LIZ31

Thank So much, the information you gave is great! I appreciate it! Take Care! Liz

Crystal, Hey girl! So what are the pre req's that EC will allow me to clep, do you know? How do I clep? Do I have to enroll in another school for that or just pay a fee? Do you know if you have to buy study material for that too? I'm hoping to get started next week (need the money to do it first)...I know, I know...lots of questions! I don"t like the uneasy feeling of being lost....(who does) I definately would like to keep in touch with you, to see how you are making out and for motivation for eachother. This site is Great for that. Most everyone is really awesome with information and encouragement! I think that tomorrow morning I will sit down after I send the kids off to school and map out my plan too, but I have to figure out my method first. Like what I can clep, and if I need EC's permission to clep or????? If anybody knows this, please let me know. Need a gameplan really quick here. While I am so pumped up to get moving. My husband walked out on us a few months ago for my best friend (another LPN) I am just now finding peace and finding strength in myself and my children. This has been a goal of mine and one that he didn't much care for. He always said I was trying to be better than him, when really I was trying to be better For our family. Now....I can fly! My children and I are worth it! I can't wait. I was a mess when he left but now I look at it like an opportunity, a blessing. I feel better and better everyday. So yes, I believe we can do it! Please keep me posted as to your progress and any other info you may have, and I will do the same. Liz

Crystal, Thanks for the info, it is encouraging hearing from someone who is essentially in the same boat. I appreciate your ideas and insight. I have looked into the study101 material and plan on using that as well. I wasnt sure if I wanted to try to clep some of my pre req's or not...I have absolutely no college credits to transfer, so I have to have everything! I really do dread the pre req's more so than the actual nursing modules. Sounds strange but I really have an issue with micro.. I want to do this as cheap as possible as I am sure you do too. Hey dont forget to check into scholorships through EC as well, they do have them and I know you need to fill out a FAFSA to be considered. I would love to finish this up asap as I am sure that is your goal too. I wish you nothing but the best and good luck on your test Thursday. What will you be taking? Did you have any transfer credits at all? Please keep me posted as to how you are doing, as I said it's nice to know someone is experiencing these challenges as well. We can do it! What a great lesson for our children as well Please dont be too hard on yourself about TCN like you said, at least it was only for pre req's...In the long run, it isn't going to matter as long as you pass. Take Care! Liz

Thanks, I will put my faith in God, and study, study, study! Then give it my best. :wink2: So sorry for your loss, It had to be a very difficult time for you on top of school. You made it, and I'm happy for you. Congrats to you passing it your first time, Thats Great!

I agree with the climb. I also LOVE the song you raise me up! Either would be great. A couple of other thoughts... "we can move the world" by Joe Crone " I believe I can Fly" R kelly " A moment like this" (this was our song during a video of our clinicals, classroom experiences, and pictures were playing behind all of us on stage) Hope these help! Congrats!

While "filling in" as a Nurse Manager initially for about a month, our facility had a state survey (of course) which everyone had expected. We did fine on state survey even being short staffed. What we did not expect was that about two weeks later..federal surveyors walked in! I persoanally had never heard of federal survey at the time. I was passing meds because the day nurse had called in. I had to do what was necessary and pass meds as well as Manage the Unit with care conferences etc. I was beside myself for a split second when I was told Federal surveyors were there. I had only been filling in for Nurse Manager for a couple weeks! Of course they wanted to see me passing meds which was fine. Then...they wanted to see me do My wound rounds (a duty of Nurse Manager) My floor had the worst wound in the facility. I asked an RN to come in to assist, (she was the in service educator) I washed my hands as I always do, kept myself as calm as possible and did very well I thought. At the end of the survey they commented on the wound care I had given In the exit. I was so relieved! The way I will approach the CPNE when it comes time will be with the same nervousness I am certain. However, I feel like alot of us as nurses have had to deal with very stressful situations all along, and we draw from those experiences and learn to adapt and do what is necessary to get things done in a caring, professional manner. Not saying I will not be nervous, I definately will. All I am saying is that we are always watched over at different times in our jobs, by people looking for us to do something wrong. Take a deep breath, provide good quality care to your patient, and walk away having done your best. I will study and go to a workshop. I have quite a distance to go before I get to my CPNE and i appreciate all the feedback on other peoples experiences with the clinical weekend. God willing, the end result will be a positive one from the CE.

Good for you! I just read through the thread and was hoping you didn't give up. I am just starting with everything so I have a long way to go, but I do wish you well. The workshop may make a big difference, along with the fact that this time you really know what to expect. Best of luck to you, keep us posted, and if you need any support or encouragement then you know there are alot of us here to support eachother!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

Have there ever been issues here in NY with EC? I would Imagine not, being they are based out of Albany, is that a safe assumption? Just curious. All this negativity in this thread is a bit discouraging. However, I will not be side lined by it. I will continue to persue my educational goals for myself and for my children. I feel that I am a very good nurse and I will achieve my goal one way or the other. I am still looking in to EC. Liz LPN

Thank you so much for your help! As I'm sure you know, this is all alot to take in. I would like to get everything moving as soon as possible so that I do not fall into another year of wishing I had. I will be asking EC about which courses they will let me clep. I appreciate the input. Liz LPN

Hi NC Girl, I just got off the phone with Excelsior, where I spoke with (moderator edit of name), she was very helpful in directing me to the publications area which broke down all the pre req's etc. Looks like a ton of work! Dont get me wrong, I knew this wasnt going to be a walk in the park. I'm just going to take it one step at a time, deep breaths, I just wonder if you know, of the General education requirements, what can i clep? I believe this will be a bit easier on my pocket if I try to clep some of these. Any thoughts? Thanks again, Liz

I am so happy that i decided to research this and was redirected to allnurses...I had joined allnurses in 2007 but I had basically read comments and didnt say too much. I had had an issue with Chancellors at the time. They had charged me for an entire program when I hadn't received one thing from them. Thay had frozen my bank account etc. I ended up getting a Lawyer an we fought it. We won. Never thought It was possible because of the contract but, my thought was that I was not going to be a carpet for them to walk all over. I could have laid down and paid but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, so I fought. Luckily. My advice to anyone trying to decide on distance learning is do your research. Do not go with the publishing comapanies! (just my oppinion) If this is the way you need to go with your education at this point, go right to Excelsior. You can apparently get guides and books from ebay and other sources for a fraction of the cost and no contract. (no worry of a frozen bank account ) At any rate, I had been trying to decide if Excelsior is the right route for me, or if Community College would better suit my needs. After careful consideration and so much helpful information from fellow nurses here at allnurses, I have decided to apply to Excelsior, get them to review my transcripts and tell me what I would need for them, then take a test before I enroll, to see how it works out for me. I am going to try to get this accomplished before January, as Community College starts then and I have already got everything in place as a back up. (I am dreading that route) I so much appreciate feedback from all of you, and give Kudos to all who have tried Excelsior's program. I understand that it will not be easy by any means however, it would definately be alot better for me and my family situation, if I can achieve my goals through Excelsior. I am hopeful, and with all this excellent advice from those of you doing it or having done it, I feel it is very much a possibility. Anybody who may have any advice as far as Clep or anything that could be cheaper or faster, would be greatly appreciated as I am a single mom of a 10, 13, and soon to be 16 year old. I have my LPN and no other transfer credits, so i assume I will be starting from scratch with Excelsior. Thanks so much and sorry to have chatted so long... Liz

Wow! Thanks for the advice! I will definately check with ec first. It would be worth the 75 dollars to save me a few classes if I didnt need them for EC. I get a bit nervous about the financial aspect at EC since there is no financial aid..I have read a little about some help with certain costs at EC, like the cpne. Have you heard of anything? Once again, being a single mom with three kids at home, has proven to be a hardship on the finances. Need whatever help I can get. Thanks. Liz

Thank You NC Girl, So are you saying to go ahead and apply to EC first, pay the 75...then instead of going to CC for all my pre req's see what they say? In that case are you rec. that I just do all my pre req's by test at EC? As i said before i am eligible for financial aid at CC, however, I would be willing to go the quickest route and am not looking forward to the pre req's at the CC. It is at least a 40 minute drive one way from my house and I am a single Mom of three. I understand that difficult will not be the word to describe the challenge ahead of me, but I don't believe Impossible would be the word either. Any help from fellow nurses would be and is greatly appreciated. I would love to get started right away. I cant even start pre reqs at CC until the end of Jan. and was thinking of how much I could accomplish by testing with EC prior to that. Thoughts? Thanks So Much! Sincerely, Liz

Hi Everyone! I haven't been here in quite awhile, but I have a question (s)...I have been accepted into my local CC for pre-req's..I am also looking into excelsior..My thought was to do my pre req's at the community college and then take all the nursing exams through Excelsior. I thought this would be a little less costly since I can get Financial aid at my community college.However, I would have to wait until at least 2011 here in NY to get into the nursing program at the CC. I have been an LPN for almost 6 years. I guess I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter? I can be very disciplined and study at home for my tests, but what difficulties am I looking at with Excelsior? Please let me know, I really appreciate all of your help in advance. I also heard that I could take tests before I enroll at Excelsior, any comments on that? Liz LPN