JKohler

Hello all, I don't write much but wanted to put my two cents in. I was in Amarillo Sept 7-9. Unfortunately I did not go home with the big prize. However....I wanted to say the experience was wonderful. The CA and CE's all were very encouraging throughout the exam. The reasons I failed were valid and it was no ones fault but mine. I will not go into details but my first 2 PCS's were adults and I failed both of them which sent me home on Sunday. The first one was on my evaluation phase, and the second was on intake and output...I had a total brain fart and did not measure half the liquids took in by patient...Jello, popsicle" Anyway I have sent in another application and plan on taking it again in Amarillo. May I also say I selected Racine because I heard good things...when I recieved my date it showed Amarillo and I was a bit apprehensive but once I got there and meet the staff it was fine. There will be a representative from the Albany office, and also a rep from the 1 of the 3 PAC (performance application centers) there during the testing...so there is really no way they can be unfair in testing. It seems my Ce's consulted the higher up when there was an issue and they will discuss it before they come out and speak with you. Anyway again it was great, i'll chalk it up to a learning experience and drive on.

SPAC & MPAC, there is a 5-7 month wait. Got an email reply to that very question. I mentioned that I wanted to take the exam as soon as possible...hence my inquiry to all three centers. MPAC mentioned that on your application ticket for MPAC...you can write in willing to take at site available the soonest. For example you checked marked Racine, WI however you find out that Plano will be testing a month earlier. They will notify you of such.

Thanks Rehab nurse, Index cards are a great idea. I have a few more boxes to fill. It took me 2 whole days to complete the ones i have. Wanted it to work for me and my brain. Anyway when done;;; I plan to try and practice the CEs at work with my patients. I think that is the one thing that gets us LPN/LVN types with years of practice. We have our routines at work on how to do things to get the work done. A days work is not always step 1-2-and 3 in the real world. I will have to retrain myself. I'll check my email. Thanks Jackie

Hi where are you choosing to go for the CPNE? I can't decide where I want to go. I live in TExas but am leaning towards Racine, Wisconsin. Any suggesting from anyone whose recently taken the CPNE on sites?

Question about the grid. I've heard it said to know your grid. I am working on mine for all areas of care...it comes out to about 24 squares, typed. Am I not allowed to take my completed sheet to the CPNE and use it there. Or does it mean I better memorize the GRID because I will have to rewrite ( on areas of care) given to me during the PCS? Thanks Jackie

Hi all, :welcome: Getting ready for the CPNE, I recieved the study guide yesterday and have just started looking through it. Can anyone tell me what is the GRID and where can I get one? Is it in the book? I have heard of this item in some threads but don't know how to get one started? Please help.

Hi all, I am in the process of getting all my stuff together for applying CPNE. In the past threads I have heard about a GRID. I looked in the CPNE study guide but can not find it. Is there a template anyone knows about?> If I am to make if for myself does anyopne have any guidelines? Thank you very much. Congrats on everyones progress. Jackie

Hi there, I live in San Antonio...I do know there is an agency that does contract nursing/travel called intellistaff. They work with all the hospitals here in San Antoe. To work for them at Wilford Hall Medical Center ( Air Force Hospital) they pay $31.00 an hour.

I am prior Army with 9 1/2 years enlisted. In a few years I will be done with my BSN, thinking about joining AF nurse corp. I have heard that the Air Force doesn't like to move you every 3-4 years like the army does. How true is this? I live in San Antonio and own a home there. I really don't want to go anywhere else. What's the possiblilty of me doing 2 tours there at least? Wilford Hall...

I use this website called ecampus.com, they will do a search using the ISBN, and then you can do a compare prices for that book available in all bookstores; B&N, wal-mart, powell's, amazon, half.com e.t.c

I've only taken NC1 and have bought the "required books" up to NC3. I did not purchase them through the school though...I shopped on-line for used books and save dquite a bit of money. I figured buying the books that would match the required readings would be easier than fishing through an old book and it maybe not having exactly what they wanted you to study. One example...I started buying books 4-5 months ago, according to the Excelsior book store required books. In December I started studying for NC1...I went to read the pharmacology book I bought way back when...using a new content guide I just recieved in the mail and realized they updated their books, different author e.t.c.. I had the hardest time finding the required reading in the old book. Ended up selling it and getting the new one.

Just remember 3 hrs is a lot of time for an exam that has 160 questins. I was able to carefully read the question 2-3 times, go over the answers and choose one. When I was done answering all the questions...I still had and 75 minutes left!! So iwent and took a potty break, stretched my back and went through the whole test again making sure I was happy with the answer I chose. BREATHE... :)

Congrats!! :balloons: How many question were there? I'll take moine in 8 weeks or so.

I passed NC1. It wasn't as bad as I thought. It wasactually easier tahn the practice exams I took. I'm so relieved, now it's on th NC2 in 8 weeks!!

Thanks. nontraditional nurses study group on Yahoo is wonderful, it has some great study notes.

Thanks. nontraditional nurses study group on Yahoo is wonderful, it has some great study notes.

Thanks for the information. I went ahead and registered for the NC1 practice exams on the Excelsior site. Took one tonight and passed. The score could've been a little higher; I may have been reading into the questions. When I read through the rationales again I noticed a bad habit of mine...not reading through all the answers. I will have to make sure I don't make that mistake on the real exam. I mean we are talkin $205 bucks. Good luck to you as well.

Thanks for the information. I went ahead and registered for the NC1 practice exams on the Excelsior site. Took one tonight and passed. The score could've been a little higher; I may have been reading into the questions. When I read through the rationales again I noticed a bad habit of mine...not reading through all the answers. I will have to make sure I don't make that mistake on the real exam. I mean we are talkin $205 bucks. Good luck to you as well.

Hi every one. I was just wondering how many questions are ob the exams? Are they like the NCLEX where it varies depending on your replies? I have no idea what to expect and I'm getting a little nervous. Also are there any yahoo study groups you wouild suggest I look into as far as files to study and read through? Thanks. Jackie

Just out of curiosity...does anyone know where all the test sites are located for the CPNE/ or where I could find out? I have a long ways to go but like to plan ahead. Thanks.

Hello all. I am an LVN working contract at BAMC, I make $19.00 and hr. My agency (OMV) pays RN's with one year experience $25 and hour, a few more dollars for ICU. I heard that WHMC pays $33.00 and hour for Contract Nurses. I thnik their agency is called INTELSTAFF. It is a contract so you are gaurenteed 40 hrs a week for as long as the contract with the agency is good. Usually 1-3 years depending on how large the agency is.

In answer to my own question... I found out that if yo are a veteran; once you enroll into Excelsior you will be imbursed for exams passed...make sure you have a receipt because you will have to show price of exam and the passing grade. Excelsior will help you with the forms. As far as the SSAF and CPNE, graduation charges I haven't looked into that yet. :)

HI all. :) ALthough I have not even started any of the nursing courses at Excelsior I was curious about the CPNE...here people just say whether they passed it or not and I was curious about the actual experience in detail. So I did a search on the web. I found a site called http://www.alittlesarcasm.com it's a weblog. People who have taken the test whether they passed or failed send in their whole experience from start to finish, on the site they also have pointers on various PCS requirements, and a lot more, what NOT to do e.t.c. I really enjoyed reading them and it made me feel a little more familiar when it time for me to go. Just wanted to share. Jackie

Hi...I pan on enrolling into Excelsior after this semester of college ( finishing pre-reqs). Question...For those of you already taking NC courses, are you just using the study guides? Or have you bought the required/suggested books as well?