Excelsior

Hey Everyone,

Based off of my searching for excelsior related post, I found several threads that were a couple years old. I decided that it would be best to just start a new one.

Little background on me, I've been a full-time paramedic in a 911 EMS system for the past 5 (almost 6) years and am currently enrolled in the excelsior RN program. So far I have taken the "Transition to Nursing" and "Health Safety". The test aren't easy at all, but I've been getting through them with studying of several different materials, including study group 101, Lisa Arends notes and even some of the actual textbooks.

Now on the the questions/concerns...I honestly don't feel like I have learned a whole lot about the nursing profession so far, other than the fact that it truly is very different than EMS. I'm growing concerned about the FCCA and the CPNE. While I feel completely confident in my clinical knowledge, my fear is that I will not have learned much through taking the exams to be successful in the CPNE as a nurse. My question is this, do the exams further into the program prepare you more for the procedures, documentation, etc of being a nurse? If so, enough to prepare you for the CPNE? Based off the last two exams I took, I don't feel the slightest bit prepared to be a nurse, as there is FAR more to nursing than knowing how to practice medicine.

I suppose that I am really just looking to hear from graduates and current students that have been/are being successful in the program and also to get any tips/words of encouragement.

Thanks!

~Zack