Some of the older members here may remember me but for those who don't let me fill a little back story.
Did Excelsior, took a few classes online, mostly the gen ED requirements. Took all the nursing exams via Pearson, tested out of all of them. Took the CPNE in Madison Wisconsin. I was one of the first groups of testers to test at that newly opened site. Anyways, it was a mess. Failed because the MAR for the NSL had a medication listed twice. Same Med, Same dose, Same Times, everything. Well when I brought it up to the CA she just looked at me like a deer in headlights and just smiled. I don't think she new what to say. Anyways, failed and appealed, and won the appeal. So I didn't have to pay the $2295.00 again but all of the other costs, flights and hotels and meals, were still on me. And going from Philly to Wisonsin in February is no fun.
So I attempted again, this time in Albany NY. Failed because I didn't lift the pt gown when I listened to lung sounds. While it may sound petty, it wasn't and bam, another try (first on the books try) down the drain. Driving from Philly to Albany is about a 5 hour drive. Plenty of time to beat myself up.
Third try (second on the books) I went to their NYC hospital cite. Went to the NSL with no problems but about an hour after I get back to my hotel I got a phone call from my grandparents who live in NC. There was a big time storm that hit the SE part of the US. The school put out a memo that anyone who was affected by the storm but was in the middle of testing would not be penalized if they had to leave as there was a declaration of emergency there. So, at least to me, family comes first. Contact school reps and advised I had to go. They were understanding and worked with me.
So after the emergency in NC it was too much after that that the Covid virus hit. Everything stopped. I had too work so much, as a paramedic, that I couldn't even think of trying to schedule another CPNE attempt with all the preparation needed. And I figured that because there can sometimes be over a year wait to get a test date, well I just chalked it up to being my fate.
About 3 months ago I was clearing out my Email box and see an email from Excelsior. It is urging me to schedule my CPNE , virtually, before the NYS BOE discontinues Excelsior from administering the test online virtually. I mention to my wife about the online test and she says "if you don't do it now, you never will". I thought about it and slept on it. When I talked to her the next morning I said "youre right, if I don't try it now I never will." and especially because I am at year 4 1/2 or 5 in my degree completion 7 year time limit. So I bury my head in books, watching videos online and practicing. My patient I used to practice on : my 9 month old Pug. I also had two bunny rabbits that sat in the bleachers rooting me on. So get I get my NSL test date, make up my manikins to use on test date and bam, before I know it passed both NSL's on the first try.
So I email the school about passing the NSL. I get an email back saying that they have not heard back from the NYS BOE about extending the Virtual PCS's yet so they have me schedule an in person PCS. Because everyone is just getting back to normal from the pandemic a lot of the hospitals are still not allowing students. My choices were Amarillo TX or NYS. I kept hearing people say that NYS would allow the student unless they lived in NYS but it mattered not, the school put in down for Amarillo TX which is about 1600 miles from Philadelphia. Im thinking "here we go ago again, money for flight hotels and food, and no guarantees", but even virtually I would have no guarantees.
So the day before I book two tickets to TX, hotel, and everything else I get an email from the school. They received the OK from the NYS BOE to extend the virtual until July and that's it. So I was able to get my Texas hospital reservation switched to virtually. I would be taking the virtual the same weekend I would have taken the in person CPNE PCS June 5th and 6th.
So its now June 7th 2021. I am sitting here in 90 degree heat without a care in the world because............................I PASSED THE PCS, AND SAYED THE BEAST!!!!!
Now I have to email the school to look into the ATI so I can get that out of the way , get my transcripts to the Pa. BON and schedule my NCLEX-RN.
