new here- read sticky- ? about EC

[tepbsmith]

whew!

that was a lot of info, but it was very helpful!

so, as materials go, i need to buy the books which can apparently be found on ebay

i should take the practice tests?

i have to schedule a test at a pearson vue center? (boo!)

i can stay concurrently enrolled at a CC while in the program? (unless y'all know of a better way to defer payment on my student loans)

the CPNE is at a hospital w/real pts and not sim labs? can i pick where i test? are some centers better than others?

do you like EC vs a traditional nursing program? i do a lot of distance learning courses but i'm super paranoid about having to pass a "skills" test based on just reading.

tia for your help

[elkpark]

You're not expected to pass a skills test "based on just reading." You're expected to seek out the experience/practice necessary to master those skills; but the way the EC program works, it's your responsibility to seek out that knowledge and experience, rather than showing up for supervised clinical as in a traditional nursing program.

Whether or not people "like" EC, or distance learning in general, is a matter of personal preference. Some people do really well with the program and others prefer a more traditional style of educational program. There has been discussion on this board about how it requires a lot of personal discipline and "drive" -- apparently, lots of people start the EC program but never finish it.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I agree w/the above, and would like to add that some things are in the sim lab, like the IV push, wound care, etc. Everything else is done with real patients. You'll get all that info when you're preparing for the CPNE, though.

[ukstudent]

Why do you want to do the EC program? If you want to stay in college so as to defer student loans then why not do an LPN to RN bridge course?

Although I have seen people on this forum do EC rapidly most do not and it can take years to get through. For what I have read it takes hard work and dedication to make it. How are you going to do that and keep up with other college courses at the same time, why would you want to?

The other part about EC, which the above posts have pointed out is that it requires that you have experience. If you have just graduated as an LPN you need to be working as an LPN in order to get your skills down.

In other words it looks like you need to work as an LPN, take enough credit classes to defer student loans and try and do the EC program. Personally I wouldn't have enough hours in the day to do all that. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[tepbsmith]

Why do you want to do the EC program? If you want to stay in college so as to defer student loans then why not do an LPN to RN bridge course?

Although I have seen people on this forum do EC rapidly most do not and it can take years to get through. For what I have read it takes hard work and dedication to make it. How are you going to do that and keep up with other college courses at the same time, why would you want to?

The other part about EC, which the above posts have pointed out is that it requires that you have experience. If you have just graduated as an LPN you need to be working as an LPN in order to get your skills down.

In other words it looks like you need to work as an LPN, take enough credit classes to defer student loans and try and do the EC program. Personally I wouldn't have enough hours in the day to do all that. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

well, at first i rejected EC on the basis of cost. but its a lot cheaper now that i have more core stuff out of the way. i would really prefer a distance learning course, because i HATED clinicals and i prefer my online courses.

i don't have to stay in school to defer my loans, but i'd certainly rather defer them if possible.

i'm not a brand new grad, although my experience is limited. the floor i started on had so many different serves and served as a step-down unit. i really feel i got an extraordinary amount of experience there that i'm def not getting at my current job.

i have to be honest w/you though, given the enormous cost (vs. free) i am concerned i would start and not finish. but i also now that i will be re-applying to the bridging program in a year and if i can complete my RN through excelsior in that time, thats the smartest choice.

thx to everyone for their input- i appreciate it

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Yes to everything, except what ukstudent said. Do Excelsior or cc, not both.

And I compared Excelsior to my local cc. After being able to work, not pay gas for a lengthy (hours a day) drive, and being able to go at my own pace it came out cheaper.

[it's hot in phoenix]

hello, im doing ec program here in az, i just have cpne to do. i would suggest doing cc classes for anything you need that your not sure of, but the rest do at ec. I bought the study guides for all nursing concepts, not a big fan of them, you Should do the practice tests, they are worth the 60$ and simply memorize them, didnt read study guide and did the practice test and got a's and b's. good luck 2 u

[ukstudent]

Suesqatch, I want to make it clear that I didn't think that the idea of going to cc and ec at the same time was very practicle. That was the OP's idea. I was trying to gently point out the lack of time with trying to do all that.

Personaly if you have the drive and you live in a State that accepts ec then working and doing ec seems to be the way to go.

Just wanted to clear that up, no disrespect for ec nurses meant.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

ukstudent, I have no idea what I meant when I said except what you said! I agreed with all of it.

I confuzzle myself sometimes.

And sorry. No offense was taken.