I've tossed this back and forth and back and forth for 2 years now! Finally i feel ready to begin the EC program to get my RN. I have some grant money to help which will pay for all but the CPNE so now there really isnt an excuse as to why i can't do this! :)
For the past year i've taken some distance learning classes and have done extremely well on them. The only thing i'm a little bit worried about is figuring out a "schedule" to study by. Can some one give me some tips/hints?
I have to take A&P, Micro, and Lifespan psychology, and then the nursing exams...what would you recommend starting with? Any suggestions welcomed!
I'm really focused on doing this, i'm ready and willing and able!!!!
Do Micro and A & P. Then do the nursing exams. After you have completed the CPNE, do the Lifespan Psych while you wait for everything to be posted to your transcript.
I would sit with a calendar. Mark off the days I worked and the days that there were commitments. I looked at what was left. I gave myself 40 hours of actual study time. I would figure on 2 hours of study time for each day I had available. I would then add another 2 weeks just for pad in case something would come up and pay for the test and also schedule it. Example: I worked 3 days a week. I counted on at least one day a week for errands. That left 3 days a week to study 2 hours a day. 6 hours a week. That would be 7 weeks. Then I would add another 2 weeks. That is 9 weeks. Then I would see what days were available 9 weeks out and schedule it. Then it is on my calendar that I had to be ready for that test on "x" day. I would try and study for an hour in the morning and then an hour in the evening. EC provides study guides and I used my old nursing text books and NCLEX study guides. I divided up the study guide so that I knew on "x" day I was going to study "blank" for an hour. I also paid to take the practice exams. Worth every penny to figure out the last 2 weeks where your weakness is.
Do Micro and A & P. Then do the nursing exams. After you have completed the CPNE, do the Lifespan Psych while you wait for everything to be posted to your transcript.
I would sit with a calendar. Mark off the days I worked and the days that there were commitments. I looked at what was left. I gave myself 40 hours of actual study time. I would figure on 2 hours of study time for each day I had available. I would then add another 2 weeks just for pad in case something would come up and pay for the test and also schedule it. Example: I worked 3 days a week. I counted on at least one day a week for errands. That left 3 days a week to study 2 hours a day. 6 hours a week. That would be 7 weeks. Then I would add another 2 weeks. That is 9 weeks. Then I would see what days were available 9 weeks out and schedule it. Then it is on my calendar that I had to be ready for that test on "x" day. I would try and study for an hour in the morning and then an hour in the evening. EC provides study guides and I used my old nursing text books and NCLEX study guides. I divided up the study guide so that I knew on "x" day I was going to study "blank" for an hour. I also paid to take the practice exams. Worth every penny to figure out the last 2 weeks where your weakness is.
I didn't know you could save some of the classes for after the CPNE....I thought they all had to be done before hand. I was actually going to try to CLEP Lifespan.
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.
can you clep micro & A&P too? I was thinking of cleping lifespan as well, then info lit with penn foster....
Mudwoman- i really like how you laid yours out as well, i did something similar, however, didn't take much cushion time so i may need to go back in and check that out as well. I really want to take Health Safety first, then i think i'll do A&P and Micro, then do Transitions, and then enroll and finish the rest of the Nursing Exams. That's my plan anyway!! =) Thanks your your adivce!
You study Lifespan, A & P, and Micro and go take the test and if you pass, you get the credit. No class. After I took the CPNE, they told me that it would take approx 4-6 weeks for them to get everything posted for that, so I allowed myself 5 weeks to study and take the test for Lifespan so I would have everything done for graduation.
I was told you cannot clep A&P, I can't clep micro becasue I have never actually taken the class before. To my understanding you can only clep if you have credits in the class but they won't transfer
I was told you cannot clep A&P, I can't clep micro becasue I have never actually taken the class before. To my understanding you can only clep if you have credits in the class but they won't transfer
Not true. I'd never had Micro, and I took the EC Micro exam. A "CLEP" is only a test given by these folks: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html. There is no "CLEP" for A&P, or Micro. However, EC does have exams for both subjects.
If you go to the EC web site, then click on the "exams" heading, then click on the "arts/sciences" and you will find A & P and Micro both listed with exam or course details. If you are an LVN/LPN going through this program you have had Micro and A & P, you just haven't gotten college credit for it. That is why you can take the test.
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Cardiac/Renal, Ortho,FNP.
Tasha, here's my experience. From my user i.d. you can tell I've got another degree so I do have lots of experience with exams, etc., however I wouldn't say that it totally transfers to a nursing program. It didn't. It did help to know extensively anatomy & physiology but nursing protocol is extremely important on these exams, more so than a&p, micro, etc. You do need to know those things but knowing textbook nursing protocol was more important.
In a nutshell, I procrastinated. I matriculated in Fall '06 and graduated Sp '10. No excuses it was laziness and waiting on the CPNE. Don't wait, don't put things off; get a schedule and stick to it. It can drag out forever and the other associated costs of rollover enrollment will add up. Honestly, with diligent effort, you can be CPNE ready in 10 months. I took 2 pre-req tests in '07 (yes, I was a dummy)...the next year 8 tests (all the nursing including 1 re-test... got mad at my job and took 5 Tests in 1 week (yes...FIVE IN 1 WEEK)...passed 4 and got too happy - failed the last one with a D, retested in 45 days with an A. The moral of the story is you CAN test quickly and pass but be very acutely aware of where to draw the line.
My case was nuts...just plain nuts. I wouldn't suggest doing it my way but it's a demonstration that anything is possible. I didn't worry about grades (still don't) but I'm a solid B student...that A takes more effort than I'm willing to sacrifice with family, hobbies & such.
The Lifespan and Gerontology I needed I just got some GRE cram books and used them. There really isn't much you can study from for Gerontology as I found out, got an A and B, respectively with about 20 hours (1 week) cramming for both. I've had other psych & gerontology courses though so it wasn't totally new material but it was different. I'd say give those 2 weeks "real" cramming and go for it. Git 'er done.
For the nursing tests get some help. Use the online Excelsior forums/newsgroups (if you don't know about them find they on Yahoo groups) they are EXTREMELY helpful. I can say honestly I bought hundreds of dollars of textbooks and didn't even unwrap most of them. For the majority of the testing I either had the knowledge through common sense or got it from FREE study material given over those forums/newsgroups. Lots & lots of people have already done the legwork for you just use their information and cram, cram, cram. Yes, some of it is wrong but not enough to make it useless. It is not. Plus, some of the newsgroup posters are nurses who graduated or are running the CPNE workshops and will give you plenty of FREE advice. Key word: FREE
The practice tests are helpful but maybe not necessary. I think I saw some exact questions duplicated on the exams but mostly it just helped to get used to question interpretation and practice. Some practice tests I flunked but got A's on the real tests. That one repeat test I had I got B's on and got a 'D' on the real thing! I don't know how it relates but the practice tests are just that I guess...practice testing.
This site was EXTREMELY helpful to answer questions also. I would suggest to you just get in there and swim in this process so you can get through it. Tipping your toe in the water will drag it out and your enthusiasm will diminish. Also, you can NEVER start getting ready too early for the CPNE. In my group, 6 started and 2 finished. This group had multiple, multiple test takers..they knew the CPNE process inside & out. I didn't but I passed. I'm already a doctor and this process was extremely stressful. Just think what it's like for a newby.
Start getting CPNE information now. I bought every every available resource there is on the CPNE off of ebay & elsewhere. Without a doubt the most valuable thing is the free CPNE study guide from Excelsior. READ IT...I mean that...read the 500+ pages. You can study everyone elses material until your blue in the face but what you will be graded on exactly is in that manual not in those other study guides. Also there are websites for community colleges & nursing schools that have FREE material online...dig around & find them. I bought Lippencott's nursing video series only to find it ALL online for free on some community college website. It was very helpful b/c the patients actually were realistic as well as the procedures done on them. Get Robs CPNE video's too. I had 1 lab repeat and 1 PCS repeat....both for a stupid simple ID band check fail. I knew the hard stuff...I forgot check the i.d. so a word to the wise you can never wash your hands too much and you can never check that i.d. band too much. Also, know that your CE's are real people who don't like "attitude" anymore than we do. All of them 'think' they are really good at certain things like BP or lung sounds, etc., and they will be picky about those things. You've got to be able to think on your feet and 'read' these people quickly to see what they get slack on and what they really are tough on. I can tell you I almost flunked out on my second PCS two times, both times the CE was wrong and the CA reversed her decision and let me pass. You can be right about something and STILL fail...you HAVE to be able to prove it. Not arrogantly but confidently. In the end they were all terrific and really do want you to pass.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
You would probably be doing yourself a favor if you opted to take A&P in the classroom at your local cc.