Kylea

I have yet to hear of anyone who has gotten past the BoN in CA with Excelisor. The only recommendation I have for you if you have to finish with Excelsior instead of changing programs (trust me, I completely understand about the financial aspects!) is to look for a job within the Veteran's Affairs system. You don't have to have a license from the state you are working in. Because it's a government agency, you just have to be licensed in the US. If, however, you plan on staying in CA after his tour of duty is up in San Diego, I would consider trying another route, as difficult as that may be financially. The CA board has said they will evaluate on a case by case basis. My understanding of that is that they are looking for the clinical experience, which, we all know, Excelisor doesn't require. (completely overlooking the fact that anyone getting into that program has worked as an LPN....) If you have whatever the hours of experience are, and it's in ALL of the fields they require (peds, maternity, psych etc) you might be able to get by. Like I started with, I haven't seen anyone do it. (I think it's something like 500 hours) Because my husband and I will most likely be going back to CA when he gets out of the military, I dropped Excelsior and am going with Indiana State because I can still do it distance and will be able to get my license in CA. Good luck to you with whatever you choose. PM me if you have any questions. PS: The CA board SUX for giving straight answers and even being able to get someone on the phone!

I took the CLEP exam they recommend and didn't score high enough for them (passed ACE req but the school wanted higher). I am taking Coastline Community College's distance program CIS100. It's a good course, the instructor seems pretty cool, and the material is easy to cover. It's all book on CD and you do the CD stuff for the chapter and submit. The class hasn't actually started yet, but I talked to the instructor and explained that I was moving and he told me I could get started on the chapters early. Does anyone have recommendations for study material for Adult I? I have the book from TCN, but man! I get four or five chapters in and then throw my hands up and walk away....it just seems like so much material for one test. Any flash cards that were helpful?

Hi all, I'm baaaaack :) Well, things didn't work out for me moving to Las Vegas, so I am moving back to IL in Sept and guess what?! You got it, starting ISU back up :) Just have my PC course, Adult I challenge exam and the science portion of the TEAS to take! Hopefully I will be starting in January! ~Smashley10- I took the Exelsior Micro exam and got a B...I read the book in two afternoons and took it shortly after. The material (from what I remember) pretty closely followed the study guide. It's been long enough that I don't really remember what sections were covered more than others, but the book was pretty good coverage.

Most BSN programs require Gen Chem and O/Bio Chem, for 10 units. Four each for lecture and another unit each for lab or however they split it up. Good luck to you! Let me know if you find a stats class....the program I am enrolling in has a table of transferable courses and so far I haven't found a stats class that transfers.

I'm doing Weber's Gen Chem right now and will be taking Bio-chem next semester. It's relatively easy (it is Chem) and it does have a lab component that is accepted by most programs that require a lab. It is a bit pricey, but you can make payments.

Hello again! I hope studying is going well for everyone! I have learned some devastating news for myself and this program lately; I am moving to Las Vegas in two weeks and this program isn't recognized in the state at all! So I am going to have to drop it and do the on campus program in LV. Good luck to you all! See you all on the flip side when we are all RNs :)

I really didn't want to add to the bruhaha....but. I can say, at least for my part, the only time I get upset when someone makes a blanket statement about LPN vs RN is when someone assumes that I cannot do anything and/or am not a 'real' nurse because I am not an RN. I am a nurse, I went to school, I can think. Yes, there are restrictions in what I can do. Just because I cannot do certain skills myself does not mean that I do not have the critical thinking skills to call issues to the attention of the RNs I work with.

Riderd I use those and I also use the college network's resource center. They have all the modules you purchased on there with two sets of review questions. https://tcn.learn.com/custom/customLoginPage.asp?lcid=178412&secure=true Not sure if it is open to everyone yet or not. I think it should be as long as you purchased your materials from TCN

riderd- I am working on adult right now.....and by working on, I mean it's sitting on my desk and I look at the cover and think about opening it :) I have a CD review that I used for LPN boards and I will be using that as well. The online review that TCN offers is pretty helpful too. The peds test had some of the same questions from the review. Not many but a few. But it kind of helps you know what you need to focus on.

She's in this thread; I recommend scrolling through. When you find her name you can click and go to her page. Then you can write her a message to ask specific questions.

riderd- Is 224 Mother and child? If it is (and I honestly cannot remember which number is what anymore!?!?!) I had JUST had my baby when I took it, so I was fairly familiar with the information. I did the study questions in the CSM and scored around 85% with that info and passed the test on the first try. I of course lost the book about a week before my exam, so I know I could have done better, but honestly with everything on my plate right now, I don't care if I score perfectly on a challenge exam; a pass is a pass. Now once the actual nursing classes start, it's on :) Mrs leese- to answer the question about it being safe; I have not had any issues with it so far. Talk to Chaxanmom (I think that is the right spelling of the name) she is almost done with the program if not finished by now. To find out if other nursing classes transfer you would need to talk to ISU to find out.

How is everyone doing on their road to starting the program? I've got one more CSM to do and am finishing Chemistry and my PC course. I will be applying for Fall 2010. Anyone going to be with me?

I have no experience as of yet; the VA I work for is doing some major remodeling and they are taking two wings of our CLC and turning them into green houses. Should be within the next year.

I agree and disagree with the OP's situation. On the one hand, I would never outright lie to a patient. On the other, I have been in that situation. When a family member very close to me was diagnosed with ESLD and given a very poor prognosis, we did not discuss it with her. She had made it VERY clear through out the years that she never wanted to be told she was dying. She always said that if someone told her that info then she would spend the rest of whatever time she had obsessing about how much time she had. I do know that the MD's working with her did tell her that she wasn't going to get better; I wasn't in the room but I did speak with the MD afterwards. He said that she did agree to go into Hospice, but none of us were ever sure if she actually understood what Hospice was. She passed away a month later. And to this day I do not feel bad for not telling her. She was peaceful, and almost happy during that month. It is a very tough situation to be put in. The family generally does know the patient better. Something you could do is ask the family why the patient hasn't been told. Perhaps they may say that the situation is similar to mine. Perhaps not. Either way, you can also talk to the MD, your supervisor, and/or the ethics committee if you are still concerned. Bottom line, if the patient asks me, it is not my place to deliver a prognosis; that is why the MD get's paid so much more than me. But I will not lie to a patient. If he/she asks me if he/she is dying, I will ask him/her what they think. But I won't tell him/her NO if it isn't true.

I do not know what the exact situation is like at the VA the OP works at. I do know that our smoking area that is inside is closed in and the staff doing the accompanying doesn't have to go inside the actual smoke room. The doors are sliding glass and the staff member can see inside without having to go inside. Again, it is always best to try to find someone who does smoke who can go with the smokers. I have even seen units switch staff for 20 min or so just to have a smoker from another unit take our smokers out.