question about excelsior

NC Girl BSN · Jun 24, 2008

LPN school was difficult for me due to the stressful deadlines and test every other week. The nursing test through Excelsior were kinda diffcult but there are a lot of resources to help. I am on the CPNE wait list but I know the the CPNE will out weigh anything I ever did in LPN school. Very difficult. EC is no walk in the park.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 24, 2008

Getting your RN is just...different. It may be harder than LPN school for you, or it may be easier. (That was clear, huh?) I have taken distance and online courses for several years and actually prefer that method of learning over on campus. I can learn what I need to and study hard on what I can't figure out. I usually can figure things out without a lot of instructor guidance.

To answer your question, I thought both LPN and RN school had their own challenges. I was in school as an LPN when I was 20-21, so I was young. I had 2 years of being a CNA and CMA (certified med aide, so I could pass meds in LTC). The medical stuff in depth was new to me, so that was more difficult. Now that I'm 29, I have a couple more years of practicing hands on under my belt, but I have been out of practice for a few years. However, I've been an acute care medical transcriptionist, so the tests NC tests were pretty much a piece of cake because I basically have textbooks (i.e., doctors) talking in my ear all day, especially on areas I'm weak or not interested in, like cardiology. Now I'm waiting on my CPNE date. We'll see how smoothly that goes! I do volunteer as an LPN at the local free clinic, so I do take vitals along with taking vitals on my children.

Good luck to you!