zold1

I went back to LVN school (12 month program) at the age of 54, graduated at 55. I have just completed the 7 theory exams for Excelsior College working toward the RN. Easy? No. But I have been able to have a variety of work positions along the way. Hope to have my RN as a 58th birthday present to myself, my BSN a year later, and then tackle the MSN. It centers around your discipline and desire. If you want it, you will find a way to do it. Good luck! Joseph

First of all, you CAN do it. After LPN school this should be a lot easier in SOME ways. For example, you are doing your clinicals WHILE you work. It may not seem so, but every time you pass a med, change a dressing, etc. you are reviewing a skill you will need in the program. As for me, I was a medic in the Army about a century ago and went back to LVN school at 53 and graduated at 54. I have been working through the Excelsior exams since 2009 and yesterday passed the last -- and for me the most difficult -- Reproduction. So it is on to the FCCA and then the CPNE. Here is what I did: First, I dedicated a full hour each day to study. No exceptions, no excuses. Make that a habit. Then I printed out the study guide from Excelsior. Ask others in your area that might have study materials to share with you as well. Then I went through the study guide and highlighted the text. After that, I went to a Half Price bookstore and got an older/used copy of an NCLEX-RN study guide -- I liked the one from Pearson the best, but they are all pretty much the same -- and went through the questions for each section as I tested. THE RATIONALES are the most important, so spend lots of time there. An LPN/LVN knows WHAT to do... an RN should know the WHYS it ts being done. In my state there are only three things that an RN can do that an LVN can't as far as scope of practice. Whenever I knew someone that had work experience in an area, I would ask them to review me over dinner and pick their brain for those clinical "tricks and tips" you don't get in the books. For example, a midwife I know reviewed me for the Reproductive exam. I doubt I would have passed it without her help! Her explanations and tips saved me! Like you, I worked through the entire time. I had a triple bypass and was off for 4 weeks, then 18 months later, cardiac stents and was off for a weekend (Friday - Sunday) and managed to keep on! So just keep on and you will make it. Set goals, and have some FUN with it as well. I made a progress calendar... that might help as you see yourself progressing. Try your best not to get into a rut... remember, a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out! Like anything worth having, it is WORTH WORKING FOR. Good luck. Joseph PS. I wouldn't set my sights on the CPNE by June 2012. They told me it is a three to eight month waiting period just to get a testing slot... relax and give yourself the gift of time. From what I have read on this site, it is STRESS that will cause you the most difficulty on the CPNE.