full time and really need to get these three test out the way quickly as possible what do you suggest.

Pretty much read everything I could get my hands on -- including StudyGroup101, some Chancellor's guides, the textbooks where needed, and I also used the EC practice exams. My advice is don't skimp on the studying for these exams, they are not easy! Good luck.

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