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I wasn't going to engage in any more of the dialog on this thread but your comment requires a reply. YES! Graduate Nurses should not be failing the NCLEX multiple times. I recently read an article here on "allnurses.com" pertaining to an individual who posted on Feb. 16, 2017 that she failed the NCLEX "11 times". That's right "11 TIMES"! The number of blog sites with people complaining about the methodology behind this testing is horrific. As of last week, a legal action has been filed against the NCSBN, placing them on notice they are being sued in Federal Court under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d) pertaining to "Testing Malpractice" and the inability to administer its NCLEX examination without fairness or without prejudice. I'm sick and tired of the "hazing" it takes to pass this exam. It is unnecessary and unwarranted and ITS GOING TO STOP! On June 22, 2020 a group of parents, on behalf of their minor children, have sued the Educational Testing Services along with The College Entrance Examination Board over Advanced Placement (AP) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) results and other conditions. What really pissed me off was the most recent audit report from 2018 revealing the College Board has $1,152,226,448.00 in Cash and Investments. GIVE ME A BREAK! How much to you think the NCSBN is holding onto since it costs $200 per attempt at the NCLEX, followed by individual State BON fees to receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter? These numbers make me sick. These agencies, including the NCSBN are creating unorthodox testing standards intentionally. Testing should not be designed to "trick" a student, it should be done in a manner that allows the student to demonstrate their core knowledge of information they can obtain from resources provided to them with the opportunity for remediation if they fail. When a nursing student fails the NCLEX, they get a pathetic Comprehensive Performance Report (CPR) indicating if you were "Above, Near or Below" the passing standard. That's it! No more, no less. There is NO remediation to know what you did wrong. I fully intend to bring this fight to the Courts, to the media and all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) if I must to finally say...enough is enough. Even during the period of a Pandemic, the NCSBN fully support returning the NCLEX testing standard back to its original format of max vs. min questions with 6 hr. limit. The United States is facing a MAJOR nursing shortage and we keep making it harder and harder for students to reach their goals because of a single testing standard. This is not only ignorant, it is reckless. When the opportunity comes for those of you, who at one time or another, failed the NCLEX at multiple attempts are asked to participate as a "Class Member", if you're to proud to ADVOCATE for a system of change, then please...OPT OUT! I don't want any of you receiving any compensation if you have lost your spine to advocate for change. Shame on you and shame on you "CommunityRNBSN" for insinuating I'm only suing because I failed. It's about principals and values, if you don't understand those concepts as an RN with a BSN...get out of nursing now. I'm not embarrassed by my failure(s), I'm embarrassed by the NCSBN setting such an unorthodox standard and obtuse methodology in testing. Bruse O.

Dear HiddencatBSN & Nursing Professionals, I want to thank each of you for your feedback. Some has been helpful while others simply believed I was "ranting" and "angry". Make no mistake about it, I'm depressed and disappointed. I will make this my last statement here so we can move on to other conditions. Before I go, just a few closing statements. HiddencatBSN claimed in a response that Paralegals should be required to take the same Bar Exam as a recent law student. Unfortunately, I disagree and they are not required to. Some states don't even have formal Paralegal training but are hired by law firms and provided OJT and are simply awarded a title. I wanted to make that distinction. I made that comparison based on the on-going dialog between testing and the various levels of degrees in nursing (for those following along). Second, I appreciate "Nurse Beth" who made the recommendation for "Progressive Independence" along with extended precepting periods of 1-yr. for new nurses. Some of the hospitals in my area have already implemented this form of training upon being hired and maybe it's the NCLEX replacement we need to consider moving into the 21st Century. HiddencatBSN along with Londonflo made arguments to suggest it was my responsibility to know what application I was filling out, particularly for a "Nursing Permit". The PA BON has been riddled with complications and although you both provided me with information on where to find the PA Statute in the PA Bulletin, at the time I completed my application to the PA BON the "link" was broken and not available. In fact, there have been so many complaints against the PA BON here is a link to such one article out of many, including 290 Google reviews not in favor of the PA BON. https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/nurse-licensing-board-pennsylvania-delays-complaints-20190911.html I recall looking back at an email I sent to the PA BON claiming various links on their site were broken or did not even exist when it claimed, "Click on this link" and the link was nowhere to be found. I wasn't able to review the information pertaining to the revoking of a "Nursing Permit" as a GN. Hence, I pray you understand some of the frustration with this system and why I have referred to it as a unorthodox, unwarranted "Hazing". Yesterday, I took my niece to a St. Luke's Care Now facility here in PA. She required two (2) vaccine shots for school (University of Pittsburg) but will be doing this semester via long-distance learning because the school is closed to in-person education. She required proof of a flu and meningitis booster vaccine. Initially, I left my niece go inside without me. She returned almost 8 minutes later to tell me they could not give her the shots. I asked for her to elaborate and she said, "The Nurse claims she can't give a meningitis shot" and more-so, "I can't get them both in the same day!" I was floored. In fact, I gasped. I got on of my car and said, "LET'S GO". When I approached the desk to speak with the nurse I asked for clarification why my niece could not get the shots today and she absolutely parroted the same information to me as she did to my niece. Sarcastically, I said, "You are an RN right?...and you're telling me not only can you as an 'RN' not adm. a vaccine but you're alleging she can't receive both in the same day?" I obtained her name and left SMH! We proceeded to a local CVS Pharmacy and presented the paperwork from her physician ordering the vaccines. Within 20 minutes, a Pharmacy Tech emerged and provided my niece with two(2) vaccines adm. in the B/L UE's. DONE! But according to all of you, the NCLEX exam is all about safety and making sure you can function as a RN with competency. Where is the competency in this example yesterday? The RN claimed she didn't know she could adm. a vaccine yet alone two at the same time. I've now switched from drinking to taking pills after this experience! Lastly, another member here made the statement, "There is a strategy to the test!". What strategy? Making the best educated guess makes you a paramount RN or LVN/LPN? Testing should not be designed to "Trick" someone but to test their core fundamental knowledge of material offered in resources and then provide for remediation when they fail. I've taken hundreds of test...all my life. Seemingly, I didn't fail out of high school. I became and "EMT" followed by "Paramedic" and some of you here didn't even know the difference between the two. I spent 23-yrs in the Army, so yah...I've been tested my entire life and I've learned from mistakes and failures. When you fail the NCLEX, you get a CPR (Candidate Performance Report) claiming your either "Above, Near or Below" the passing standard in various categories. There is NO remediation. How do I know if I got the Viagra question right and know if the client gets the medication stuck in their throat if they will get a stiff neck or not, or make a proper decision regarding Interdisciplinary Team questions, etc... I personally don't want to sue anyone. What I want is a fair system of testing so I can continue my education and start learning all there is to know about nursing. I have a thirst for medicine but I also have a disdain for obtuse testing methodologies. When new EMT's or Paramedic's and even RN students come ride with me on the ambulance, I provide them with no tricks or deceptions. I want them to know how we do things and if things go south, how we can have an AAR (After Action Review) to improve on pt. outcomes. WE ALL LEARN by experience. Congratulations to each and every one of you who passed the NCLEX at some point in your life. But you know how that experience changed your life for the good and maybe the bad. I know I'm not alone, I'm just being that guy who is standing on his chair at the moment potentially causing "necessary trouble" to call attention to a system I believe needs review. I was banking on re-entering the military as an Officer because even after 23-yrs., I want to serve my Country at the age of 47 and be proud of my accomplishments. This NCLEX exam is prohibiting me from achieving all of my goals. Thank you again for allowing me on your open forum to "vent", "rant", "shout", "throw things at home" and get it all out. I have a lot of thinking to do on what I need to do next. If you see me on CNN, Fox, NBC or some other news channel...don't judge...just send me a message that my hair wasn't looking stellar that day and we will agree to disagree. God bless to each of you, stay safe out there and GO VOTE in Nov. Bruse O. (No animals, children or feelings were hurt in the creation of this final message.)

Ahhhh, see...now your tracking. You just proved my point. I needed someone to make that statement. Thank you kindly. This form of reasoning says...just know it for the test and then learn as you go. Every facility/institute or agency has their own set of rules on how to do nursing. I loved when my professor would tell us, "Don't answer that question like how you do it in the real world" and I would say, "But I'm not going to be working on mannequins, I will be working on REAL people" in the real world. There was often awkward silence afterward followed by an under the breathe claim of "I know but just follow the book for now". SMH! Bruse

Dear Londonflo, Unfortunately, when a GN files their request for initial testing to the PA BON, their first request must be completed "on-line". During this process, they offer only a box to check asking the GN if he/she also wants to have a "Temporary Permit" issued while they await testing. It is nothing more than a box to check. Once you check the box, additional fees are added to include the cost of a permit when you pay. Just so we are clear, I was never provided with the information you provided for the PDF link regarding temp. permit restrictions if a student fails the NCLEX. Any subsequent applications to the PA BON must be done by paper format and since the permit was already restricted after my January failure, I found no need to request a permit application. I never completed an actual "Permit" application in the first place procedurally. I resent your comment about lawsuits and resolving disputes. 126+ nursing students would disagree with you regarding my level of advocacy to change a system. Sometimes, it takes legal action to shine a light on a broken system. I'm not the party who created the system, I'm just trying to become a better person and I didn't realize this experience was going to cost me my sole. Bruse.

Thank you for the resource. I see you amended your statement about my attending school in PA. I was going to correct you. Unfortunately, neither my school or anyone I spoke with at the PA BON referenced 49 Pa. Code § 21.7. Temporary practice permits. - PA Bulletin. I never saw it. Epic failure! If the school or state didn't bring it to your attention, the student can not be held liable for such ignorance. We live by the expression, "Ignorance of the law is no Excuse". It is impossible for anyone to know every law for every circumstance. I simply feel the PA BON had an obligation to make certain a student apply for such a permit was "aware" of the PA Bulletin and they did not. If it would have been brought to my attention, I would not have paid the extra fee. My apprehension to take the job rested not on my confidence to pass the test but rather listening to my peers who have taken the test previously. In most instances...people would respond with "Good luck with that one" or "I have no idea how I passed that thing". Some claim, "Better you than me because if I had to take it today, I would fail it miserably". If so much credence is placed on a test to clear you to practice but after you start practicing you default to another form of nursing practice, what is the point? As you know, I spent 23-yrs in the Army. We had a philosophy, "Train as you fight" so why don't we "Test as we practice"? It makes common sense! If someone put a blindfold on me and escorted me to a shooting range and said, "Soldier, I need to shot all the targets to prepare for your role as a Soldier and to defend your Country". If I were to deploy into combat with that form of teaching/testing strategy...GOD HELP ME! I'd be dead before getting a single round off. Bruse

The school I attended in FL was accredited. Where did you find the individual state breakdown of NCLEX testing by chance. Is it on the NCSBN site? My cohort (or class) had approx. 52 students. Many of them transferred into the school after having sever difficulty at Broward College in Coral Springs, FL. Bruse

Fortunately, I understood the message "llg" was trying to convey. And to piggy-back on your conclusion, I was told by a host of nurses not to apply at several different hospitals here in the Allentown, PA area if I didn't have a BSN degree or if I wanted to work in the ER. The hospital I referenced before in an earlier blog post, who offered me a GN position in the ER, was a Stewart Hospital based in Easton, PA and was recently bought out by a larger hospital system. Nurses here in the PA area have been told...get your BSN or "find a new job!". The ASN program I attended in FL was closed voluntarily so it could submit the proper documentation to the FL BON to receive BSN level recognition. It was a fully accredited program. My local community college also closed their Associate Degree program. That was a mistake! However, through all my didactic training and clinical periods, I was never required to be a "charge nurse" or make big decisions pertaining to department budgets, staffing, equipment, Q&A or other pt. care aspects...but I was tested on it! Was that fair? Should a Paralegal be required to take the same Bar Exam a recent law student is required to take after completing law school? Bruse Bruse

Wuzzie, I have no idea of what the pass rate is at my school. The school was based in Coral Springs, FL. I live in PA. So, I'm taking NCLEX-RN in PA. Interestingly, all of those students who took the test in FL, have passed from my class. The school had a great reputation but the nursing program closed shortly after my class so it could provide a higher level of education for a BSN program. Unfortunately, the NCSBN is not breaking down pass/fail rates per state. They are only providing National statistics. Sadly, after reviewing the pass/fail rates of the document provided below, there is a significant problem with the pass rates of this test. Pay attention to the time period of Oct. - Dec. 2019 with a 72.5% pass rate for Associate Degree students. What is most troubling are the numbers for the "repeat" test takers and the overall percentage of failures. Only during one period btwn July - Sept. 2019 did the pass rate exceed 50%. Atrocious and disturbing. Now if someone can find a breakdown by individual states, that would be interesting to see, because I thought this was a National test. If one state is doing poorly do you blame the student...the state...or the school? And remember, I came from a FL nursing program after transferring credits from an on-line non-brick & mortar school. Bruse

I will admit, PA is one of those states that will allow GN's to practice prior to sitting for the NCLEX. I was offered a job at a local hospital in the ER, I was beyond tempted because it was what I went to school for. However, I simply wanted to wait until I passed the test so I didn't become confused based on "textbook" practice vs. "real world" bad habits. It was just personal choice. After I tested in January 2020 and failed, the PA BON sent me my failure notice along with a pleasant "STOP WORKING NOW NOTICE" in the mail claiming the permit I applied for (which cost $65.00) in addition to the standard ($75.00 application fee to test) was being REVOKED! The permit had a 1-yr. expiration date on it and nowhere on the application, the PA BON site or any other resource was I ever informed if I failed the NCLEX, the permit would be REVOKED! So, if I was banking on keeping the ER job, I needed to pass the NCLEX and if I would have left my former employer as a Paramedic, I highly doubt I would have just gotten my job back. So let's assume you leave your job, take a GN position and fail the NCLEX. Who is responsible for the failure? You? NCSBN? Your school? Your professors? Who would now pay my bills after no longer being allowed to continue working in the capacity of GN and must wait 45-days just to retest? Unemployment Compensation? Should they pay my bills? WHO? (And I don't mean to shout...just trying to make a stern point). The fact of the matter is, I made a very intelligent decision not to take the GN position in the ER banking on passing the NCLEX. I would have lost my job, my car, my home and dignity all at the same time. I almost forgot to mention the $23K in student loans I have to repay. Bruse

Finally....someone who gets it! (Standing Ovation).

Wuzzie, Thank you for the inquiries. I promise, I'm no Trump and I will be glad to see him go but this a topic for a different venue. I have done extremely well using UWorld, mostly in the 80% area of testing. I require additional remediation here and there on medications because I'm not well versed to using so many in the pre-hosp. arena. Based on all the med questions, isn't that what a PDR is for? I feel like the NCLEX exam is requiring me to take a test for the entry level of Pharmacist! I'm not a Pharmacist. If I don't know a medication, that is what we do research for before administering the medication. I have also used Saunders Comprehensive Review (8th ED.), Exam Cram for NCLEX Review followed by the 5-wk NCSBN study plan. I can't reiterate how the questions I was exposed to on the NCLEX had no reflection on all the studying and review. I don't want to violate any particular rules or regulations but the NCLEX asked me about several medications (at least 5) that I recalled after the test. I went to my car, wrote them down and then went home to my resources. NONE...I mean NONE of those medications were even discussed or listed in any of the resources I utilized. How am I suppose to take a test when material isn't even covered on the exam? I'm just asking? Bruse

Hoosier RN "Boards for licensure are to help ensure public safety at a basic level, not to make people feel bad or feel like failures". I just took a handful of prilosec to swallow that statement. Why are nurses claiming to be suicidal yet along depressed? That was one of the topics Allnurses.com elected to address right? Depression and the nursing practice. So when your entire career is banking on the passing of a single test so you can provide for your family, make ends meet, feel resolved after thousands of dollars of students loans you have to repay...but can't pass a manipulative test, how is a licensure suppose to not make people feel bad or like a failure. Do you even know what it was like to have to tell my peers, my former professors, my employer, my family and friends that I failed for the "second" time. Do you have any idea what that feels like? Bruse

Wuzzie, I'm sorry! I thought nurses were suppose to be advocates? I almost remember eating and regurgitating that statement all throughout school and clinical's. Did I fail to understand what advocacy means? I was never implying that a test wasn't necessary, what I'm implying is the testing methodology. Since when do SATA questions demonstrate someone is competent enough to achieve a nursing license? OK, OK...so I can select 2 out of 3 correct answers. So I'm an incompetent and bad nursing student? I guess since some people claim to fail this test sometimes 5-times in a row and still go out in the world and practice medicine that's OK also, who cares how many times you fail or what it does to you as a person (emotionally). I don't have a "threatening" demeanor, I have the will to support a cause because the system needs to change. It has gone on long enough. When I log into a site like this and someone here (who I read about) claims they want to leave nursing and are even "suicidal" because of nursing...THAT is a problem. For anyone who turns their back on supporting a change to this system, I say this to you...SHAME ON YOU! emtpbruse

Dear Londonflo, I did receive the testing feedback from the NCSBN on my NCLEX failure performance. WOW!, it was stellar, I did worse than I did the first time...even after using the NCSBN's learning exams / 5-week study material. That was 5-weeks wasted! Effective today, I filed notice to the NCSBN in Chicago, IL they have been issued a "Writ of Summons" pertaining to my efforts to bring a "Class Action" lawsuit against the testing methodology. ANY existing Graduate Nurse or existing Nurse who failed the NCLEX 2 or more times will be allowed to enter the action as a "Class Member" and receive compensation. I'm no longer going to tolerate this behavior when we need nurses on the front lines. Nursing students who go through vigorous schooling following by peer precepting when they get hired. If your an unsafe nurse, THAT is the time to correct the actions while you are working with an experienced nurse. That way...YOU LEARN from your mistakes. I fail a test and learn nothing! In Pennsylvania, we have RN programs consisting of diploma programs, Associate Degree Programs (ADN/ASN) and BSN programs. All of which you can complete PRIOR to sitting for the NCLEX. However, all of these program students sit for the SAME NCLEX test. Someone with a BSN is more at an advantage than someone with a ADN/ASN degree vs a diploma certificate. How is this form of NCLEX testing even remotely fair??? I was asked a host of questions on the NCLEX placing me into the role of "Charge RN" and needing to make decisions regarding staff, policies and budgets. How is that relevant to my ASN degree? I'm not a nurse manager. I didn't get exposed to those educational resources. I implore all of you nurses to advocate for this legal action. You are ADVOCATING for change. My comments here will no doubt be modified and that will be another legal matter I will contend with. Respectfully, A competent Paramedic but not competent enough to be an RN!

DEPRESSION...BLAHAHA. Let's talk about depression. You work yourself to death just so you can go to college to better yourself and your education. You forfeit commitments to family, vacations and reduce your work schedule just to study, do clinical's and meet deadlines. You eventually graduate from a nursing program after thousands of dollars in debt and then find yourself struggling to pass the NCLEX exam...which costs another $200 for each attempt followed by additional application fees to your individual state's BON. Oh, and the criminal Hx check each time you need to re-register also. I have failed the NCLEX 2-times and my level of depression is beyond what ANYONE can fathom. I've actually come to hate my decision to become a nurse. Trying to get into the club of nursing is like a "HAZING" an UNORTHODOX HAZING and I'm sick and tired of jumping through hoops. I work as a Paramedic and I can do more than a nurse can do...yet, by failing the NCLEX somebody wants to stand up and shout its all about "safety...safety...safety...". Do you want me to start a laundry list of RN's I've seen in practice who have demonstrated HORRIBLE safety and even based on negligence have KILLED someone???? DO YOU? I can provide a list! I'm in and out of these nursing home daily, I could write a book if you want? So DON'T preach to me about SAFETY and NCLEX style questions of SATA. It's time the NCSBN is sued in a class action lawsuit to stop the madness!

On August 7, 2020 I took the NCLEX for the second time and FAILED. I paid $70.00 to the NCSBN for a 5-wk study course, including test questions. I used UWorld and other resources such as Sanders and NCLEX cram study guides. NOTHING...NOTHING I reviewed assisted me with the NCLEX exam several days ago and I believe I did worse the second time than I did the first time! The computer shut off prior to even reaching the 60 question mark. I've worked as a Paramedic for 25-years. I have a legal education also and I served in the U.S. Army for 23-years as a Medical Specialist (68W) and as a Medical Logistics NCO (68J). I have the ability to practice with a host of medications as a Paramedic, start IV's, initiate IO's, Intubate, stellar knowledge of PALS & ACLS. I can perform cricothyroidotomies and needle chest decompressions ALL WITHOUT NEEDING AN ORDER from some doctor. I graduated top 3 of my nursing class and passed all of the required exit HESI exams. I receive a clinical excellence award from my education center for best clinical student. However, this HAZING process of trying to pass this NCLEX exam is going to stop! Nursing school has taught me one thing...to advocate for others and that's exactly what I'm going to do! Basically, by failing the NCLEX, you're telling me I'm not good enough to be a nurse, but I'm good enough to be a Paramedic and save your life if you call 9-1-1.

I am retesting at the end of this month. I have exhausted my resources to review. Thank you for the additional clarification and posting for the ATI NCLEX prep.

JUNE 2017 FCCA UPDATE INFO! For those of you currently registered as a student with Excelsior College (EC) and express interest in the FCCA process….sit down and listen. These are two (2) phase three classes the college added a few years ago. Mostly because they want your money and here is why. The college fully discloses that these classes are NOT TO TEACH you anything. In fact, they are theory” based tests and you can study all the resources you want but in the end, you find yourself reading a question and asking yourself…what would I do if? There are now 75 questions NOT 60 as prior posts have suggested and you need a 70% to pass. The take away point here is there is no point to the FCCA classes and it only delays your ability to become eligible for the CPNE exam. Every time you fail, you must re-register, pay the fee and wait another LONG 8-weeks. OH and that's another issue for those of you so anxious to take the CPNE clinical. The waiting period as of today (2017) is approx. 13-14 months after passing your FCCA classes. NO, I DID NOT STUTTER. You get to sit back and waste your time away until EC reaches out to you with your test date or a cancellation date from someone who could not attend their testing date! Are you sitting down still? Good, because even after you pass the CPNE its not over yet. The college YET AGAIN added another mandatory 12-week class that you must go home and register for which cost $500 dollars. The cost is apparently being waived and the goal of this course is to prepare you for your state's NCLEX-RN exam. EC WILL NOT send any information to your home state that you are eligible to take the NCLEX until you get a green light” on the Virtual on-line class. That email and requirement was sent to students on or about Dec. 2016. Make sure you read it. So if your fee is waived the first time and you fail to get a so called green light” does that mean you can continue to have the fee waived again and again and again??? Good question because EC fails to address this matter! This college was SUED in 2014 with a very rapid settlement in 2015 under a Class Action and several existing students, including myself are in contact with the prior Class Action Attorney. Very soon an Injunction” will be filed against this college to prevent the entry of any additional students until this program is FIXED. Good luck to each of you.

Here are the results you spoke of...I did find them. I knew where they were, but I registered in 2014 at a time results were not shared with students, just to be clear! These results were only made public following a law suit. I am also not jumping up and down about these ratios. They are horrible, nothing to be proud of. Result: Between Fiscal Years 2010 and 2015 (July 2009 - June 2015), 75.2% of students passed the CPNE by June 30, 2015. Of those individuals who passed the CPNE by June 30, 2015: 67.3% passed on their first attempt 26.0% passed on their second attempt 6.7% passed on their third attempt And as I interpret it, it cost each student who took the CPNE $2,255 dollars each attempt. So if you were one of the 3rd attempts, congratulations, you just received a debt of $6,765 plus hotel and travel expenses not included. Pffftttt

**Correction...I once read a review from a student who attended the CPNE who also was a former Soldier, now Veteran. I did not want to offend my fellow Vets out there.

Here in PA, we offer a PHRN (Pre-Hosp. RN) program to allow RN's the opportunity to bridge their skills into the pre-hosp. arena. It is a 3 month class designed to align RN's with the ability to work independently but without insulting their intelligence. I was apparently mislead by EC when they claimed my experience and Paramedic education would allow me to excel through their ADN program. That is a FALSE statement which was used as a recruiting tool. I also was misinformed of the associated costs for the CPNE (per attempt) or prolonged waiting periods. For the record, Paramedic tests (in PA) do not include SATA questions and therefore the NCSBN should take that into consideration. I stand by my previous statement, which you did not argue, EC's testing practices are not objective testing methods. If joining the NCSBN into a legal action will warrant further attention to a change in testing standards (as an advocate), then I welcome it. I actually chuckled at your statement claiming, "By the way, I notice you didn't mention one word about amazing rate of students who passed the FCCA and the CPNE". In fact, as a Paralegal, I am well versed in reading Court opinions and I read the EC Settlement Agreement cover to cover. EC, NEVER informed me of a pass/fail ratio prior to or post Court Settlement, causing them to be in breach of the Settlement Agreement. Therefore, I can not speak of this "amazing" success rate you speak of. I was also never informed of the FCCA standards, failing rates or the need to repeat the course for another full 8 weeks if you did not pass. Knowing what I know today, I would have NEVER affiliate with this college. The failure of the FCCA based on my level of current education and experience demonstrates a testing method specifically designed to fail students unnecessarily. The key concept being "Unnecessarily". Contrary to your belief, my level of education and experience should have well prepared me for this course. It is an injustice and dehumanizing to intentionally cause for a student to have his/her educational goals retarded by designing an exam that you can only pass if you GET LUCKY. Personally, I am now emotionally compromised at my failure, the now extended timeline needed to continue, the financial burden assigned and the distraught at the ignorance the college has demonstrated in failing to address this on-going problem. Any student who has recently failed the FCCA or CPNE exams in the last year are now apart of a group of students able to raise the issue of fraud and deceptive practices after Trump University set the bar and legal precedent. EC now falls into this category. EC can no longer commercialize on the concept that your "experience" will benefit you in any way in degree completion or in fact, obtain a degree that will be recognized in the State in which you reside. This was another misleading propaganda tactic worthy of a State Attorney General investigation as a Non-Profit College. Apparently, I require a college degree with several years experience to achieve, at best, an entry level job and yet our President, who ran a college designed on fraud with no college education can run our Country! Rant over, #dropsmic I'm not a bitter student! I am student, none-the-less who believes in fairness. I have read the forums you have suggested and from my view, they are not favorable to on-line distance learning but were favorable for the so called, brick-and-mortar colleges. Those colleges were close to home, affordable and did not fail students at alarming rates. That was not their goal. There goal was to see students SUCCEED at all costs. One student after another who has been sent home from the CPNE because of a stupid technicality, those instructors should be FIRED. I suppose for every task or test I ever faced in the Army while attending medical training, I guess they should have just sent me home and said...TAKE CARE, good luck. We wouldn't have any Soldier's left to fight and defend our Country if that were the case. I find EC course and abrasive testing methods deplorable and those responsible for failing any student unnecessarily can, by law, be held accountable. The prior Class Action against EC has set the tone and stage that students are NOT going to tolerate being failed unnecessarily and I pray that each testing location offered by EC for the CPNE is made aware of this standard. Unlike other students who may not share in my legal knowledge, I will not require an Attorney to make a statement. I will drive all the way to NY to file each and every document and motion as needed to facilitate change. The last legal action against EC cost $300,000 in legal fees from the Plaintiff's Attorney which was paid by EC. If $300,000 does not send a clear message that testing standards are not in-line with fairness, I don't know what it is going to take to send the correct message. In closing, last week, I transported a patient to the hospital in cardiac arrest. The RN receiving the pt. (in the E/R) could not identify the pt.'s rhythm (V-Fib) and had little understanding as a BSN on what to do and had to call others to help. Nobody could find a code cart and then when they did, the RN had no idea if she should use 1:1000 or 1:10,000 EPI. Previously, an extended care facility RN could not make the distinction between a biliary tube from a foley catheter! Last year, I encountered a RN with a BSN degree who had no idea how to start an IV. Are you kidding me with this? This education system is broken and I am now 25K in debt from my affiliation with EC and most likely will never see my degree because of unorthodox testing standards. Oh, btw, I was fully aware of the APA format and I also excelled in English I & II. I understand the concept of grammar and punctuation as a Paralegal, however I was not taking an English class, I was taking nursing classes designed to demonstrate my understanding of nursing concepts and care plans. The rubric was over critical of punctuation and the use of non-US resources the EC library even recommended. I'm glad you found the ability to adapt and overcome. Maybe you have the time, energy and money to just shrug your shoulders and say, I failed. Some of us have set goals and expectations, have families to raise and sought out this course through EC because they believed it would be an easy transition and FAIR based on the advertised "bridge" concept. I once read a review from a student who attended the CPNE who also was a former Veteran. He claimed his experience in Army Basic Training was cake compared to the CPNE treatment and testing. Shameful.

Dear BSNbeDONE, Thank you for taking the time to reply. My registration for the FCCA 247C was completed at the same time of registration for 247A in Dec. 2016, just for clarification. I also want to address your position statement regarding, Dr. Jekyll vs. Mr. Hyde. My goal is not only to advocate for myself but for those students who have also failed. Previously, I did reach out to the college even when I felt my passing of several of the additional nursing classes contained content that was not in-line with academic standards or within fair testing practices. Personally, I think I could have achieved a much higher grade if I wasn't critiqued on "punctuation" for an online discussion thread vs. my understanding on the subject matter. I have not only spent 23 years in the Army as a Medic and practiced in a combat environment, I have been a Paramedic for 20 years. I am well trained and versed in ACLS, PHTLS, PALS, Intubation, IO Access, Cricothyroidotomies, Needle Chest Decompression, OBGYN, Pharmacology, IV access, etc... This EC course was designed to recognize these CLINICAL skills so I don't have to spend hours upon hours proving what I do on a daily basis throughout my career. That goes for the LPN's also. However, I find the testing material is not in line with those accomplishments and in fact, designed to FAIL. I am embarrassed at my FAILING of the FCCA based on my level of experience and it should be an embarrassment to the college as well. I have taken many tests throughout my lifetime. I even attended college to be a Paralegal in addition to my medical studies as a Paramedic. NEVER, in my life, have I been subjected to unorthodox testing questions such as "Select All That Apply". This does little to demonstrate knowledge based questioning, PERIOD! It is therefore, not objective. I also protest your opinion that based on my current "attitude" that I will not succeed in the CPNE testing should I continue forward. If the testing is fair, non-biased and conforms to the course material then NOBODY should fail. The fact so many are failing is appalling and demonstrates there is a problem with the testing material, design and outcome. Using what I call, statutory rules of construction, 17 students sue the college in a Class Action in 2014 citing various areas of discrimination, breach of contract and unorthodox testing procedures causing students to fail at an alarming rate which demonstrates a significant problem the college is failing to address. My use of any additional resources such as Studyguide101 was only secondary to the already followed course material recommended by the college. I believe you assumed I only followed those resources. Unfortunately, I will be left with only one alternative if I can not find another college to transfer to, SUE THE COLLEGE to continue to advocacy for change because that is what I am suppose to do!

FAILED FCCA 247A today! Not impressed and I think the testing for this course is unorthodox. The questions are more theory based and don't be fooled, study guides from studyguides101 will do nothing to help you. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! In fact, the reading material chapters did little to prepare me as a student for this exam. Now, I am registered for FCCA 247C, which means I am now 8 wks behind again in completing my academic requirements and must repay the course fee. I should have NEVER affiliated with this college. I need to determine if a traditional community college will accept my credits and apply to a RN program not designed to fail. Following a class action lawsuit against the college in 2015 from students who complained about the CPNE requirements and massive failures, I would have expected the Dean and Faculty Program Director to review the curriculum to determine FAIRNESS and common sense questioning not designed to fail to the student. This is an outrage.

Just took FCCA 247A and I am FULLY prepared to defend myself against this college if they believe I breach academic standards. First, one writer / student posted their use of studyguide101 as being a direct tribute to their success. I would have to disagree. I spent the $17 dollars to download the content study guides specific to FCCA 247A & 247C and NONE of the content material contained on that material was testable or benefited me as a student. I personally, found the exam an extremely poor way of testing and I am also prepared to tell you that academically, I am a great student and I apply myself 110%. But I FAILED the first of two FCCA tests and I am disturbed by the method of testing or PURPOSE of the FCCA's. The testing material DOES NOT align with the chapters recommended or Excelsior College study guides you are required to research, download and review. IF you fail, you must repeat the course. You get 3 chances and then you are disenrolled from the nursing program. The testing, in my opinion, was designed to create confusion and to FAIL the student. This will extend your ability to graduate and move forward because you must REPEAT the entire 8 wk. course. That is deplorable and unorthodox. Save yourself the time of reading the chapters...the test is primarily theory based. I detest this form of testing to validate knowledge of a subject where 20 different people are going to conclude 20 different responses. Save yourself the money on studyguide101, NOT WORTH IT...PERIOD. If you were to ask me a question concerning the outcome of a patient with a specific lab value, that would be worth testing...asking me a question of what I think my reply should be to a patient based on a particular scenario...no learning opportunity there!