suziwin

You're not the only one. I had to wait a month to get an invite on a certain Yahoo group for the CPNE and I enjoyed one month of it when I was unceremoniously dumped for no reason! Just logged on one day and was denied access. It doesn't seem right. I think mine was because I wasn't participating enough, but I'd had a really rough month personally. Just burned my behind to be dumped. No reason, no nothing!

I really admire the savvy folks who can get the materials off of Ebay and study from Excelsior's study guide, BUT, I signed on with College Network 3-1/2 years ago and I offer no complaints whatsoever. I signed on for NC 1-7 plus 5 general ed. courses. I passed each and every one first time. I made a "B" average. I felt I got a lot for my money. Yes, it was expensive but they offered a very nice payment plan (and no, I don't work for College Network if that's what you're thinking :chuckle ). I just wanted to put in a good word for those folks because they did right by me. Good luck to you!

thanks bellcollector for your encouraging words and inspiration!! :thankya:

that is a shame because i'd heard such good things about that site! wow, and long beach/sd a year?? that is really something. thank you for your information deej!

thanks for your input medic2rn. yes, i am familiar with alittlesarcasm.com. i had heard of it through this website. i decided i will read the testimonials a little closer to the time of my cpne. it will probably make more sense to me then! i have already ordered some videos off of ebay. i purchased a set of 5. when i received them i noticed they were 10 years old. oh well, hopefully things haven't changed too dramatically since then. of course, on the ebay ad they didn't state how old they were. guess ya havta be real careful on that stuff! thanks for your good wishes!

i appreciate your quick response spazzy nurse. every little bit of information helps! that's why i love this website.

hi everyone! i just passed nc 6 last week, and am now on nc 7. i've completed all of my general education requirements so this is my final course. after nearly 3 years this stage seems surreal. i would be able to bask in my glow a little more if i didn't have the dang cpne looming ever large in front of me. i started reading threads about it a couple of months ago and have been feeling nervous ever since. i know its 25% knowledge and 75% stress control to get through it. i get that! i live in so. cal. and am considering taking the cpne in phoenix because i've heard that is a pleasant site to take it at. has anyone ever tested there and what was their experience? any other sites in the near vicinity (to so. cal.) i should check out? and, obviously the wait time to get an appt. is a critical factor. i think its terrible that it takes up to six months. maybe they need to facillate creating more testing centers (??) thank you in advance!!

Hi angelkay! I started out with College Network in July 2002 and then signed on with Excelsior College a year-and-one-half ago. I loved the idea of independent, self-paced study and the ability to keep working as you go. I have had no complaints to speak of thus far. It is not a cake walk, as it shouldn't be, but it is a reasonable curriculum. It usually takes me 6 weeks to go through a course, and then another 2 weeks of study for the test. I just passed NC5 today with an "A". I highly recommend Excelsior's practice tests. They have brought my grades up from a "B" to an "A". It is more expense ($65.00) but well worth it. It gives you an idea of how the test is going to be. They don't use many of the same questions on their "operational" or official test (that would be too easy!) but it gives you a feel for their typical questions. I am eagerly looking forward to finishing in the next couple of months. If you have any further questions please feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy to help! Good luck, you are doing a great thing!!! :balloons:

Hi, I enjoyed your post. I am a 20 year LVN who decided to take the plunge 2-1/2 years ago. I also signed on with College Network. I know I could have saved a bunch of money now too after reading these threads but at the time I didn't know about other options. I figured it would be just as expensive (possibly more) to purchase the books directly from Excelsior. I am not sorry that I went through CN though. I carry a "B" average and I love the courses through them. I wouldn't be sure where to start if I was scouring through books on my own. They prepare you nicely for the Excelsior exams. But, I highly recommend taking Excelsior's practice exams for the nursing concepts before you go in to take the operational. It is an additional expense ($65.00) but wellllllllll worth it!! I've gotten "A"s on my tests since I started taking those. They only came out this past year. I am now on NC5 and am in the process of studying for the test. I am very nervous about the CPNE but all I keep reading is organize, study, study and study some more. Which is how I am anyway. That and a lot of prayer will get me through. Good luck to you and if I can answer any more questions, don't hesitate to respond.

Hi everyone! I am going in for pre-employment testing on Tuesday for a HH registery. They are going to require a pharmacology test prior to my employment. Does anyone have any experience with this process? Do they test your knowledge on drugs or test you on dosage calculations or both? I just wanted to bone up on my knowledge so that I can be prepared to do a good job on the test. I'd really appreciate any input. (i.e. the basic classes of drugs they test you on, etc.) P.S. I've surfed the web for practice tests on pharmacology for nurses and came up with nothing! Thanks in advance!!