trininurse

Hello, I am having trouble logging in the yahoo link, any suggestions. [ QUOTE=chris_at_lucas_RN]I finished Excelsior's program in approximately eight months, studying about 20 percent of that time. I did purchase a study guide system, but it served only as a confidence builder after the first exam or two. You can do this without buying a single book, although the safest way is to buy the books EC recommends and read the assignments they recomment. But remember, part of the culture of Excelsior College is, they don't care where you learned it, as long as you know it. I made A's on all my exams. Here's my suggestion for almost painfree progress: 1) Join the yahoo group called "nontradnurses." Here's a link. They have files (I know because I organized them when I was moderator) for each of the nursing concepts exams--they may be called "Lisa's Notes." There are also practice tests, but do not assume that what they say are the right answers are in fact the right answers--double check! 2) Get comfy with www.google.com. Use this search engine to look up every disease, every process, every cocept, until you feel good about what you know. It can happen! You'll be amazed at the resources there, free..... 3) Take the practice test at the end of the EC study guide. If you get all the answers right, you are probably going to do OK. If you don't, go back to #2.... 4) Go to the bulletin board on the Excelsior site and post for a "study buddy." I got one that way, and it helped a lot--especially with the terror before taking that first exam. We took ours together--it worked! I also used Excelsior's practice tests for the first three exams. They were terrific. As a note of caution: There is a group that calls themselves "Excel Advantage" and "Academy of Nursing." Same bunch, two names. They hint at having a relationship with EC (they do not), they say they have "five practice tests for" (however much it is--they don't, it's the same test over and over again, but the second through fifth versions, all the answers are "a," which is no help at all), their study guides, tutoring sessions and "virtual library" are worthless. They actually join various yahoo groups and then advertise their "school!!!!" (I got one of them thrown out of this BB, for posting his ads here.) Oh, and here's the clincher--not a single nurse, not one!--on their "faculty." Not one. (Might have changed since my experience but I'd bet not. They were very unsavory. Very.) I bought the NC-1--got in there and found out it was just so much manure. It took me about 2 hours on the phone (toll free--so they paid for the call :rotfl: ), but I got my money back. Lastly, stay in touch with the group here! I got so much support from the members of this board. There are lots of Excelsior alumni here, and we are also pretty proud of what we accomplished. You will be too! Good luck!

Thanks, I am glad to know I am not the only one outhere who felt this way.

I have been an LPN for 8 years, I am undecided if I should go to a traditional college or try excellsor. Are there any success stories out there?