First 2 EC nursing exams - what study materials?

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Specializes in Cardiac SDU.

What did you purchase to study for these 2 tests? The Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety & the Transitions to the Registered Professional Nurse. I'm hoping to take one by the end of Jan. and the other by mid Fed. Also, is it realistic to attempt to take one nursing exam every month? I work 3 -12 hour day shifts a week and have 20 month old twins, plus a husband with a busy schedule.

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I have taken 3 exams and gotten 2 b's on the first two and I got a c on the Reproduction (I didn't spend enough time studying). I have purchased the study guides online on the EC website and they are great! I also purchased a Lippincott nursing book at Borders (80 dollars I think) and it is really in depth and covers everything. I also am using my med-surg book from LPN school. Also, take advantage of the free content guides on the website. Some people buy all the books EC suggests but so far I have done fine without any of their books. I am now studying for my fourth test. Also on the Health and Safety exam it would be beneficial to review your drug calculations. Good luck!

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I used the recommended texts. Also looked at studygroup101 study guides. Got a couple of TCN study guides from ebay, but they were not useful for me. One test a month should go fine. You can probably do one every three weeks if you really try.

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Specializes in Surgery, Med/Surg/ICU, OB-Peds, Ophth.
What did you purchase to study for these 2 tests? The Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety & the Transitions to the Registered Professional Nurse. I'm hoping to take one by the end of Jan. and the other by mid Fed. Also, is it realistic to attempt to take one nursing exam every month? I work 3 -12 hour day shifts a week and have 20 month old twins, plus a husband with a busy schedule.

The EC College content guides list all of the books they recommend in the front portion of the guides. I did buy most of them when I first enrolled, and just purchase the exam specific books as I go along. I have done 3 exams and I am hoping to one exam a month from here so I can be done with the exam portions of the nursing program by April. Good luck!

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

Ditto what Loops said! =) i always download the free content guides (can find the link at the bottom of the MyEC webpage under dowloadable documents tab) in the first couple of pages it states what recommended textbooks should be used, i'd then go to ebay and purchase the textbooks an edition or two previous to the one recommended to save money...i've bought ALL the books for the entire program and only spent a total of $250 with shipping, heck my fundamentals of nursing book was only $4.99! =) you can see the exams ive taken in my signature block...also i've used rnbridgeprogram.com however it was an additional expense on my part because i enjoy to learn via audio and visual but is NOT required or needed to pass...a few of my exams ive used just the rnbridge and only got a C on the exam as it doesn't quite cover everything, however used in conjunction with my textbooks i did better =) basically just pick your first exam study everything listed in the content guide and take your exam, you usually figure out the best way for yourself after that! =) good luck!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

M610, I'm trying to get started studying for the first 2 exams as well. Really though just the 1st one. I bought the recommended texts (cheaper versions online like others said) and have the free content guide. I guess I'll just start reading. I bought a study guide off ebay that contains bunches of slide shows for the material, practice questions, study tips, etc.

Not really sure if this is the way to go, but I'll try it! Probably want to register for the practice exams, too.

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hi, i was considering using rnbridge program.com. You said that they didn't cover everything on the test, do you thing i should skip them. i have college network, they are so boring and i thought this would help push me through faster, plus i read really slow. but i don't want to wast money if they are not in depth, i have been getting a's and am about to take transitions and reading chronicity now. also and advice about what's on those test would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Psych/Travel.

I will have to agree most of the posters on this thread. I would download the free EC study guide. Then I would buy my boos from EBay or Half.com and read the recommended material. I would also use Studygroup 101 to ensure I was studying in the right direction. After reading the recommended material, I would take the EC practice exams. So I would read the material, take the practice exam, study weak areas, take practice exam then when I felt comfortable I would take the exam.

Hope this helps, good luck to you

Steve RN

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

For the first two exams, I used the Excelsior practice exams (I think these are a must!!) and SG101 CD's. I think the tougher of the two exams is Transitions because the material is very dry. I got a C on that exam and an A on Health Safety.

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