NC1 Info needed

willtm · Nov 17, 2004

I don't think it matters so much what you use to study. Go through the EC study guide and make sure you know what it says to know. I am using different books then EC reccomends because I already had them and don't want to spend money I don't have to spend. I took NC1 3 weeks ago and took NC2 today and got As on both.

The biggest hurdle is getting past that first test. It's new and unknown, if you studied and you know the information you will do fine.

Hi, to all. I am new to this forum, and new excelsior college student. I am useing Rue Study Guide. Any information on NC1 test would be appriciated.
I am wanting to test, I have put off testing, have read alot of negative at other
post about how hard to test is. Anyone with information would sure be appreciated. I also have read alot about the fact that I should have purchased EC books. It's too late now, I already signed to buy from Rue. I work in a large
hospital med-surg floor, 12 hour shifts. Thanks Linda

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

I finished Excelsior's program in approximately eight months, studying about 20 percent of that time.

I did purchase a study guide system, but it served only as a confidence builder after the first exam or two.

You can do this without buying a single book, although the safest way is to buy the books EC recommends and read the assignments they recomment. But remember, part of the culture of Excelsior College is, they don't care where you learned it, as long as you know it.

I made A's on all my exams. Here's my suggestion for almost painfree progress:

1) Join the yahoo group called "nontradnurses." Here's a link. They have files (I know because I organized them when I was moderator) for each of the nursing concepts exams--they may be called "Lisa's Notes." There are also practice tests, but do not assume that what they say are the right answers are in fact the right answers--double check!

2) Get comfy with http://www.google.com. Use this search engine to look up every disease, every process, every cocept, until you feel good about what you know. It can happen! You'll be amazed at the resources there, free.....

3) Take the practice test at the end of the EC study guide. If you get all the answers right, you are probably going to do OK. If you don't, go back to #2....

4) Go to the bulletin board on the Excelsior site and post for a "study buddy." I got one that way, and it helped a lot--especially with the terror before taking that first exam. We took ours together--it worked!

I also used Excelsior's practice tests for the first three exams. They were terrific.

As a note of caution: There is a group that calls themselves "Excel Advantage" and "Academy of Nursing." Same bunch, two names. They hint at having a relationship with EC (they do not), they say they have "five practice tests for" (however much it is--they don't, it's the same test over and over again, but the second through fifth versions, all the answers are "a," which is no help at all), their study guides, tutoring sessions and "virtual library" are worthless. They actually join various yahoo groups and then advertise their "school!!!!" (I got one of them thrown out of this BB, for posting his ads here.) Oh, and here's the clincher--not a single nurse, not one!--on their "faculty." Not one. (Might have changed since my experience but I'd bet not. They were very unsavory. Very.)

I bought the NC-1--got in there and found out it was just so much manure. It took me about 2 hours on the phone (toll free--so they paid for the call :rotfl: ), but I got my money back.

Lastly, stay in touch with the group here! I got so much support from the members of this board. There are lots of Excelsior alumni here, and we are also pretty proud of what we accomplished. You will be too!

Good luck!

opalmRN · Nov 18, 2004

Ahhh, Jeeze ya went and said it all now I have nothing to add!! :rotfl:

I finished Excelsior's program in approximately eight months, studying about 20 percent of that time.
I did purchase a study guide system, but it served only as a confidence builder after the first exam or two.
You can do this without buying a single book, although the safest way is to buy the books EC recommends and read the assignments they recomment. But remember, part of the culture of Excelsior College is, they don't care where you learned it, as long as you know it.
I made A's on all my exams. Here's my suggestion for almost painfree progress:
1) Join the yahoo group called "nontradnurses." Here's a link. They have files (I know because I organized them when I was moderator) for each of the nursing concepts exams--they may be called "Lisa's Notes." There are also practice tests, but do not assume that what they say are the right answers are in fact the right answers--double check!
2) Get comfy with http://www.google.com. Use this search engine to look up every disease, every process, every cocept, until you feel good about what you know. It can happen! You'll be amazed at the resources there, free.....
3) Take the practice test at the end of the EC study guide. If you get all the answers right, you are probably going to do OK. If you don't, go back to #2....
4) Go to the bulletin board on the Excelsior site and post for a "study buddy." I got one that way, and it helped a lot--especially with the terror before taking that first exam. We took ours together--it worked!
I also used Excelsior's practice tests for the first three exams. They were terrific.
As a note of caution: There is a group that calls themselves "Excel Advantage" and "Academy of Nursing." Same bunch, two names. They hint at having a relationship with EC (they do not), they say they have "five practice tests for" (however much it is--they don't, it's the same test over and over again, but the second through fifth versions, all the answers are "a," which is no help at all), their study guides, tutoring sessions and "virtual library" are worthless. They actually join various yahoo groups and then advertise their "school!!!!" (I got one of them thrown out of this BB, for posting his ads here.) Oh, and here's the clincher--not a single nurse, not one!--on their "faculty." Not one. (Might have changed since my experience but I'd bet not. They were very unsavory. Very.)
I bought the NC-1--got in there and found out it was just so much manure. It took me about 2 hours on the phone (toll free--so they paid for the call :rotfl: ), but I got my money back.
Lastly, stay in touch with the group here! I got so much support from the members of this board. There are lots of Excelsior alumni here, and we are also pretty proud of what we accomplished. You will be too!
Good luck!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

Ahhh, Jeeze ya went and said it all now I have nothing to add!! :rotfl:

Shoot, it's just the same thing I told you and 20 or 30 other people. Just can't resist.....

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

I finished Excelsior's program in approximately eight months, studying about 20 percent of that time.
I did purchase a study guide system, but it served only as a confidence builder after the first exam or two.
You can do this without buying a single book, although the safest way is to buy the books EC recommends and read the assignments they recomment. But remember, part of the culture of Excelsior College is, they don't care where you learned it, as long as you know it.
I made A's on all my exams. Here's my suggestion for almost painfree progress:
1) Join the yahoo group called "nontradnurses." Here's a link. They have files (I know because I organized them when I was moderator) for each of the nursing concepts exams--they may be called "Lisa's Notes." There are also practice tests, but do not assume that what they say are the right answers are in fact the right answers--double check!
2) Get comfy with http://www.google.com. Use this search engine to look up every disease, every process, every cocept, until you feel good about what you know. It can happen! You'll be amazed at the resources there, free.....
3) Take the practice test at the end of the EC study guide. If you get all the answers right, you are probably going to do OK. If you don't, go back to #2....
4) Go to the bulletin board on the Excelsior site and post for a "study buddy." I got one that way, and it helped a lot--especially with the terror before taking that first exam. We took ours together--it worked!
I also used Excelsior's practice tests for the first three exams. They were terrific.
As a note of caution: There is a group that calls themselves "Excel Advantage" and "Academy of Nursing." Same bunch, two names. They hint at having a relationship with EC (they do not), they say they have "five practice tests for" (however much it is--they don't, it's the same test over and over again, but the second through fifth versions, all the answers are "a," which is no help at all), their study guides, tutoring sessions and "virtual library" are worthless. They actually join various yahoo groups and then advertise their "school!!!!" (I got one of them thrown out of this BB, for posting his ads here.) Oh, and here's the clincher--not a single nurse, not one!--on their "faculty." Not one. (Might have changed since my experience but I'd bet not. They were very unsavory. Very.)
I bought the NC-1--got in there and found out it was just so much manure. It took me about 2 hours on the phone (toll free--so they paid for the call :rotfl: ), but I got my money back.
Lastly, stay in touch with the group here! I got so much support from the members of this board. There are lots of Excelsior alumni here, and we are also pretty proud of what we accomplished. You will be too!
Good luck!

I like this plan :idea: Sounds like excellent advice Chris!

trininurse · Nov 18, 2004

Hello,

I am having trouble logging in the yahoo link, any suggestions.

[

QUOTE=chris_at_lucas_RN]I finished Excelsior's program in approximately eight months, studying about 20 percent of that time.

I did purchase a study guide system, but it served only as a confidence builder after the first exam or two.

You can do this without buying a single book, although the safest way is to buy the books EC recommends and read the assignments they recomment. But remember, part of the culture of Excelsior College is, they don't care where you learned it, as long as you know it.

I made A's on all my exams. Here's my suggestion for almost painfree progress:

1) Join the yahoo group called "nontradnurses." Here's a link. They have files (I know because I organized them when I was moderator) for each of the nursing concepts exams--they may be called "Lisa's Notes." There are also practice tests, but do not assume that what they say are the right answers are in fact the right answers--double check!

2) Get comfy with www.google.com. Use this search engine to look up every disease, every process, every cocept, until you feel good about what you know. It can happen! You'll be amazed at the resources there, free.....

3) Take the practice test at the end of the EC study guide. If you get all the answers right, you are probably going to do OK. If you don't, go back to #2....

4) Go to the bulletin board on the Excelsior site and post for a "study buddy." I got one that way, and it helped a lot--especially with the terror before taking that first exam. We took ours together--it worked!

I also used Excelsior's practice tests for the first three exams. They were terrific.

As a note of caution: There is a group that calls themselves "Excel Advantage" and "Academy of Nursing." Same bunch, two names. They hint at having a relationship with EC (they do not), they say they have "five practice tests for" (however much it is--they don't, it's the same test over and over again, but the second through fifth versions, all the answers are "a," which is no help at all), their study guides, tutoring sessions and "virtual library" are worthless. They actually join various yahoo groups and then advertise their "school!!!!" (I got one of them thrown out of this BB, for posting his ads here.) Oh, and here's the clincher--not a single nurse, not one!--on their "faculty." Not one. (Might have changed since my experience but I'd bet not. They were very unsavory. Very.)

I bought the NC-1--got in there and found out it was just so much manure. It took me about 2 hours on the phone (toll free--so they paid for the call :rotfl: ), but I got my money back.

Lastly, stay in touch with the group here! I got so much support from the members of this board. There are lots of Excelsior alumni here, and we are also pretty proud of what we accomplished. You will be too!

Good luck!

Jo Dirt · Nov 18, 2004

I took NC 1 a few weeks ago and got a B. I really didn't study much for it and not being that ambitious a B is fine with me, and I would usually balk at a C but I'm so burned out on school anymore that if a C is passing let me have it. Anyway, if you are an LPN NC1 will be stuff you are mostly familiar with. You've just got to take that big step and sign up.

linda111 · Nov 19, 2004

Thank you all for the encouragement! I am scheduled for Dec. 1, that will be my first

hurdle. Thanks again.

Betty_SPN_KS, LPN · Dec 4, 2004

linda111, how did the test go on Dec 1? I still haven't scheduled my first one.

About the Academy of Nursing/ExcelAdvantage: How can the same company have such worthless study material, yet have such a good CPNE Bootcamp

that so many rave about? Can someone explain this to me?

kimlpn · Dec 4, 2004

I would stay away from the academy of nursing! Take the EC workshop if you intend to take one. I found the workshop I attended last month informative.

Kim

EMT2RN · Dec 5, 2004

I messed up and used that "nursing academy" also. Oh well, afterwards I found a much better study guide with software out there for a lot less, and have been trucking right along ever since. I really did need a study guide, as I just needed some direction for what to study - there's just too much in all the books to be focusing on everything! Anyways, working on NC2 now. Anyone else working on NC2 right now?

By the way, I'm new, so if you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.