Looking into Excelsior

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I see a lot of positive threads. I know it's exam based but what about clinicals, where do you do them? At work or do they send you somewhere?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Well I was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder & I don't know if I could handle the 3 day CPNE. Those 3 days just seem too stressful for me. It's not that I wouldn't study for it or that I'm not a good nurse, I just don't know if I could mentally handle it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
How can you fail everything that weekend but still pass?

They allow you to repeat any failed situation before the weekend is over.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Well I was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder & I don't know if I could handle the 3 day CPNE. Those 3 days just seem too stressful for me. It's not that I wouldn't study for it or that I'm not a good nurse, I just don't know if I could mentally handle it.

I think it is your perception of what you think the 3 days are like. You need to know your stuff according to the guide, sure. But it is not all that others make it out to be. If you have prepared yourself according to the study guide, you will be back at home or the hotel in no time. It's not like it's a three 12-hour, workday. But I will say this, if you feel this way about the CPNE now, more than likely, you will fail because you've already committed yourself to that fate before even applying. I know of a few students who were successful with EC after making to the very last week of a 4-year, traditional BSN program and failed. The college or university has nothing to do with that. It is all in individual preparation.

Again, you have to go with what makes you feel comfortable. After all, it's your money, education, and life. :yes:

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Well it's hearing all the reviews of the CPNE that gets me freaked out. I don't want to spend that much money on a weekend & fail. I'm good at online classes & self studying. It's just that weekend that gives me the heebeejeebees.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
These ladies are professionals; with PhDs.

Not quite; CEs and CAs are required to be MSN-prepared, not PhD/DNP. :) Some may have degrees beyond MSN, for sure.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
How can you fail everything that weekend but still pass?

Each aspect of the CPNE is repeatable once during the weekend. There are four lab stations, two adult patient care situations (PCSs) and one pediatric PCS. You can fail each lab, one adult PCS, and one peds PCS and still pass the weekend as long as you can pass the repeats.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I read somewhere on here that only 1 in 8 people passed the CPNE that weekend, is that common? Because that is a LOW pass rate! Definitely not 61%!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Well I was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder & I don't know if I could handle the 3 day CPNE. Those 3 days just seem too stressful for me. It's not that I wouldn't study for it or that I'm not a good nurse, I just don't know if I could mentally handle it.

Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now, far outside of even looking at various schools and programs. I wish you the best in dealing with your new diagnosis and getting a handle on it.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I read somewhere on here that only 1 in 8 people passed the CPNE that weekend, is that common? Because that is a LOW pass rate! Definitely not 61%!

Don't believe things that you read that is often based on unsubstantiated information. People will often extrapolate "statistics" from things they read on message boards, but it's not the whole picture. Not by a long shot. Every weekend there are approximately 13 test sites with anywhere from four to seven-ish students testing, and we do not hear from all of them on Facebook or here.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now, far outside of even looking at various schools and programs. I wish you the best in dealing with your new diagnosis and getting a handle on it.

Thank you. I really want my RN but I do need a handle on me & my diagnosis first. Yes, that's true. We don't hear from everyone at every testing site. I'll keep every option open. Thank you. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Psych, Addictions..

Only 2 out of my group of 6 passed CPNE. Luckily I was one. I set up a skills station in my office, watched Sheri Taylor videos and recorded myself doing the skill stations to look for mistakes. I went in to the CPNE confident in my skills, and without it I may likely have failed.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Only 2 out of my group of 6 passed CPNE. Luckily I was one. I set up a skills station in my office watched Sheri Taylor videos and recorded myself doing the skill stations to look for mistakes. I went in to the CPNE confident in my skills, and without it I may likely have failed.[/quote']

This. 1/3 is NOT 61%. That is A LOT of work to do to pass the CPNE. Congrats though. The more I think about it I don't think EC is right for me. I would rather do clinicals than something like that!

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