Nebraska LPN-RN students

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Aug 4, 2006

Best of luck to you! You did the right thing by checking with your BON. While it isn't easy to balance school, work and family life, I think that most of us are glad we did it.

jksapphire · Aug 4, 2006

thanks for the encouragement. i work at a va medical center in ltc and just the other day, they were short on rn's. i thought, well, i guess i won't have too much trouble moving into an rn position when i finish. everyone at work, including supervisors, are very supportive.

tgb3rn · Sep 27, 2006

I work at the Hospital in Superior, NE. One of the Charge nurses here is an EC grad. I have completed all of it but the CPNE--STILL WAITING ON A TEST DATE---HELLO!!!! The wait is KILLING ME!!!

Good luck and will help any way I can.

Tom

jksapphire · Oct 3, 2006

i work at the hospital in superior, ne. one of the charge nurses here is an ec grad. i have completed all of it but the cpne--still waiting on a test date---hello!!!! the wait is killing me!!!
good luck and will help any way i can.
tom

it's nice to hear from an ec student here in ne. i'm in grand island, so not so far away from you. i appreciate your offer of help and wish you the best of luck on your cpne!!

:nurse:

tgb3rn · Oct 5, 2006

Hey--I'm from GI as well. Moved when I was 12yrs old, back in 82. My parents still live there. Mom works at the VA home in Accounting, dad runs the power company. If you work at the vets home, mom's initials are MLG, works it the office with Kenny. Say HI for me.

Tom

jksapphire · Oct 8, 2006

actually, i worked at nvh in 1975 as secretary to mr. broadstone, second in command at the time. if your mom worked there them, i might just know her. that would be a kick, wouldn't it?

i now work at the va medical center on north broadwell. they no longer have acute care, only outpatient and long-term care. i work on the ltc floor.

this week, i plan to get "down to business" and decide which class to start on. it's time to "put my money where my mouth is," as i put this off 'cause my daughter was getting married sept. 23. well, the 23rd is past, so it's time to get on with things.

i need a & p, microbiology, english comp and sociology before i start my nursing classes. did you take any of those thru ec? i'm kind of scared to take that first test, as i have no idea what to expect. i purchased the microbiology study guide published by the college network on ebay, as i think i need to be spoon fed a little more than just using the study guides provided by ec and then have to gather my own study materials, etc. i know a lot of people do it that way, but i think i'll be better off this way.

any suggestions are more than welcome.

judy:nurse:

tgb3rn · Oct 8, 2006

She started working there in 1972, I think.

Everyone does it different. I can tell you how I did it but I do NOT recomend it for everyone. I took CLEP exams and transfered credits to Excelsior for some of the gen eds. Through EC I only had to do the info lit online and Micro. The info Lit is simple internet/computer stuff, payed for it and tested out the next day. With Micro I took this as my last test. You can not get a test date for the CPNE until you complete all of the NC exams, so I did them first. With the EC exams I just tested when I had the cash. I used NONE of the books they wanted me to use. I had old outdated study guides from TCN that my charge nurse had used 6-7 yrs ago. I only studied for the day or 2 before the test for each.

I don't recomend this for most people. I retain what I read VERY well. I just got out of LPN school 2yrs ago so that is fresh in there as well. I did not fail any of the tests but did get 2 C's. I think the practice tests they offer online at EC are nice to use as well. Don't stress if you score in the upper 60's to low 70's on them though--I never got higher than mid 70's.

Know your learning style, if you read and retain what you read well, this program is for you. My wife is in LPN classes now and she needs the classroom instruction. She gets A's but knows she could not do it the way I am.

I believe you can take the first NC1 without spending the 500+ enrolment fee, try that first and see how it goes.

If you have any spacific ?, let me know. I will do my best, and there seem to be several on here to help as well.

Tom

Oh ya--may have met you on some of my clinicals at the VA--went to GI for the first part of my LPN program, then transfered to Beatrice.

jksapphire · Oct 9, 2006

sounds like i may be on the right track with tcn study guides i bought. you're providing the encouragement i need to get started. i agree, i don't think i could do it like you did, but i'm determined to succeed and appreciate you're being candid and offering assistance.

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[color=#483d8b]i'll be sure to let you know how i'm progressing. i hope you get the cpne scheduled soon. where will you need to go to take them?

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[color=#483d8b]judy:nurse:

tgb3rn · Oct 9, 2006

For the CPNE there are 3 general areas, midwest, north, and south. Each area has several test sites. In the midwest area the CPNE test sites are in WI and TX. I will be going to Amirillo TX. For nc1-7 and the other gen ed tests all of mine were in Grand Island at Prometric. They have just changed to another testing company, I believe it is the same one that does the state boards here. I have no Idea if there is one in GI but I bet the EC website would have that info.

Tom

Oh ya, you no longer take NC2 since you are already an LPN. When I was doing it you only got to skip it if you had gotten a B or better in your LPN program. I got to skip it:wink2: . They just give you a "pass" on that one.

Good luck

jksapphire · Oct 9, 2006

thanks for the info on nc2! i sure wasn't aware of that! does ec just automatically "forgive" nc2 when you enroll with them?

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[color=#483d8b]did you pay the $65 to have ec evaluate your classes that transferred toward the rn? a tcn rep went thru my lpn transcript and told me what classes transferred and which i still needed. did your supervisor get along ok with advice from tcn on what classes were needed for ec? i'm thinking that i probably should just pay the $65 so there are no surprises and i don't take a class i didn't need. the tcn rep was really nice and seemed to know what she was talking about. she did not pressure me, either. then, thru forums on this website, i found out about buying tcn study guides on ebay. i just can't afford $10,000 + to get my rn. i've got to talk with the va to see what tuition reimbursement they offer - i have to be there a year first. i started 6/06. i'm hoping they will reimburse for ec. i know that most grants and loans don't as ec is not a title iv school - it has no "real" campus.

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[color=#483d8b]judy :nurse:

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tgb3rn · Oct 9, 2006

Hey we made it to 2 pages now!!! I would call EC and just go through them. I didn't use TCN, just the old study guides. The RN that got them in the first place liked it but it didn't feel right to me. Why pay another company when you can just go to the main one.

As for the VA helping out, I did 4yrs in the Army, on the clarical end. ANYTHING to do with the VA is a pain in the.... well you know. I have it good at the Hospital. They pay 1/2 of every test for me. But they want me to stay, and already some are talking how they want me to take a charge role sooner than I want to. I will be contracted to them for about 2-3 years over all of this.

As for the NC2.... yes, they knew all my info as I enrolled before any tests and they told ME about it.

Tom