maggie1990

I'm not sure myself..I'm trying to get into their PN/AD program (LPN to RN bridge) but they only start classes once a year in summer session. So the way it stands now I won't get into their program until 2014-and that's if I get accepted into one of only 20 spots. So i'm looking into other alternatives. But since I didn't take A&P and some other prereqs I'll be doing that in the fall. Are you enrolled for this term? What classes are you taking?

Thanks Prayernurse! I'm always looking for good schools to go to. It's hard to find ones that people like. I went to Lincoln Tech and would never recommend them. Ugh, 2 years of bologna. I just went to RVCC and am trying to get more info on the LPN-Rn Bridge program. It seems like a very popular program, and yet nobody knows too much about it.

I'm actually just going to Raritan Valley Community College. It may take a little longer but at least I can take spanish and be in a classroom enviornment. We'll see how it goes. Now the problem is do I wait until January to start classes so I can pass NCLEX and start a job? (so that way I can schedule classes around work) or do I start classes in August and then try and find work around class? I know the latter is more difficult, however I suppose either way it will be a challenge. Just also wanted to say that last night I officially graduated! It was a nice ceremony and it just fuels me to further my education and become the RN I want to be

Prayernurse: I totally despise select all that apply! We used to get like 7 of those questions on our medsurg exams and I'd get like one right..if I was lucky haha. Thank you so much for the advice! Much appreciated

@Prayernurse: I agree with you-and I do enjoy the classroom IF the professor actually teaches! In community colleges I'm guessing they have teachers that went to school to LEARN how to teach instead of reading these piddly power points. I pretty much taught myself MedsurgIII last quarter because my instructor read vague power points and the info was in the book anyway. I would have rather just read it on my own at home instead of wasting time in school! lol. Here's what I'm used to: 30 or so page (sometimes 40 or 50) chapters and tests are usually 2-4 chapters. My problem tends to be more on application. I'm very book smart and can memorize facts-but applying them to test questions can be hard for a book learner. Since I'm used to reading and figuring stuff out for myself anyway sometimes I wonder if college is better. But I'm not sure. Thank you so much for your feedback!

@Prayernurse: I want to do traditional schooling because that's what I'm used to, however once I pass my nclex I need to get a job and I don't want to pick a class schedule before I have a work schedule. But then I have to wait for the next semester. At least online I can pace myself. What about EC is hard? The amount of reading? or the subjects?

@justbeachynurse: Usually it is a 3 day cancellation notice, however TCN does give five (and actually this is the 3rd day and the cancellation notice just went in the mail express delivery with signature required, so it will be there tomorrow by noon!) But thanks :) @wildirish: It's not so much about the self-discipline of school work-i want the flexibility to work and go to school. It's just if I can do it at a less of an expense than TCN I'd rather do that, you know? @lunahrn: Yes! The rep said that they take all of the resources that excelsior gives us to buy and narrows it down. And he goes through the reference section in the back and says that all of those are what we're given to read..and it's 'overwhelming' for students. @prayernurse: I agree! I'd rather go through the people who actually wrote the exams! :) Thanks Everyone!!! :D

Well, most of the responses I've been reading from the forum were from 06-and the rep did say that things have just recently changed. That's why I was looking for someone who has enrolled more recently to see if they had a better experience than those in 06.

Hey Everyone! Thanks for all of your comments. After looking into it and talking it over with my parents we're deciding against it. The rep came yesterday so I'm still in the 5 day period to cancel. I've made copies of the cancellation notice and my dad made his own cancellation notice as well. Hopefully it will go smoothly and will keep everyone posted! Thank you so much!

Hi, I spoke to a college network rep yesterday and he informed me that their module books condense Excelsior's list of books (which he said was huge) and focuses it to the tests you have to take. I'd rather go through excelsior, but the draw to TCN is that its modules take the work out of going through all of Excelsior's list of books to get. I signed up for TCN but am thinking of dropping it. I'm getting scared too!

Hi Everyone, Just wondering how TCN's modules worked for you moomoo111. And also, does anyone know which BON states won't accept Excelsior? I just signed up with TCN but a lot of the reviews says to cancel. I don't know what to do :/

Hi, I know TCN isn't affiliated with Excelsior, however the rep yesterday told me that I'll get updated materials as things from Excelsior changes. I also heard (from the rep) that Excelsior gives you an overload of materials to buy-and that's why TCN is so great (because their materials are condensed and focused to help you pass the exam. TCN goes through all of the resources Excelsior gives and then focuses it). If I did sign up with TCN, then do they register me in Excelsior? This whole thing is very confusing and it seems like everyone is unhappy with TCN. :/

Hi Everyone! I am in need of some guidance from someone who is either enrolled or who recently graduated from Excelsior College. I just graduated from my LPN program in New Jersey and have not yet even taken my NCLEX, however I am already eager and ready to start an LPN-RN Bridge program. I was looking into my local community college, but you have to work for at least 6 months and I have prereqs to take. Yesterday, a rep from The College Network came and explained their program and Excelsior-but after doing some online research, it seems that a lot of people are unhappy with TCN. I've seen some posts from this forum about TCN and Excelsior, but they were from 06. I just need to know if TCN's materials are helpful, and if they are really the monsters that everyone says they are. (Difficult to deal with, unexplained charges, and if you cancel you have to pay regardless). Is it better to go directly to Excelsior? The way that the TCN rep explained excelsior is that they overwhelm students with materials and TCN takes the list of books and narrows it down which guarantees that students will pass the exams. I like the flexibility of this style of learning-but not if I'm going to be scammed! If anyone has any good info, please help!

Thanks Loriangel14. We did that yesterday.

katieP86: thank you so much! definately will try that! we usually put her head in first.

NorthnGuy: I've had a patient with Parkinson's but luckily she had dresses! She can't really ambulate outside of her wheelchair so the commode is unfortunately not an option and getting help in the facility isn't easy, as all of my fellow classmates are doing AM care for their patients. Just thought maybe someone would have a strategy for ways to put the clothes on-like put right arm in first or something along those lines. I think it's just her size and the fact that her clothes are a bit too small.

Christi M: I use a 2 person assist when i get her out of bed into her wheelchair. She can pivot herself which helps a lot. But I don't need a 2 person assist or to lift her while I'm doing her AM care.

Hi, I'm a 4th quarter nursing student, and we are required to give AM care to our patients. My patient is overweight and previously had a stroke which left her left side weak and immovable. I'm having a really hard time putting her shirt on without it getting bunched up in her armpit. Since her shirts don't fit too well (they're on the small side) it's really hard to unbunch it. I always put her head in first, then her affected arm. Her pants also get stuck around her butt becuase she can't lift her legs for me to slide her pants up, and she's too big for me to lift. I put her affected leg in first and then her unaffected leg in. Are there any good solutions or tricks for putting her shirt on without it getting stuck and her pants over her buttocks??

My school did this too, however starting next quarter the HESI doesn't make or break you (you can fail and still graduate). We have 3 comprehensive exams and the HESI and as long as you pass 'professional awareness' you can graduate (at least this is the story thus far-my school is known for changing things). I HATE HESIs-I don't do too well on them. The DON of our school even told us 'there's no real way to study for them'. If that's the case then why should they weigh so heavily? If the HESI is like the NCLEX, I'm in big trouble!! If schools want to give an 'exit exam' they should make it up themselves instead of relying heavily on a nationalized test (which is a problem when they ask the 'role of lpn' questions! some states let you do more than others..why penalize me because in my state, I can do more than just 'provide comfort'). HESI's stink..bottom line!

Hi! I'm at Lincoln Tech for my LPN and will be graduating in July. We were given Saunders 4th Edition Comprehensive Review for NCLEX PN Exam by Linda Anne Silvestri by our school and I've been using it for my classes. I want to get a new book so I can study and review while I have a few weeks off and be able to practice during my free time. There are just SO MANY books out there, that I'm not sure which one I should choose. I heard about Lippincott's book, but there seems to only be a 'RN' version. Can I use an RN book to study for my LPN NCLEX? Are there any books that any of you have used that have helped you pass the NCLEX? I was hoping to order one by the end of the week. I'm also looking for a good pharmacology book that explains (in relatively simple terms) the physiology of meds and a list of medications for each class of drug. I'm TERRIBLE at pharmacology and will need all of the help I can get. We were given Workman's Understanding Pharmacology and we didn't even use it in class. I just want to pass my NCLEX when I take it in July/August. Thanks!