caramel660

Hi, I'm more of a reader than a poster and I'm also fairly new to the site, but... I took my NCLEX on the 29th of October, and you guys can also add me to the list of new RNs!!!! I did about 1000 Kaplan questions in preparation, in addition to reading the Kaplan book, which I found to be very helpful and the questions to be very close in format to the NCLEX (at least in my opinion). I also found that the NCLEX-RN was a lot easier for me the NCLEX-PN was 4 years ago, which seemed to cause me much more anxiety because I really thought I failed this time(go figure). I passed with 75 questions (thank God, I started having palpitations at 73) and not one math question, and no SATA. Anyway, congratulations to all the October RNs:yeah::yeah: caramel660

:yeah:congratulations!!! caramel660

take some deep breaths, take your time. if you can and it will work for you, make a grid for each pcs so that you don't forget critical elements and.... try to get some sleep during those three days. good luck, you'll do fine. we're rooting for you. caramel660(countdown to nclex)

Well... NC3 was a lot of info for one exam and I guess thats why they implemented the new curriculum. From what I can remember, the questions were pretty close to the study guide and I used the College Network manuels to study and the info was the same and I even saw some of the review questions on the exam. At this point though, you just have to take a deep breath, say a prayer and go for it... And good luck, you'll do fine. Caramel660(counting down the time to NCLEX)

"does any one know about any other states in which excelsior is cool? who can you contact in order to find this out? " not a big fan of the area of the state where i live, but here in fl the bon accepts ec grads as long as you were an lpn prior to completing the program (sorry rts and medics). they consider being an lpn as enough clinical experience and from what i've heard fl bon is one of the stricter states when it comes down to licensure.

Oh, I forgot to mention in my first post that I did pass!!

I tested in Utica in August and I also flew into Syracuse, there are barely any mountains when you take that trip. Its actually not bad, just boring as hell (sorry to those who live in the area, but I'm from sunny Miami). The CA and CE's were wonderful, the hospital wasn't as high tech as what I'm used to and that was a plus if you ask me. I also failed IV push on the first day, forgot to ASPIRATE, caught it before I finished and verbalized it, but there was no going back. If you have to repeat something, you will NOT make the same mistake a second time. Most of the others stayed at Days Inn Utica which was right around the corner from the hospital, I didn't. My husband was with me and he loves driving and looking at the scenerary so we stayed in Vernon Downs which was nice, but its about a 20 minute drive. My advice, try your best not to stress (funny as it sounds) and take your time!!

No response yet, its only been about 14 days and my "official" graduation date with EC is 10/17/2008 even though I did my CPNE at the beginning of August. FLBON needs an official graduation date, not just a completion date, I believe. Send me a PM and we can discuss it more. Caramel660

"I SPOKE WITH GBON AGAIN AND ASKED IF I AM A RN IN ANOTHER STATE AND WORKING CLINCAL HOURS, I STILL CAN NOT GET ENDORSEMENT BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH EC? YES WAS THE ANSWER, THEN I ASKED SO EVEN IF I HAVE HAD MY RN FOR A WHILE ,OF COURSE WORKING, I STILL CAN NOT DO IT? YES THAT IS CORRECT, YOU KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY, I AM TIRED OF GEORGIA ANYWAY WITH THERE STUPID LAWS. ALOT OF TIMES IT IS WHO YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU KNOW FOR A JOB I RATHER WORK OUT OF STATE I WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS YOU ARE A LPN YOU CAN SIT FOR FLORIDA BOARDS WITH NO PROBLEM INFO FROM FBON. AND YOU MAKE MORE. GEORGIA WILL LOOSE A LOT OF GOOD NURSES IF THIS STAND WITH NO RESOLUTION:down: " I live in Florida and am an EC grad waiting to take my NCLEX. Although our state is not perfect, we would be more than happy to have you. And you are right because I have many friends we moved to GA in the past few years, the pay here is higher (so is the cost of living, but hey you deal, weathers great). My husband had been trying to convince me to move to GA, but I just told him the bad news and since he endured EC with me, we struck it from our list of places to live. Good luck to you guys are fighting to be recognized by the GABON, people don't realize that EC is just as much hard work as a traditional program since we are required to self learn a lot of things and go to the CPNE already knowing nursing (not just memorizing it through daily repititious clinicals) and if we are capable of passing the NCLEX, GIVE US WHAT WE'RE WORKED FOR!! Caramel660

Totally agree with you. I completed my CPNE in August of this year and I was warned prior to beginning the Excelsior program (thank GOD) against these publishing companies. Folks have to realize that Excelsior offers all of the resources needed to get through their program, YOU just have to have the drive to stick with it and be the type of person who is self motivated and directed. I completed the entire program in 9 months and that includes the four months I spent waiting for my CPNE. The CPNE was nowhere near as bad as I had been hearing (I tested in Utica, NY) and the CA and Examiners were pretty nice. Also Excelsior sell a video for about $150 with the follow along study guide. I didn't do any workshops because I couldn't afford (four kids and paying for classes at BCC), but the DVD was extremely helpful and the Clinical Associate I got was on the video (go figure!) Anyway, hope this helps to give even more drive and motivation to those out there trying to get through the EC program and looking for a little direction. By the way, in response to the orginal message, I live in North Dade (Miami) so I KNOW what publishing company you were dealing with. Caramel660

Hi, I'm also new to the site and just completed Excelsior and waiting to take the NCLEX-RN. A good idea for info would also be to contact the college and speak with an advisor, they have been very helpful to friends of mine who are in the same position as you. Good luck on your journey and hope that my advice helps. Caramel660:nurse: