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I passed first time at Racine. I did however go to a workshop. I felt that that workshop was ok...but didn't help me feel as prepared as I wanted to feel. What really helped was practicing. I did however get the CD of how to pass the stations. Watching this through over and over did help. Here is some simple advice. Keep your nerves in check! If you let your nerves get the best of you, you will fail. Learn your critical elements and memorize them!!!!! I made flash cards with little sayings for each critical element. Make a plan. This is something that I did learn from the workshop. Make a grid. You have several critical elements that have to be met each and every PCS. If you don't hit them you fail. I watched over and over my fellow students fail because they forgot to do something as simple as check the name band. Take a deep breath and remember that although two hours seems like a long time, when you are nervous you can run out of time! Be prepared for anything. Get your nursing diagnosis book and flag what is the most common...what you can use for anyone. Don't write in your book! You can highlight and flag but no writing. The last thing you want them to do is tell you you can't use your book. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Hey everyone...it's been quite awhile since I have posted but I wanted to give you guys that are in Excelsior a heads up. When I started Excelsior they told me that I needed one English credit and could write a paper and turn it in with fees to a BYU prof. BYU cancled that program in June, and no one informed me. Needless to say, I am done with all my nursing theories as well as the CPNE and am having to take an Engl. class. I chose to go through BYU because that is one of the classes that Excelsior recommended when I did a search for what would fit that requirement. (You could take one of the Eng. tests through Pearson but that looked like you would need to know way too much info!) This is where it gets sticky! It is a go at your own pace! NOT!!! My instructor takes her time getting any of the assignments back to me....2+ weeks, (although she is required to have them back in 2) and at one time I stopped turning in assignments because I had no clue as to how I was doing. Why continue writing if your not making the grade right? I am now trying to get an approval on my research project and she wont return any emails, or my proposal that approves or disapproves the topic. This is the last thing I have to do because the last three assignments are all based on this topic. Calling everyday doesn't help either. At one point I talked with a supervisor and that got some of the papers graded but I am back at square one again. This is all I need to graduate and to be eligble to sit for boards. I am giving you this info just so that you guys know what you are getting yourselves into. Good luck! J

I am considering taking the Clep humanities test for a few reasons. It's cheaper, and I wont have to take two classes. Has anyone taken this test? I would appreciate any info that you can give me. I have this and the CPNE to go. Thanks!

Has any of you taken the clep exam for humanities? I am contemplating taking this test while waiting for my test date, it's the last thing I have to do. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks, Jeanette

Don't do it! You will be paying a lot of money for something that you will most likely be unhappy about. They are only giving you study material...and not great study material in my opinion. Go to EC, find out the book list and then buy the books at Amazon. I bought all my books for around 200/used. I have taken all but two tests and passed with A's and B's. You still have to enroll with EC, pay the tuition, pay for the tests and practice exams, etc. If you really like TCN material, go to Ebay and find it there. At least the amount of money you will be spending wont be as bad. You will be forking out much more money than you have too. I hope this helps. Good luck with your studies. Jeanette

Thanks for the info. I can't believe that I am so close...yet so far. I understand that you always need to look towards taking the CPNE this close to being done. I am just freaking out because I don't want to be snowed out and have to reschedule and pay again. Any other info will be great. Jeanette

I am planning to take my last test Oct. 11th. So of course I am thinking ahead to CPNE. Any suggestions as to where the best place to take the test would be? I am guessing it will be around Jan/Feb. Thanks Jeanette

The study guide I used was from EC. It's the free guide that you can either down load or call and have them send it to you. My main study methods was reading, and doing the practice test. I wrote down notes as I studied, and then reveiwed them as I went along. I hope this helps. If I can help with anything else let me know! J

Hey every one...I am going to try and take NC 4 in around 3 weeks. Is there any notes or advice available? I haven't seen much talk about nc 4...does that mean it wasn't a hard test? J

Hey everyone....I took NC 3 yesterday and passed with an A! I think that that was one of the hardest test's I have ever took. Thanks for the notes! J

I don't think that buying the newest additions is necessary. I am doing ok with the last edition. There are some of the books that I bought the up to date edition, because I thought it was important like me pharm. book. I did buy used through Amazon, which saved me quite a bit of money. Good luck! J

I am scheduled to take NC 3 in two weeks. I have been focused on maternal child because that is the biggest portion of the test. Anyone else that has taken it recently that has any thoughts as to what to study for? I try to follow the content guide but I feel like I am pulled in several directions. Thanks Jeanette