Excelsior Pass Rate?

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Does anyone know Excelsior's passing rate? Just curious. tia

Kelly

Specializes in Psychiatry.

There is smiply no way that I could go back the traditional RN study route. (mortgage, full-time work, etc) >>

This is where my problem lies. I have to work full time. I am a good self studier. I guess the fear of not passing the cpne with it's low pass rates is what worries me. I definitely get performance anxiety.

Kelly

Don't be discouraged, Kelly. I spent a LONG time getting that Associate degree because I worked full time with a daughter, mortage, etc. Then a failed marriage, move, etc. Back then the program did not move as fast as it does now. I could not afford any of the CPNE practices, but I did use the CPNE video and was lucky enough to find some of the study sites and learned mneomics. (spell?) Anyway, this site is great for motivation, getting questions answered, and you may find some current study information! I am currently pursuing my BS with an eye on the MS. The Excelsior experience has proven invaluable.

There is smiply no way that I could go back the traditional RN study route. (mortgage, full-time work, etc) >>

This is where my problem lies. I have to work full time. I am a good self studier. I guess the fear of not passing the cpne with it's low pass rates is what worries me. I definitely get performance anxiety.

Kelly

That's exactly how I sounded going through the program. I was so afraid of the horror stories about the CPNE and low pass rates. The ONLY thing that I regret about my experience is that I dragged my feet through the program and could have finished it much sooner than I did. I dreaded the CPNE so much that I waited 2 years from the time I was eligible to take the exam until I actually did it.

If only I knew then what I know now-- how much getting my ADN would change my life and not to let the low pass rates stop me from pursuing my goals.

Someone once told me that it costs an LPN/LVN around $10,000 every year that they put off getting their RN and they are basically working just as hard at the same job. I have no doubt in my case that this is true. Since I dragged my feet through the program I figured I cost myself about $30,000.

Please don't let the CPNE stop you (or slow you down like in my case).

By the way, I too have severe performance anxiety, stage fright, etc. I go crazy if I feel that I am being watched in work or social situations. My hands shook during the skills labs at times but I managed to talk myself down enough to get through it and pass the first time around. Best decision I ever made.

Specializes in Child/Adolescent Mental Health.
That's exactly how I sounded going through the program. I was so afraid of the horror stories about the CPNE and low pass rates. The ONLY thing that I regret about my experience is that I dragged my feet through the program and could have finished it much sooner than I did. I dreaded the CPNE so much that I waited 2 years from the time I was eligible to take the exam until I actually did it.

If only I knew then what I know now-- how much getting my ADN would change my life and not to let the low pass rates stop me from pursuing my goals.

Someone once told me that it costs an LPN/LVN around $10,000 every year that they put off getting their RN and they are basically working just as hard at the same job. I have no doubt in my case that this is true. Since I dragged my feet through the program I figured I cost myself about $30,000.

Please don't let the CPNE stop you (or slow you down like in my case).

By the way, I too have severe performance anxiety, stage fright, etc. I go crazy if I feel that I am being watched in work or social situations. My hands shook during the skills labs at times but I managed to talk myself down enough to get through it and pass the first time around. Best decision I ever made.

I hear ya about performance anxiety :rolleyes: . It would be nice if maybe the cpne was set up a little differently and there were more preparation for it (besides the carjack, etc). It is also a shame that the boot camps are so pricey, maybe if the price were more reasonable and the locations more accessable, more students would take advantage of the camps and thus passing rates would increase.

mona

Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

http://www.ncsbn.org/pdfs/Table_of_Pass_Rates_2004_Q1.pdf

The national NCLEX-RN pass rate is 87% (first-time, US educated) at this time.

I'll try to find EC's pass rates when I have more time...I have seen them somewhere...

Hello, I'm new to the site and am ready to test for the CPNE. I was just wondering if anyone has any reccommendations for which testing sites are the best? Any suggestions would be appreciated. :) BJayne

I'm presently preparing for the CPNE--taking the Excelsior College three day workshop is one of the best decisions I've ever made. The price is right, the info is sooo valuable (these are the people who have administered the CPNE for heaven's sake!!! They know!!!)

In my class, I can see people who are seriously preparing, learning their stuff, getting ready. Then there are a few who are working and are making assumptions that since they are working, and are in the review course, they'll be fine. One or two have no clue but "want to get the CPNE over with." (hello? Is that the clue phone ringing??)

Excelsior's NCLEX pass rates, BTW, were in the 90's when I applied (last August). I contacted the New York Board of Education and they sent me (free gratis) about 5 lb of paper, documenting the number of students of EC (versus New York schools) attempting, passing and failing, and the same for Excelsior College compared with students in other states (not the individual schools in those states).

Frankly, considering that there are 1,700 students, many of which are outside the US, for whom English may not be their primary language, and the school's pass rate is still that good--pretty strong indicator that they know what they are doing.....

Recent takers of CPNE (as well as anyone getting ready to take it in the DFW area), especially if successful, please PM or email me. I'm taking it June 25--I'm using all the resources I can imagine and get my little hands on!!!

I'm an RN, and I've never heard of the CPNE.

What is it?

I'm an RN, and I've never heard of the CPNE. What is it?

This is an added "goodie" for Excelsior College nursing students: a massive high intensity 2-1/2 day clinical check off. Basically, you have to pass three out of five patients, and one of the passes must be a pediatric patient.

There are "critical elements," which are basically what you would do to complete the specific nursing task and do it right, and if you don't do one of the critical elements, you fail that "patient care situation" (aka "PCS"). The whole experience and everything you can imagine to prepare for it comes to you in a "free" (included in general tuition) 7-1/2 lb (no kidding) study guide. The clinical examiners (all nurses with masters or PhD's) are heavily and intensely trained, and actually read instructions from a script so everybody has as close to the same experience as possible, no matter where they test (there are 13 hospitals around the country that participate in the testing, with--I think--about 7 students at a time, once a week, every week).

The school offers a 2 day CPNE (Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination) review workshop and a one day skills refresher workshop, taught by staff who have participated in the actual CPNE exams, so they know what they are talking about. Plus, several of the private (non "real" school) companies like Chancellor's have a prep program, but I found they lasted longer and cost more, and they aren't taught by Excelsior staff (so who knows how current their info is?).

I've never heard an actual statistic from Excelsior (or anyone else who could back it up with data) about how many pass the CPNE on the first try, although 68% gets bandied about a lot--and the most noise always comes from people who fail, no matter what the test is, so reliable anecdotal evidence is lacking as well. Success seems to be an individual thing, and hinges on managing to stay calm, as well as knowing your stuff. Overall, it seems to be pretty forward thinking--areas of care include "caring," as well as respiratory management, etc. Frankly, I like the idea and I'm looking forward to testing.

Anyway, now if you meet an Excelsior graduate, you know they know the proper way to care for a patient (or at least did the three days before they graduated!).

Specializes in Mental Health, MI/CD, Neurology.

Yee haw Chris! I can't believe you are just about at test time! Seems like you are still a newbie to EC land. Time flies!! You're awesome! I love your attitude--- keep it up, it'll win you a big ol' PASS on Sun. June 27th!

And I'll second Chris's (is that one "s" or two? Never quite got that rule) praises on EC's CPNE workshop. My only beef with it was that not enough people taking the workshop were ready. They recommend you take the workshop when you are just about completely prepared for your CPNE..... it's a time to brush up and tackle those little dangling things that you just can't seem to perfect. There were so many people that weren't prepared, and the instructors weren't there (and didn't have time) to TEACH people how to perform at their CPNE. We were already supposed to know that. It was a time to tweek. Since there were so many people there who were in the dark about the whole thing, those of us who wanted to use the time to tweek were held back. I was pretty pi$$ed (I was more than just mad, but I used dollar signs so as not to offend) :p . I voiced my displeasure to one of the instructors. I said I had a lot invested in this weekend ($$$, time off, husband taking time off) and I didn't want to blow it on my weekend because of some people who didn't do what they were supposed to do. The instructor told me (exact words), "I've been watching you....you are one of those people who will bang out those PCSs 1-2-3. Keep your head on straight and you'll have no problem." With that the tears began to flow. I thanked her for making my weekend and walked out of there with a bounce in my step. Her words made the months of stress and hard work worth it. I think the one sentence that sums it all up is~

you'll get out of it exactly what you put into it. Period.

So do the workshop. But be ready. It's so worth it!!!

(why do my posts always end up being so friggin' long???) :coollook:

It's amazing, isn't it Spazzy? Seems like it was just a couple of months ago I was deciding whether to buy a study guide system and was locking horns with old Rob Butner.... did you know I have been banned from every Excel Advantage/ Academy of Nursing site on yahoo??? I consider it a badge of honor.... LOLOLOL

But wait, it has been just a few months. I took my first test the end of January, and just got addicted. Finished the end of April and got my CPNE date for mid September, then the cancellation happened.

It's great.

The workshops are great, and the lack of preparation on the part of the students is a handicap, but what are ya gonna do. Not everybody has the time I have to prepare. Of course some just didn't bother and won't bother, and it's unfortunate, but they probably aren't going to get a grip until it is too late. Good thing the CPNE can be retaken.

I felt a little frustration too, but it also afforded me a chance to make sure there weren't any little dangly things in the stuff I was just sure I knew. And while the class wrote one care plan, I wrote three, while listening to what was going on in class. Overachiever? Probably--but it's worked so far.

(Only one "s" then the apostrophe, BTW..... LOL)

Thanks for the support, Spazzy, all along the way.

Hello, I'm new to the site and am ready to test for the CPNE. I was just wondering if anyone has any reccommendations for which testing sites are the best? Any suggestions would be appreciated. :) BJayne
I don't know where you are from but in my opinion, the Georgia sites, are the best. Took it there.:)
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