Need some insight....I'm worried.

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Here's the deal, I attended Charity School of Nursing and completed Basics, 1st semester and Nac 1 (nursing of the adult client 1) the 2nd semester, which I had to repeat because I got a 76.67 and needed a 77 to pass. I passed the second time with a 79, and then moved on to my 3rd semester (which was Peds/Maternal Health, the first rotation, and mental health the second rotation. I failed the first rotation of PCN (parent child nursing) with a 76.23, so now I'm out of the program. During this time, I was taking care of my mother who was very sick with CHF and had had a stroke 16 years ago which left her unable to speak and walk due to hemiparesis to the right side. My mom (my beloved heart) passed away mid April. This left me with maintaining her estate, etc, as my dad had passed away in 2003. We just recently sold her house so I have that behind me now. I also am divorced with three kids ages 13, and twins 11. My ex doesn't help with child support so I lived on loans and PRN work at a local hospital. I telling you this so you have a little background information and have a better understanding of where I coming from.

Because of my failing out of the program, it has left me feeling lost with no direction in life when it all was just a hands link away. It has totally crushed my self confidence on passing another nursing program, thus, the reason I writing this. I need to find my hope again and regain my sense of direction in my nursing career. As you've read, I've completed my first year of nursing school so I qualify for the excelsior program but I'm afraid to invest the little money I earn from working at the hospital as a CNA on a med/surg oncology floor and "fail" again along with upfront money lost. Are most of you already LPN's? Is there anyone here who's completed their first year of nursing and then entered excelsior? I feel that I'm strong student (entered nursing school with a 3.8) but then I just couldn't get out of the mid 70's (average) as a grade in nursing school. I'm a very analitical thinker and I think that caused wrong choices on exams bc I tend to think way further than what I should although some questions required me to do so. I'm just a flippin mess when it comes to testing (not anxiety wise) just with the way I critically think....I go way beyond sometimes and it bites me everytime. What is your opinion with the excelsior program compared to your nursing experience already obtained? I know you can't tell me how well I'll do but a little reassurance helps me make a decision. I'm 44 and need to finish way one or another. Thanks ahead for the advise I hope to receive. :heartbeat

Find out if your state allows someone in your position to take the LPN NCLEX. Then apply and have your school sign off so that you can get an LPN license. Use your LPN license for a necessary job and as a stepping stone into an LPN to RN transition program. This is preferable to jumping into the Excelsior program, which you are aware of, has some risk attached to it. Good luck.

Thanks. I sent an email to the Board of Nursing and will follow up with a phone call if I don't hear back. It doesn't hurt to ask and that would be wonderful! We'll see.

Specializes in LTC.

While you're waiting, you can try an Excelsior test, they transfer to most colleges due to they are NLNAC accredited and accredited by the President's Council on Education.

I would suggest Life Span Psychology, its price tag is $250 which is a bit of money. You do not need to be an enrolled student to take this test.

If you can do the LPN approach that would be good because you're on the floor as a nurse getting experience. If not you get an idea of what the testing procedure is like and a feel for the tests.

That way you'll have one test you'll need already done and you'll be less stressed about the nursing tests because you've done an Excelsior test.

I'm a Excelsior ASN student, just getting started and I can say I love the program. There are so many sources to study from and the advisors are really helpful. I love that I can manage to work while studying, the option to quit work for full time school wasn't something I could do. There are NO bridge programs in my area, I would be at square one with the RN programs locally. And that equals at the least, 3 years. No can do.

I wasn't 4.0 in LPN school, and I have passed all 3 Excelsior tests the first time without difficulty.

Good Luck with this and I hope something works out for you! :)

Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

You may complete the first two nursing exams, which is what I did, prior to enrolling. I was so skeptical about being able to do the whole self-study aspect of it (I am quite the procrastinator) and I found that just for the few months I've been doing Excelsior exams I have become much more disciplined. I think that knowing failing an exam is another $250 out of my pocket helps me have more motivation to pass, too, since I am paying cash for the program.

Try to take the Health Safety exam, which is the first and most fundamental of the Excelsior nursing exams. When I passed this and the Transition to the RN exam, I knew I could do it.

There are no bridge programs in my area and I too would have to start @ square one... doing Excelsior is my only choice.

The advisors are so helpful too. I am in contact w/mine atleast once a week. Excelsior, IMO, does want you to do well. I have also found so much info and support on this board. We all motivate each other to do well and keep each other on track. I even met another LPN that works at the same hospital as me who is doing the program too so that is a huge help!!!

Good luck with whatever you decide and I am so sorry to hear about you losing your mom.

Thanks so much for the advice. I did call the SBofNursing and cannot sit for the LPN boards unless I've finished an LPN program but it was worth the try. I'm gonna go on and pursue the Excelsior route. I'm sending in my application today with the application fee. My transcripts have already been sent to them over 2 weeks ago but I'm going to call to be sure they have it on file. I just hope I hear back from them on what I need to take sooner than 6 weeks; That's a long time and I'm eager! :)

Do you have other clinical background? If you are not eligible for the NCLEX-PN you may not be eligible for Excelsior's program either. I would contact them before spending any money. I would hate to see it go to waste. If nursing is what you want don't give up. :)

If I understand the excelsior program correctly, I do qualify because I've successfully completed one year of nursing school. I did get clinical experience with it also. I currently work at a hospital so I'm constantly exposed to nursing care too which will help with the 3 day clinical performance at the end of this program. Thanks for encouraging me to push forward and your concern. Much appreciated!

Many people in my class have the same problem with testing. Don't create your own story for the question. They want to know A + B = C, Not A + B = C and then D, E, F. You will get your questions wrong if you do that.

Also go with your first answer. Most of the time if you change an answer it will turn out to be wrong because you have over thought it.

If you have those questions that give you a list of patients and they want to know which patient you would help first, use the ABC's Airway, Breathing, Circulation to prioritize them.

Remember, the questions on the board are about the perfect patients in the perfect hospital. The answer for the board may not always be the answer in real life.

If you get a review book that give you the reason why the right answer is right AND why the wrong answers are wrong. These kind of books are so helpful because it explains what is wrong with the other answer choices.

I hope this helps you with your testing. No matter which program or path you choose, they all end at the boards so testing is going to be the most important skills you have to learn. Good Luck! Just remember nothing worth doing is easy... :)

If I understand the excelsior program correctly, I do qualify because I've successfully completed one year of nursing school. I did get clinical experience with it also. I currently work at a hospital so I'm constantly exposed to nursing care too which will help with the 3 day clinical performance at the end of this program. Thanks for encouraging me to push forward and your concern. Much appreciated!

Actually it's 50 % of all of your clinical hours that must be completed. I would just encourage you to speak with them directly before spending any money. Hope everything works out for you :)

Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

hey butrfli- i was sort of in your shoes at one point also. i am a lpn, but i also went to a hospital school of nursing near me, and i was one semester away from graduating....i failed out due to personal issues in my life at the time. i was passing with b's but i was not focused at all during my clinicals. now that i am living a happy, stable lifestyle and seem to have better coping skills, i am almost done with excelsior's program. i take the cpne in march! if i made it through, (so far) so can you! good luck and let me know if you need anything! :)

Thank you!!! I did call excelsior today and sent in my application and fee so I guess you can say I've put one foot forward, :) Now just waiting to hear back.

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