One more done!

Published

Second go-round of NC2, got a B today. Thanks in large part to finally treating my ADD !! Things made sense that never made sense before.

Two nursing exams left -- NC5 and NC7 ... then adult developmental psychology (when I clepped lifespan years ago it didn't include the adult stuff so I have to do this), ENG 102 (signed up for internet class at local college this spring and -- I'll be done! Except for the CPNE of course ...

I'm starting to feel like I am making PROGRESS ... this time last year everything was "on hold" because of family problems, I only started the exams in August. Now if the money would just show up for the next couple... ah... there's always something.

I've got to say I'm impressed with how fast Excelsior processes these things. They got my scores for ASL from the local college on 12/8 and I received a notice yesterday that it would take 4-6 weeks -- but when I got online I see they have already processed the credits! Way to go Excelsior! Seems whenever I take an exam it shows up pretty quickly on my status report.

HECK YES I'M TIRED.:stone :stone :stone But I'm making progress.
All right, already!

I don't think anyone can be expected to know the nuances of your personal life situation, unless and until you share that.

I'm well aware of Excelsior's program's flexibility and how helpful that can be.

But healthy choices are still healthy choices, and good outcomes--from all aspects--are still important. Sorry you have such a tough situation.

Pardon me. :stone

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woah LpntoRn, that is some brain you have up there! :p 3 tests (2 really tough) in one month and working that much! i'd go hary-cary! major kudos to you! this reinforces to me that i study too much-and i've been telling myself this for quite a while now. i'll think of you next time i want to hold off on a test again.

laurie 888-i'm with you-just finished a test and have 2 more to go!! congrats on getting where you are!

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woah LpntoRn, that is some brain you have up there! :p 3 tests (2 really tough) in one month and working that much! i'd go hary-cary! major kudos to you! this reinforces to me that i study too much-and i've been telling myself this for quite a while now. i'll think of you next time i want to hold off on a test again.

laurie 888-i'm with you-just finished a test and have 2 more to go!! congrats on getting where you are!

Hey, if you ever need any support pm me. I'm trying to get scheduled to take NC 3 ASAP. I'm a wildwoman over here, knocking these suckers out one after another. If I fail one I will just move on to the next one and retake it when I can.

There sure is a lot of info to go over in NC 3. Pages and pages of notes in the EC study guide. Have to know a lot about L&D and a lot of drugs to go over.

Better get my big ol nose back in my study guide.

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Hey I've signed up to take NC 3 this Wednesday!

I must be crazy!

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Specializes in LTC and Pysch.

I am so glad to read that this "testing to your RN" through Excelsior is working for others! :) I am a soon to be LPN...5 months left. My clinicals, classes, test etc are going really good. I am already studing for NCLEX. I have tried to tell my class mates about Excelsior and how we don't have to spend more years in classroom to advance careers. They think I'm nuts, but its not the first time. :chuckle

I am a stay @ home mommy...two little boys...I already have a degree in computers but after having children I wasn't about to send them to daycare so I could work 9-5. I will be working weekends @ our hospital once I graduate. I have done traditional college and online etc. I feel that any college ends up being "self study" anyway! So much time is wasted in the traditional class! Even now between class and clinicals, what I really learn is when I sit down and read the book myself. I plan to take my A&P exam this summer and get roll'n for the R.N. Do you all buy the Excelisor study guides or the Clep guides? How many hours per exam do you find yourselfs putting in? Good job and thanks for the info!

:balloons:

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LPNtoRN,

Get a good NCLEX review book and take it to study all the areas that are listed on the EC outline. This will help give you a broad over view. Another great book that helps with the exams is Lippencott's manual of nursing. I used this book for a lot of the OB portions of the exam. Beware on this exam--several students fail this one (I think it is the amount of content material.) The test seemed to be a lot of mixed questions involving EVERYTHING on the EC content outline. I received an "A", but it took me awhile to cover all the topics. Let us now how you do!

Best wishes

Kim

Hey I've signed up to take NC 3 this Wednesday!

I must be crazy!

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Although they list the resources (which is great) I justed used -- my old nursing books. Except for just a little out of date material, it is still there. I look at notes on all the yahoo websites (very good resource). Twice I have bought used study guides on ebay (one chancellor's and one college network, preferred the latter) and resold them at the same price. Honestly I didn't really find them any more helpful except that the chancellor's had tapes I could listen to on my way to work. If you have a good tape recorder you can tape your notes and do the same thing.

If you go by EC content guides and look up the pertinent info, some feel that alone helps you remember it better than having it placed in front of you by someone else's guide. The longest I have worked on an exam in seriousness was a week, although I have begun skimming and gathering info 2-3 weeks ahead of time. This last test I had scheduled well ahead of time (6 weeks), and I looked at the notes a few times a week but nothing started to sink in until about a week before when I was able to focus on putting things together and making it work. I don't think any of us recommend the procrastination method (a big reason why so many people can't make self-study work) but many now and in the past seem to use it.

I'm taking my next test (NC7) day after tomorrow.

How long it takes depends a lot on your own strengths and weakness. As a prior nursing student you already have a lot of the fundamental knowledge that you need. Those who feel overwhelmed and scared by all this are forgetting that -- you've already got much, if not most, of the information. You need to fine-tune, rehash some, possibly learn a few things but if you didn't have the foundation for this you wouldn't be accepted in the first place! I probably did very little study for NC3, it contained a lot of my 'strong' areas in spite of not having been in class for almost a decade. NC2 I had to do twice -- something about it just didn't want to sink in. I've given myself 3 days for NC7, I don't think I'll regret, I made the decision when I started studying the other day and found everything I read to be just too familiar.

I think spilling directly from LPN into this program would have to work in your favor, before the 'real world' interferes too much with how you think about some of this stuff, and from what I understand (or have heard) may also help with the CPNE. Some have mentioned to me that the reason there is only a success rate of 61% for 1st-time CPNE'ers is because they've been working too long and you have to approach it as a student.

Good luck!

I am so glad to read that this "testing to your RN" through Excelsior is working for others! :) I am a soon to be LPN...5 months left. My clinicals, classes, test etc are going really good. I am already studing for NCLEX. I have tried to tell my class mates about Excelsior and how we don't have to spend more years in classroom to advance careers. They think I'm nuts, but its not the first time. :chuckle

I am a stay @ home mommy...two little boys...I already have a degree in computers but after having children I wasn't about to send them to daycare so I could work 9-5. I will be working weekends @ our hospital once I graduate. I have done traditional college and online etc. I feel that any college ends up being "self study" anyway! So much time is wasted in the traditional class! Even now between class and clinicals, what I really learn is when I sit down and read the book myself. I plan to take my A&P exam this summer and get roll'n for the R.N. Do you all buy the Excelisor study guides or the Clep guides? How many hours per exam do you find yourselfs putting in? Good job and thanks for the info!

:balloons:

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LPNtoRN,

Get a good NCLEX review book and take it to study all the areas that are listed on the EC outline. This will help give you a broad over view. Another great book that helps with the exams is Lippencott's manual of nursing. I used this book for a lot of the OB portions of the exam. Beware on this exam--several students fail this one...snip

Kim

Geez....just what I needed to hear before I take the test, a real pick me upper...

thanks for the info. :stone

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Geez....just what I needed to hear before I take the test, a real pick me upper...

thanks for the info. :stone

why must you be so cocky when others give you advice??? I only caution you on this because I have been around several of the other boards long enough to see that several people have struggled with this exam. I didn't say it to burst your bubble--if you are anything like me then money is an issue. I would hate to see anyone drop $200 (and I believe that is the exam cost now)!!!

UGhhh.....girl I give up just like laura!!!!

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Specializes in Mental Health, MI/CD, Neurology.

So much for trying to be helpful, Kim. :icon_roll

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why must you be so cocky when others give you advice??? I only caution you on this because I have been around several of the other boards long enough to see that several people have struggled with this exam. I didn't say it to burst your bubble--if you are anything like me then money is an issue. I would hate to see anyone drop $200 (and I believe that is the exam cost now)!!!

UGhhh.....girl I give up just like laura!!!!

Gee whiz, you shouldn't take everything so personally, I didn't say that to be nasty!

Why does everyone have to take everything so personally???

But since we're on the subject, is NC 3 the hardest one? I passed it yesterday with a B. I'd like to think the tests aren't going to get any harder, I had one heck of a headache when I finished that test...

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Actually I thought NC 3 was the easiest one of them all. Maybe we all wouldn't take things so personally if you weren't so cocky. You air all your "personal" stuff here so it seems to me you want a response on a personal basis...I gave you my personal response and my opinion. My opinion reflects that of Chris--healthy choices, decisions, and actions are just that! I speak for myself when I say that after reading your posts I find that some of your statements are cocky in reponse to people just trying to give you honest advice--like Laura (who BTW has been there, done it, and moved on.) Don't ask for advice if you don't want someone's personal opinion and response...don't say not to take things personally if you hang out personal life's trials here.....kind of like the old saying grandma used to say "what is good for the goose ought to be for the gander." With that said Best wishes, Merry Christmas, and may god bless our troops away from home.

Kim

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