feeling a little overwhelmed and alot stupid

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well, after 18 years as an lpn, and finally getting the kids on their way, now its my turn, when i told my daughter i was going to go for my rn after all this time she said IT'S ABOUT TIME, hence the name. well im working on ethics theory and practice and im feeling a little overwhelmed and alot stupid. I have been working on this since Dec decided to take the ec practice exam and bombed. i dont feel like i'm lurning any of the right stuff for the exam. i did great on the senarios but not the theory. is this a difficult class or is it just me?

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Specializes in ER.

I did not take any of the ethics classes so I can't help with those. I found the practice tests to be a bit harder that the actual tests. Study the reasons why each answer was wrong and all of the possible choices this will help. The nursing tests go right along with the content guides, I'm sure all the tests are this way so check what you are studying against EC's content guide.. GOOD LUCK this is Doable!

Traci:twocents:

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

I haven't taken this one either, but I found that in general, it was helpful to treat the practice tests more like learning tools than actual gauges of a grade. I usually ended up with scores in the 70's on the practice exams and A's on most of the real exams.

Don't give up!!! Good luck! :)

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Specializes in LTC, Research.

itsaboutime,

I took this exam in July, and it was my first Excelsior exam too. I thought this exam was rather difficult. I found those scenario questions asking you to figure out the ethical viewpoint of 4 different ppl, based on a single sentence, rather mindbending. I also decided that most ethicists needed to go out and get real jobs, since it seemed none of them had a handle on how things functioned in the real world, particularly in the world of nursing. Most of this stuff was extremely subjective material.

I took the first practice exam and got something like a 71, I thought, great I barely pulled a C, flirting with a D. It was only after I took the exam that I found out from reading some posts here that most ppl avg in the low to mid 70's and usually get an A or B on the actual exam. I ended up with an A on the exam, but this is the one exam I would never want to have to take again. I'd rather take A & P again, I prefer concrete subject matter.

So cut yourself some slack, study until you feel like you can recite these theorists and their theories by heart and you'll do fine.

Good luck,

Lisa

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thanks for the info!! maybe i'm not a complete dunce. this subjective stuff is not my forte either. i prefer more concrete, black and white ideas too. i wish i had'nt taken this as my first course but im glad im getting it overwith. on to soc and lifespan next.

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Specializes in elder care.

rh39: here's maybe a silly question: i'm studying for the lifespan test right now. what methods did you use to memorize the theorists/theories in any of your courses? i've tried reading and re-reading the info, writing out in long hand the info (to solidify from page to hand to brain), taking notes, copying the tables regarding the theories, etc. etc. don't know if it's just because i've diddled around to take the test, but it seems as tho the info is just not quite there. i've also done the practice tests and done well on them. just need a little input from someone who's been there, done that. thanks!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
on to soc and lifespan next.

Just FYI -- Excelsior accepts the CLEP exams for both Sociology and Lifespan (called Human Growth and Development). CLEP tests are less expensive -- $65 for CLEP vs. $200-something with EC. They're pass/fail exams. I don't know if you were planning on doing them through EC or CLEP, but I thought I'd just throw the info out there. :)

CLEP info: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

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Specializes in LTC, Research.

farmgirl_dee65,

I made flashcards whenever I had difficulty keeping info straight, for me it helped break material down into small enough chunks. I made quite a stack for Ethics. Lifespan I took by Clep but I enjoyed that, so I didn't have as much difficulty with remembering the info, I found it very interesting and relevant.

Anyway hope this helps.

Good luck to you both on your exams,

Lisa

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Specializes in NICU, LTAC, ICU, med/surg.

I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one struggling with Ethics. I am also taking this as my first EC test. I got really frustrated with it and put it away. I started studying for my Lifespan test instead. It is now time to get it back out again. Any pointers? I also prefer much more concrete material.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

I'm studying sociology now and experiencing what every one has said in this thread regarding ethics. I just cant grasp it. I like cut and dry material too. I can only imagine what it will be like to do ethics and then psych....lol And here I was scared of algebra..........hmmmmm that may be the easy one......lol

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