How hard is the CEP?

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Hi,

I work 4 10 hour shifts currently as an MA. My original plan was to do the weekend nursing program at Glendale Community College. I had just finished everything, and received my finger print card, and they added MAT142 as a pre-req now and now only take CEP students into their weekend program. So I will have to take MAT142 before I can apply now, and have some time to figure out if doing the CEP route or the regular route is better for me.

My questions is, how much work does taking the university classes add on to your nursing classes? If you are in it, what is your schedule like? If for some reason you do not pass one of the university classes, what happens? Do you re-take that class and continue to move forward in the nursing program, or do you have to start all over with both?

I will have to continue working full time, and have an 8 year old. Is the CEP doable working full time or not to even attempt it? Any information would be great!

It's not a matter of it being hard. To me it's time consuming.

I have asked a couple of students who are in the program or graduated. My friend in the program stated that some people in her cohort are working 2 12 hours shifts. My friend who graduated from the CEP program worked the entire time, but she had extensive nursing experience. My priority is doing well and not working the first semester. Once I feel I can assess the workload, I can determine if I will work during the program. From what I understand, the first semester at the CC will be a weeding out of non-committed students.

I agree. Time management is essential, but there has to be available time to study.

I'm in the CEP and I agree that it is more time consuming than anything. So far for me (UIU CEP), it's just been writing papers. If you can manage your time effectively, it is doable.

Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
It's not a matter of it being hard. To me it's time consuming.

Ditto. The overall content is not difficult, but it adds a lot of time. Any BSN program is going to be focused a lot more on writing assignments and papers which obviously is more time-consuming. It's doable. People do work and do it at the same time, you have to manage your time effectively. Write out a schedule of assignments, when you're going to work on what, and stick to it. Don't get behind on ANYTHING, it is not easy to catch up.

I'm finishing up Block 3 of the MCC/NAU fast track CEP. Honestly, the NAU hasn't been the bulk of the work. Yes, it's extra work, but it's easy (for me anyways). The vast majority of it is weekly discussion posts and responses, papers, and group papers. The time consuming, studying all the time part is the community college portion which you have to do regardless. I'm SO glad I did the CEP program so that I end with an ADN and a BSN. I am burnt out from school. I cannot imagine going back for another 18 months to get my BSN. Nursing school is hard regardless of which program you do. It's going to be one of the hardest things you ever do. I'm lucky that I don't have to work, but a LOT of people in the program do. It's all about time management honestly.

I'm in block two in the NAU CEP. It's not too hard. The nau portion is a lot of reading, discussions, and papers. The CC portion is tough imo. Getting used to nclex style questions take a lot of time.

Don't get caught up in the patho side of things. That's what seems important at first but understanding the nurses role is more important. When I realized this my test scores increased.

It's time consuming but not overly difficult. I think A and P and micro were tougher class than the nursing blocks.

BTW...I have a 4 year old and work full time.

Specializes in L&D, Trauma, Ortho, Med/Surg.
I'm in block two in the NAU CEP. It's not too hard. The nau portion is a lot of reading, discussions, and papers. The CC portion is tough imo. Getting used to nclex style questions take a lot of time.

Don't get caught up in the patho side of things. That's what seems important at first but understanding the nurses role is more important. When I realized this my test scores increased.

It's time consuming but not overly difficult. I think A and P and micro were tougher class than the nursing blocks.

BTW...I have a 4 year old and work full time.

Really???? Niiiceee. I am so excited to read that! LOL. I have been saying (since I completed it) that Micro was the hardest class I've ever taken. SO much information, but not impossible. So that is good to hear!

Thanks for the replys! I think I'll be going the CEP route, because I want to do the weekend option through Glendale and they now only accept CEP students. Now I have to figure out which university to go through.

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