excelsior yes or no?

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I have been an LPN for a little over a year & am considering applying to Excelsior. I currently have an AA & BA as well as most nursing pre-reqs done, so I would most likely only be taking Nursing courses. My major concern with Excelsior is the rumors I have heard about the high failure rate anywhere from 60-90% for the CPNE. In the past I was with The College Network LPN-BSN but have since left due to breech of contract issues. From my experience with TCN & taking general education exams (Pathophysiology & Gerentology) from Excelsior I believe I would do well with the courses& Excelsior in general, I just can't get over the apprehension regarding the CPNE & the rumors. Any advice, ideas, help...:confused:

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Well, I failed the CPNE the first time, passed it the second. Nerves did me in.

There are many people here who passed the first time through and a LOT of resources to help you prepare. Workshops are invaluable.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

There are alot of factors for failing or passing the CPNE. Suesquatch is smart as a wipe and failed the first time not because she did not know what she was doing but because she got nervous. It is a stressfull test. Nothing like any other. I got my LPN license Aug 2007 and took the CPNE Dec 2008 and pass with NO repeats. The CA at my site made us feel so Welcome and laughed and joked around with us. She definetly cut the tension in the room for me that night. The thing with the CPNE is knowing the whole process inside out. There are so many resouces to help you pass. New grads do well on the CPNE because they have not developed alot of bad habits in nursing. If you would like to know more about my experience. Send me a private message. EC is a fair and doable program. I had the same fears as you and I bit the bullet and did it. I am so glad I did because now I am a GN and waiting on my ATT to take the NCLEX-RN. My graduation date is February 20, 2009. Good Luck and I say do it!

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You prepare yourself for the CPNE like you prepare for anything. Find out about all of the available resources and set up a plan, then follow it. You will never know how you will do if you never sign up for the program. Just commit to the process and you will be ok. Remember you have three tries at the CPNE. You can be successful if you make up your mind to do it.

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I agree with everyone else. I passed the CPNE the first time I took it but during the CPNE, I failed the wound station (but had 1 extra chance to get it right during the CPNE) They don't just fail you and you're done. They do give you the chance to repeat labs once and repeat an Adult or Ped patient care scenario once during the CPNE weekend. If you mess up twice on the same thing, that's it. As you do for any test, you prepare. The nursing concept tests are something like $300 each.. The CPNE is $1900 + travel costs so you can imagine how much studying you would want to do for it :D

It was worth it for me and the states where I want to live accept EC degrees.

Oh and I've been a LPN for 2 years in March.

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