kdsharp

kdsharp has 6 years experience and specializes in med/surg.

Latest Activity

1. LPN starting pay $26.50!

   kdsharp replied to mustbegood's topic in LPN/LVN

   I graduated 6 1/2 years ago with 2 years experience as a CNT in home health & outpatient surgery. My starting pay was $12. Here in Tennessee that was considered good. Now after 6 years, I make $18, sad, huh? I realize our cost of living isn't...

2. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

   kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

   Hi, all! I don't have any files, but would be happy to give you a breakdown of my CPNE experience. It may take me a few days to get it all together, but I passed last July, first try. It's not complicated, but there's a lot of information that is ...

3. Are all Excelsior Grads "Super Smart" ?

   kdsharp replied to dbarnes2's topic in Online Learning

   I did it all in 2 years & 1 month, including CPNE. I am now 45. I was 38 when I went through the LPN program. I agree that age/maturity helped but only because I wanted to get it done yesterday, knowing the value of time, and wishing I'd done ...

4. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

   kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

   I feel certain that if you can handle that situation with no warning that the CPNE will be a breeze for you!

5. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

   kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

   I've heard many stories about people failing for what seems to be a silly thing. What no one seems to say in the same sentence is that you are given an opportunity to repeat each PCS. So if you fail because of a faulty stethoscope or you dropped yo...

6. LPN starting pay $26.50!

   kdsharp replied to mustbegood's topic in LPN/LVN

   Well, I can tell you LPN's don't get paid that here in Tennessee, anywhere. At the hospital I used to work for, the LPN's topped out somewhere around $18-19/hr. after about 15-20 years experience, and just stopped getting raises.

7. Are all Excelsior Grads "Super Smart" ?

   kdsharp replied to dbarnes2's topic in Online Learning

   I graduate Oct. 16th from EC and highly recommend it. I went because (a) I didn't want to retake a&p and micro because I was over the 5 year limit, (b) because I could do it at my own pace and still work full-time and © complete the program in l...

8. Critical Care/ED job for Newer Nurse

   kdsharp replied to LeLeeFNP's topic in Tennessee

   What part of Nashville are you moving to? I just left Stonecrest in Smyrna, about 25 miles from Nashville, I know they expect to have open positions in ICU soon. Try there, it's a HCA facility.

9. LPN...Is it a good move?

   kdsharp replied to Hopefull nurse's topic in Louisiana

   Absolutely, it's a good move! I was in school planning to apply to the RN program the following fall when my husband was hospitalized for a total of 27 days and 2 major surgeries. I had to go back to work. I found out about a PN program close by, ...

10. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

    kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

    I passed the CPNE 7/30 in Racine, Wisconsin. I'm sharing my experience with you, not because I necessarily recommend you do things the way I did them, but so you'll know it can be done. I became eligible in Oct. 2008, and after calling the MPAC, I r...

11. Wondering if 50 is too old to go to RN school

    kdsharp replied to fancyme50's topic in LPN-RN

    Absolutely! I'm a few days shy of 45, and I'm 1 class short of having my ASN-RN through Excelsior College. Look at it this way ... would you rather work 15 more years with more money and more respect? Of course you would. Because honestly, I've b...

12. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

    kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

    Don't give up and don't waste the time and money you've already invested. You already know what areas to work on, and unfortunately, Excelsior's nursing classes won't transfer. You can do it, people do it all the time!!! DO NOT GIVE UP!

13. Anyone who's done CPNE without attending a workshop?

    kdsharp posted a topic in Online Learning

    I'm scheduled in Mansfield, OH 3/20-3/22, and I don't have the time or money to go to a workshop. I am going to purchase the DVD from Excelsior. I'm just terrified that I'll get there and blow it. I'm a LPN and I work on a med/surg floor; I've loo...

14. PASSING THE CPNE: tips from my experience

    kdsharp replied to anticoagulationurse's topic in Online Learning

    I would love to hear from people who passed the CPNE without doing a workshop. I just don't have the time or money, and I'm scheduled in Ohio 3/20-3/22. Looking over the study guide, it doesn't seem that difficult to me, but I don't want to be over...