How many Pre-reqs for Excelsior

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 1, 2009

Only Excelsior can evaluate your credits and tell you what you need. Do yourself a favor and pay the $75 application fee and get it from the source! :) I'm betting you won't need much besides Micro and the nursing classes, but I'm not the college.

There are CPNE sites in NY, WI, PA, OH, GA, and TX. But cross that bridge when you get to it! :)

china4mom · Mar 1, 2009

Thank you. I am waiting to hear and was just anxious so I thought I would get others opinions as I am sure there are others that did not have to take many pre-req's. I hope I can do a module a month, is that possible???

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 1, 2009

I hope I can do a module a month, is that possible???

Depends on your level of motivation and how much your life gets in the way. I work 3 12's a week in an ER, and we don't have children, which gave me more free time (plus the understanding husband who knew I'd have my nose in a book quite often). I did at least one test a month, if not two. It took me one year, one month, and one day to complete the entire program. I had to take Information Literacy (EC class that is required for everyone), A&P, Micro, the seven nursing classes (there are eight under the new curriculum), and two CLEP tests -- Human Growth and Development (in place of Lifespan Developmental Psych) and Introductory Sociology (for the sociology credit). Then the CPNE, of course. :) So I didn't have too much general ed to do, but this was also my third associates degree, so I had quite a few college credits already.

china4mom · Mar 1, 2009

How was the CPNE?? I have read some of the post on here. Most seem to say it was hard. If your open to any site will that make your wait time shorter as opposed to someone that wants a certain site? Also, I have been trying to understand all the different abreviations , can you use a "cheat sheet " so to speak when you are taking the CPNE? Do you write a careplan on your patient?

I know I am jumoing ahead but like to know what I am in for.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 1, 2009

The CPNE was hard, but mostly because it's a stressful exam -- it's expensive, and pass/fail (although you get a couple of tries at each part of it, so it's not like you fail if you screw up one.little.thing). There is a lot of prep time involved (the study guide is 500+ pages, just to give you an idea), but you're demonstrating your mastery of basic nursing assessments and management. You just have to show that you can safely function as a first-day new grad. Yes, you can make up a "cheat sheet" during the planning phase of the CPNE patient care situation (PCS). You'll see this "cheat sheet" referenced as "the grid."

There are four lab stations during the CPNE, and three PCSs -- two adult, one pediatric. During the PCSs, you write careplans during the planning phase, carry out assigned areas of care (AOCs) during the implementation phase, and document everything during the evaluation phase. You have 2.5 hours for each PCS, and these are with real patients. You won't be assigned anything invasive, like starting IVs. Basic assessment and management, that's it.

Yes, you'll get a date faster if you are open to any site in the northern testing region -- those are the NY sites, plus the one site in PA. The midwestern region (WI, TX, OH) takes a little longer, and the southern region (GA sites) takes the longest because that region has the fewest test sites, and some that only have the CPNE once a month.

You are jumping ahead! But it is good to know what you're signing up for, I agree.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2009

You're in good shape. They will want something that equates to actual sociology, they may or may not require micro, but they aren't pre-reqs. They just need to be done by graduation.

:)

china4mom · Mar 1, 2009

Thank you!! wouldn't a sociology class equate to a sociology class?? So, you can take out of order with Excelsior?? How long did it take you to complete each module, are they several hundred pages long? I have my LPN books plus other books like Med Surg , Cardio Care, Fluids and Electolytes, , Pharm, Foundations, Health Assessment Made Incredibley Easy, Med Surg demystified, plus some lab books so I have a great library built up for resources to refer to. My instructors are great and are happy to know I am continuing on so they would be helpful resources too.

Raggedy Ann · Mar 2, 2009

Welcome to our little neck of the woods. Traci

Kay_lpn2rn · Mar 2, 2009

Hey Luna ( or anybody who's done the CPNE),

First... thank you guys for being very patient with our questions. But since you're all talking about CPNE (I'm still waiting for EC to approve my application), I thought I'd ask another question.

Do you have to do medication administration during the 2nd day of CPNE?

Thanks.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

wouldn't a sociology class equate to a sociology class??

Yes

So, you can take out of order with Excelsior??

Yes

How long did it take you to complete each module, are they several hundred pages long?

I was under the old curriculum biut when I was really banging them out I was doing a tet every three weeks. Hundreds of pages of reading.

I have my LPN books plus other books like Med Surg , Cardio Care, Fluids and Electolytes, , Pharm, Foundations, Health Assessment Made Incredibley Easy, Med Surg demystified, plus some lab books so I have a great library built up for resources to refer to. My instructors are great and are happy to know I am continuing on so they would be helpful resources too.

Buy the RN-level Med/surg, maternal/child, peds, and pharm. You can let an edition behind on www.half.com or www.amazon.com for next to nothing.

The biggest tip would be to do the reading in the texts. Don't rely just on "study guides" or other people's notes. Read the texts.

:)

china4mom · Mar 2, 2009

Thank you for all the info. I am excited to get started!!