Opinions on Excelsior College?

bsrn0523 · Oct 7, 2007

:balloons:The CPNE is the clinical performance in nursing examination. It is a three day test in which your skills are evaluated via lab and patient care situations. It is very expensive to take and it has a 67% pass rate. Hard stuff.

Jenn, GN

cheleb61 · Oct 14, 2007

I have been an LPN for 7 years and am currently enrolled in Excelsior's LPN to RN program. I had to do alot of the pre-req's and it has taken me a little over 2 years to get to where I am. I am currently waiting on a date for the CPNE and then I will be finished. I have been waiting for 4 months though. I am going crazy. I am hoping to hear something soon so I can get this done and over with.

RNtwoB · Oct 15, 2007

I understand your frustration. I too am waiting for a date to take the CPNE and like you it is driving me crazy as well:uhoh21:. If just doesn't seem fair that we have to wait 4-6 months. I'm so frustrated :angryfirethat I haven't even begun reading the CPNE guide. What's the point right now, I just applied last week and still have another 6 months before having to regurgitate the info anyway. However, it was suggested that I start reading the info now and apply it to my everyday practice so that is engraved in my memory, so that is what I'm trying to do. PM me, if you would like to vent together, share ideas :idea:for studying and bounce info off of each other. Were all in this together.

RNtwoB · Oct 15, 2007

Hello 2b_bsrn0523, how long did it take for you to get a date for your CPNE after you applied for it? I was thinking about taking it in NY also, thinking that I could possibly get a date sooner because there are more sites there, but I was told that the wait is about the same at all the centers in all the regions, is this true? Besides the CPNE Guide, did you use any other Excelsior resources to help prepare and study for the CPNE? I am considering doing the 3 day workshop to get a better understanding of what is required, what do you think? Any suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated and welcomed. I to am going to be another Excelsior Success Story as well.:balloons: Way to go!

RNtwoB · Oct 15, 2007

Anyone planning on taking the CPNE in the Southern Region in Atlanta or Savannah? How is it? Please advise.

moodychick, LPN · Oct 20, 2007

I am currently a student at EC. I am studying for NC 3. Is the exam as difficult as all the material to get through? I loved Maternity nursing as an LPN student but ended up an ER nurse for the last 35 years. There is certainly lots of material to cover but I am really interested in it!!! I hope I do well on the exam. Does anyone have any pointers? I would really appreciate any help I can get. Passed NC 1 with a "B".

Thanks so much!!

ex1140 · Oct 25, 2007

Is it true that the clinicals are only two days long? I find that frightening...

Can anyone tell me what they are like? I am considering giving it a try, but the clinical part...

How many years of nursing as an LPN is acceptable?

Do you need Med/Surg?

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2007

first thing, is it is not clinicals. it is a 2.5 day clinical evaluation. the evaluation consist of patient care situations that you must pass completely with no assist from the instructors. you have to have significant clinical experience to pass the exam.

is it true that the clinicals are only two days long? i find that frightening...
can anyone tell me what they are like? i am considering giving it a try, but the clinical part...
how many years of nursing as an lpn is acceptable?
do you need med/surg?

bsrn0523 · Oct 26, 2007

exactly, it is a common misnomer that the two and a half day evaluation is a teaching exercise. it is not, and those who treat it that way will fail miserably. you are expected to function as a new graduate rn. for instance, my first pt., - peds substitute, required iv antibiotics, subq meds, po meds, flushing of a hep lock, etc... this in addition to respiratory mngmt., v/s, pain eval, o2, ambulating, i/o, comfort measures, etc... this pcs started almost one hour late, so my time was reduced. i did it, all under the careful and watchful eye of the clinical examiner, who stood quietly but stoicly in the corner. i finished everything, and the documentation with three minutes to spare. i passed, and the ce said, "what you did right there, pressed for time and getting it done, was real nursing, that's what it is about." i would say that if i lacked clinical experience ( i have been an lpn for 10 years), it would have been very, very difficult to pass the cpne. functioning as a nurse prior to the exam was the single most critical element in passing the cpne.

jenn:balloons:

first thing, is it is not clinicals. it is a 2.5 day clinical evaluation. the evaluation consist of patient care situations that you must pass completely with no assist from the instructors. you have to have significant clinical experience to pass the exam.

TRACI1120 · Oct 27, 2007

I finished LVN/LPN school in May 07 and am almost done with Excelsior I found going right into it while fresh out of school worked for me. You can take NC 1 before you enroll. So you can get a feel for the process and see it will work for you. Also EBAY you can find used study materials there and save a lot of money. I am planning on attending the Chancellors care plan lab befor attempting the care plan test there are many programs that offer help(for a price) chancellors website is chancellorsonline.com if you are interested. DONT sign any contracts till you take NC 1 so you know if you want to persue this line of education (some people freak when tested, they generaly do not do well with excelsior) GOOD Luck

bsrn0523 · Nov 13, 2007

hi rntwob- i applied for the cpne in march of 07, received a date on my birthday, may 23, for september 7-9 in utica (a new ny site). i have heard that there is quite a wait now, but if i were you, i would call npac every day and ask them for a date, that's what i did. i took lynne's workshop, which was a two day intensive course. it really helped me with what to expect for the cpne, and i would recommend it. i also used the cpne excelsior lab kit and dvd, as well as lynne's lab skills dvd. if you study hard, set up a lab and practice pcs's at home, you can absolutely pass this exam. best of luck to you!

jenn, gn (waiting to take the nclex-rn):balloons:

hello 2b_bsrn0523, how long did it take for you to get a date for your cpne after you applied for it? i was thinking about taking it in ny also, thinking that i could possibly get a date sooner because there are more sites there, but i was told that the wait is about the same at all the centers in all the regions, is this true? besides the cpne guide, did you use any other excelsior resources to help prepare and study for the cpne? i am considering doing the 3 day workshop to get a better understanding of what is required, what do you think? any suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated and welcomed. i to am going to be another excelsior success story as well.:balloons: way to go!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

I was thinking about taking it in NY also, thinking that I could possibly get a date sooner because there are more sites there, but I was told that the wait is about the same at all the centers in all the regions, is this true?

I live a two hour drive from Albany and called about whether the CPNE dates are more quickly obtained here.

Nope.