mdsnurse12

I enrolled in the Excelsior RN program in April 2012; since that time, I have not made much progress. I was working as a floor nurse, then MDS coordinator, in a nursing home at the time, then became pregnant with my second child. I quit work to stay at home with my now 3 year-old and 8 month old. I thought I would have more time to study and make progress in the program, but it seems like the only time I can study undisturbed (kinda) is in the wee hours of the morning. I've only finished Transition to RN Role (B), Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety (B), and just recently attempted Life Span 1 (D). I'm so bummed about doing poorly on this test. I studied everything from the EC study guide, used the recommended texts. I didn't not take the practice test, however, and I think there was just soooo much info on the Life Span Test, that I was overwhelmed. I'm now studying for the new Foundations in Nursing test and will attempt to take this one soon. I'm using the EC study guide, recommended texts and I will also use the EC practice test. I just need some advice on how I can carve time out of the day for studying from other SAHM students in the RN program, motivation to knock these tests out. I'm aiming to finish this program by the end of 2014.

your local half-priced book store is also good for snagging cheap texts :) or their website hbp.com

I agree with Reebok, you can get by passing these tests with just information you find online (like SG101) or brushing up on your LVN/LPN knowledge. I've done a combo of all three: SG101, old LVN class texts/notes and the recommended texts. I've found I already have the basic knowledge to pretty much pass the exams, since I just went through nursing school three years ago. But the RN-focused material that excelsior recommends goes into far more detail than the LVN texts. I thinks it up to you how much knowledge you want to take away from this program: do you just want to pass and get the heck out or do you want to take a little more time and get some new knowledge out of it that your going to use in the real world to help your patients.... up to you. And of course, some students need to use the recommended tests AND SG 101 because they come from different medical backgrounds than us LVN/LPNs.

Congrats! I agree, it was very blah, blah, blah study material... glad to have put it behind me!

I found it hard to study for too... I pretty much had to schedule my test with Pearson a week away and told myself "OK, now you have a week to learn this, so lets do it!" I got a B, it wasn't so bad. I was just so relieved to get it behind me. When I actually go ahead and put down the money, set my test date, and know I'm going to be wasting that money by NOT studying, then I get my behind in gear IDK, that's just my two cents, good luck!

I'm also planning to use my LPN A&P book (I've been putting the test off and focusing on knocking out my nursing tests).... A&P is what it is, and there's really not much a difference in the texts besides presentation. Just match up the info you need to learn from the EC Study Guide with your LVN program book (if you still have it of course). Just my two cents :)

I'm also studying for Chronicity, I've made all B's so far. I've been pretty happy with that so far, but now I'm starting to think, well, should I be studying a little more rigorously and making A's on these tests?

English shouldn't be a problem, I haven't heard of anyone c/o other classes not transferring, besides courses with labs. I regretted putting off my labs, so I know that's what I would do if I was in your shoes.

Texas is in a funny spot with the whole educational tier right now. I live in rural central Texas, so I pretty much have to drive to Austin, Temple or College Station for any well-paying work. Houston seems to be hiring Associate-prepared RNs in the hospitals still, but prefer BSN. Austin hospitals are only hiring ADNs with the stipulation of acquiring their BSN within a year or two of hiring, or, as with St. David's, completing their in-house educational programs. They won't touch LVNs with a 10-foot pole unless you want to work as a glorified, under-paid secretary in one of their M-F family clinics. Temple is interesting, I know a few LVNs that work L&D at Scott and White, very ADN friendly, but encourage further education towards BSN. College Station St. Joes, Scott & White and The Med are all ADN friendly. I hope this helps. Are moving to be close to the CRNA programs here in Texas? I don't know much about the Dallas/Fort Worth area and their hiring patterns.

You have a long journey ahead of you. If you are interested in the Excelsior ADN bridging program, this page contains a link to PDF of required classes: Associates Degrees Nursing | Nursing Degrees, Programs | Distance - excelsior.edu More than likely, your humanities and fine arts courses should transfer. The only credits that I've heard of not transferring are courses that a traditional university would require labs (such as Anatomy and Physiology). Those I would suggest going ahead and getting out of the way now since you are probably already enrolled in a community college lpn program (if you have room in your schedule of course! I'm sure your schedule is already jam-packed with clinicals and nursing courses). Try and start working on your core classes now and get them out of the way and try and aim for a high GPA; this will be a deciding factor when it comes to CRNA applications/interviews. Once you get your ADN finished, apply for an ICU job and work towards CCRN certification. Although this is not mandatory at most CRNA programs, it is preferred. If you look at current enrolled SRNAs, almost all have their CCRN. Some schools are picky over PICU and NICU, so keep that in mind when choosing a Intensive Care job. Most schools do not accept ER experience, and you will need at least one year experience ICU, preferred two years (you will need at least two years experience to become eligible for CCRN cert). Also, think about your current life situation: married? kids? planning to do so in the near future? CRNA programs are all-time consuming, you will not have time for a family life. There are many nurses who get through these programs with spouses and small children, but they have a lot of help. If you get an interview when applying to CRNA schools, this will be a topic they will grill you over: how are you going to manage your family? How are you going to pay for this program? Is your vehicle reliable and how are you going to afford gas to get to clinicals? Is your spouse going to support you through this? What if you two decide to divorce in the middle of the program? (seriously, they ask these questions!). They are concerned with your ICU and nursing knowledge, but they also want to pick candidates that are going to make it through the entire program, since there are so little spots and so many applicants. Hope this helps :) Good luck in the future!

I've noticed they have had a satellite teaching site in College Station before, but all the sudden they don't have an clinical agreement with them? Is this going to change in the future, or are they not planning to do anymore clinical agreements in the brazos valley? The only reason I ask is that I've considered applying to CRNA programs in texas, but the closest are in Houston, which is a 2 and 1/2 hour drive one way for me (at best, not considering traffic). I will have two small children IF I'm accepted and choose to go, while my husband works overseas a month at a time, so I need something more flexible (as in CLOSER to home; I have good support as far as the kids go). Unfortunate for me, the CRNA field has not jumped on the bandwagon with 'convenience' as the other APRN fields have (probably a good thing for the sake of the profession!)

Two months... it was really hard for me to study such dry material.... I'm sure its completely do-able to study for two weeks-1 month and pass. Its not a hard test, just really boring for me. Health Safety's study material has been easier for me to digest.

Also, the Texas BON website states that Panola College is fully accredited.

Excelsior College Nursing programs are accredited by the NLNAC (Excelsior College Nursing Programs - excelsior.edu), and graduates of the Excelsior ADN program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN for licensure in Texas (FAQ's for Students). I am also located in Texas and currently enrolled in the Excelsior ADN program, so I did the legwork to make sure I wasn't wasting my money. I have been impressed with the Excelsior program so far and am happy I chose to go with their ADN program. I know that Panola College in Carthage has a LVN-RN program with distance learning option you may want to check out.... I almost went with them, but Excelsior won out in the end. Good Luck! :)

I just got done with Transitions.... its really dry, but just grit your teeth and get it over with as soon as possible.... I'm studying for Health Safety now.