I'm On My Way...Finally!

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Tonight makes it official!. Just got home from taking my first EC Exam. A&P - and got an A!! I'm on my way to RN!

I've been in EMS for 18 years. A paramedic for the last 11. Have played in all aspects of EMS - rural volunteer, management, hospital-based, and a flight medic. Currently working full-time for a busy metro service. Been kicking the idea of getting my RN for several years. Actually tried to start working on it through the local community college, but life got in the way. Married with both of us working full-time. 8 kids (17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 21mo, and 7mo twins) with a lot of school activities (football, wrestling, dance, etc.). Traditional college just doesn't work for me. Tried taking distance learning with some business courses several years ago that I didn't finish, which made me think long an hard about trying distance learning again.

Finally decided this summer that I wasn't getting any younger and that it was only going to take one serious back injury to end my EMS career and I would be starting over from scratch. After a bit of a rocky start with getting my Application Evaluation done at EC (somehow they kept pushing my transcripts and materials to the bottom the the stack! Took 7 weeks and a lot of phone calls), I got enrolled last week to beat the Oct 1st deadline. BTW - the EC rep who finally straightened out the whole snafu was awesome!

I've been lurking in the shadows here for the last month or so. There is a lot of great information and support available here!! Thanks to everyone who has posted! I've been a member of other groups that aren't as positive or provide as helpful of information.

Only got NC 1-7, micro, ethics, etc. left to go!

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Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Tonight makes it official!. Just got home from taking my first EC Exam. A&P - and got an A!! I'm on my way to RN!

I've been in EMS for 18 years. A paramedic for the last 11. Have played in all aspects of EMS - rural volunteer, management, hospital-based, and a flight medic. Currently working full-time for a busy metro service. Been kicking the idea of getting my RN for several years. Actually tried to start working on it through the local community college, but life got in the way. Married with both of us working full-time. 8 kids (17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 21mo, and 7mo twins) with a lot of school activities (football, wrestling, dance, etc.). Traditional college just doesn't work for me. Tried taking distance learning with some business courses several years ago that I didn't finish, which made me think long an hard about trying distance learning again.

Finally decided this summer that I wasn't getting any younger and that it was only going to take one serious back injury to end my EMS career and I would be starting over from scratch. After a bit of a rocky start with getting my Application Evaluation done at EC (somehow they kept pushing my transcripts and materials to the bottom the the stack! Took 7 weeks and a lot of phone calls), I got enrolled last week to beat the Oct 1st deadline. BTW - the EC rep who finally straightened out the whole snafu was awesome!

I've been lurking in the shadows here for the last month or so. There is a lot of great information and support available here!! Thanks to everyone who has posted! I've been a member of other groups that aren't as positive or provide as helpful of information.

Only got NC 1-7, micro, ethics, etc. left to go!

Hey great to have you here and best of luck.

I take CPNE in Dec and Micro too:welcome:

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

Good for you!!! :) :) :) I took A&P first as well, although I got a B. But I think it was an excellent jumping-off point! After that monster, the studying seems to go faster. I've completed NC1-NC4 and NC7 (I went a little out of order) since June.

And my head started spinning when you listed your kids! LOL!! WOW. I can't even imagine (especially as I have ZERO kids). Kudos to you!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

well good for you.... it is very hard to go to school with kids .i have 6 youngest is 7 months. excelsior is my side gig, i am a pre law student and my husband is a software engineering student plus i work full time...i know all about crazy...:uhoh3: good luck to you let me know if i can help...

tonight makes it official!. just got home from taking my first ec exam. a&p - and got an a!! i'm on my way to rn!

i've been in ems for 18 years. a paramedic for the last 11. have played in all aspects of ems - rural volunteer, management, hospital-based, and a flight medic. currently working full-time for a busy metro service. been kicking the idea of getting my rn for several years. actually tried to start working on it through the local community college, but life got in the way. married with both of us working full-time. 8 kids (17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 21mo, and 7mo twins) with a lot of school activities (football, wrestling, dance, etc.). traditional college just doesn't work for me. tried taking distance learning with some business courses several years ago that i didn't finish, which made me think long an hard about trying distance learning again.

finally decided this summer that i wasn't getting any younger and that it was only going to take one serious back injury to end my ems career and i would be starting over from scratch. after a bit of a rocky start with getting my application evaluation done at ec (somehow they kept pushing my transcripts and materials to the bottom the the stack! took 7 weeks and a lot of phone calls), i got enrolled last week to beat the oct 1st deadline. btw - the ec rep who finally straightened out the whole snafu was awesome!

i've been lurking in the shadows here for the last month or so. there is a lot of great information and support available here!! thanks to everyone who has posted! i've been a member of other groups that aren't as positive or provide as helpful of information.

only got nc 1-7, micro, ethics, etc. left to go!

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Specializes in GYN, Ambulatory Care, Geri Care.
Tonight makes it official!. Just got home from taking my first EC Exam. A&P - and got an A!! I'm on my way to RN!

I've been in EMS for 18 years. A paramedic for the last 11. Have played in all aspects of EMS - rural volunteer, management, hospital-based, and a flight medic. Currently working full-time for a busy metro service. Been kicking the idea of getting my RN for several years. Actually tried to start working on it through the local community college, but life got in the way. Married with both of us working full-time. 8 kids (17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 21mo, and 7mo twins) with a lot of school activities (football, wrestling, dance, etc.). Traditional college just doesn't work for me. Tried taking distance learning with some business courses several years ago that I didn't finish, which made me think long an hard about trying distance learning again.

Finally decided this summer that I wasn't getting any younger and that it was only going to take one serious back injury to end my EMS career and I would be starting over from scratch. After a bit of a rocky start with getting my Application Evaluation done at EC (somehow they kept pushing my transcripts and materials to the bottom the the stack! Took 7 weeks and a lot of phone calls), I got enrolled last week to beat the Oct 1st deadline. BTW - the EC rep who finally straightened out the whole snafu was awesome!

I've been lurking in the shadows here for the last month or so. There is a lot of great information and support available here!! Thanks to everyone who has posted! I've been a member of other groups that aren't as positive or provide as helpful of information.

Only got NC 1-7, micro, ethics, etc. left to go!

:welcome:Welcome and congrats on getting started!

All the best! TattooGirl:balloons:

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

Congrats! You are on your way!

(Is the IA in your screen name perhaps a reference to your state of residence? If yes, you'd be the only other Iowan around here besides me I've seen doing Excelsior.)

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Congratulations and I wish you all the best in your Nursing Program :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Congratulations!!! Good luck to you!

A coworker just passed NCLEX RN and is a EC success. She did it one exam at a time. :)

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Congratulations!

I've been plodding through one exam at a time. You'll do it!

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Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.

LOL, I think I am the only one from Mo here.

Just happy you are both on your way

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Yep, 100% Iowan.

lw

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

You can do this.

I started at 50 yoa and fulfilled a lifelong goal. I was a medic in the AF many moons ago, and had started nursing school pre-reqs twice, completing several courses.. but like you, life and kids took priority and my dreams were put on the back burner.

But then the kids grew up and flew the nest, and opportunity presented itself once again... and I was determined to materialize this dream once and for all!

Took me three years, one course at a time. Lots of hard study and working fulltime. But I did it, and so can you ! You CAN do this !!! :)

Wish you and all the other EC students the very best. :balloons:

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