Soooooo much reading!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2008

what are you reading to prepare for the ec test?

hi there! i'm enrolled with ec and am feeling overwhelmed by the recommended reading. anyone else having trouble getting through the reading? i spend a couple of hours reading most nights and it seems like i've barely made a dent in the chapters. i've been working diligently for the last couple of weeks. i enrolled in september, but got off to a slow start and then took a long break over the holidays. i'm hoping to be ready for nc1 in february. i know i can't rush things, but i feel like i'm not making any progress. any advice? anyone else feeling overwhelmed?
thanks for listening!!
chris!

spooky64 · Jan 25, 2008

Right now I'm plodding through Fundamentals of Nursing..the one recommended by EC..20 chapters recommended. Its seems to be review of what was covered in LPN school..still I guess I'm afraid if I skim over some of the material, I won't do well. I also have the Peds book. I think they recommend a few chapters from that for NC1 too.

tom-from-texas · Jan 25, 2008

The reading you are doing is good review, but likely much more than you need to do in order to pass your first EC test.

Pick up a good study guide for NC1 off EBAY and study from it. It will be much faster. Then if there are any areas that you know you are weak or don't really understand, then go to the regular textbooks for that part only.

Tom

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2008

if you read every book that ec recommends in it's entirety you will never finish this program. i looked up one thing in a textbook during my ec test stretch. i recommend you look into either lisa arends cd's or studygroup101 guide. lisa arends is more like notes and kinda cuts to the chase. studygroup101 has more in depth notes, they cover more and and you get them via email , plus they are cheaper than lisa's. i have used them both and recommend lisa's if you want to hit the highlights and studygroup101 is you need a little more in- depth study. also. my policy was to take the ec practice test and if i scored 60 or above twice ( they give you two test for 60 bucks) then i took the real test. people generally don't score high on the ec practice test , they are considerably harder than the real thing.

right now i'm plodding through fundamentals of nursing..the one recommended by ec..20 chapters recommended. its seems to be review of what was covered in lpn school..still i guess i'm afraid if i skim over some of the material, i won't do well. i also have the peds book. i think they recommend a few chapters from that for nc1 too.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 25, 2008

Let me just add this:

http://myworld.ebay.com/studygroup101 = StudyGroup101

http://myworld.ebay.com/larends = Lisa Arends' notes

:)

wrkngrl074 · Jan 25, 2008

Hey guys, do you have any recommendations for Lifespan Psy., and Ethics for study guides? I noticed that studyguide 101 is for the nursing classes. I am not there yet. I have a few core to take. I too have been reading the books and feel like I am not getting anywhere.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2008

i did not clep these courses but i bet you can obtain the clep guides and pass it that way.

hey guys, do you have any recommendations for lifespan psy., and ethics for study guides? i noticed that studyguide 101 is for the nursing classes. i am not there yet. i have a few core to take. i too have been reading the books and feel like i am not getting anywhere.

BetterMeRN · Jan 26, 2008

Hi there! I'm enrolled with EC and am feeling overwhelmed by the recommended reading. Anyone else having trouble getting through the reading? I spend a couple of hours reading most nights and it seems like I've barely made a dent in the chapters. I've been working diligently for the last couple of weeks. I enrolled in September, but got off to a slow start and then took a long break over the holidays. I'm hoping to be ready for NC1 in February. I know I can't rush things, but I feel like I'm not making any progress. Any advice? Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?
Thanks for listening!!
Chris!

The first thing you should do is put down the texts, register for the exam you want to take and take advantage of THE PRACTICE EXAMS. You can see where to go from there.....if you read everything you will never FINISH.

I started out that way that was why I haven't tested for any NC's yet. After I purchased the practice exams, only then I knew I was ready. My first three exams are scheduled next month.

spooky64 · Jan 27, 2008

Thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement! I will check out the resources you recommended. It would be wonderful to actually make some progress. You guys are awesome! Thanks for taking the time to help!

Chris!

jonathanjse · Jan 27, 2008

Hey Spooky,

I agree with what the others are saying, but only to a point. I've tried the study notes, and found that they were not giving me a very solid introduction to nursing. I was constantly looking at the EC study guides and checking them against the notes I got from ebay, and it wasn't working for me - I felt like it was all just a bunch of unrelated facts. I decided that I was going change strategy, and use Fundamentals of Nursing as my primary study source, and maybe use study notes to help solidify the info.

So I'm reading FON from cover to cover (about 1500 pages) and it's slow going, but I'm glad I'm doing it. I'm getting sort of immersed in it, and feel that the material now has a logic and a sense of context that I was missing from the notes. It's a well written book. I think the extra effort might pay off, and maybe even save time in the end.

Everyone is different. If some people can get by concentrating on mostly the notes that's great. I suspect most people use a combination of books and notes, and will put more emphasis on one or the other according to personal preference. (I don't plan on reading every book on the EC list from cover to cover, but it's important for me to do it with this one). And it's also about more than just passing the tests - it's about really KNOWING and OWNING the material.

I just wanted to write this to say that there's no right or wrong way, and slogging through that book may be the best approach for you, or maybe not - only you can decide.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2008

i may be wrong here and mind you i have just pulled a 17 hour shift..but ec students should not be getting a introduction to nursing while attending this program. that is the whole point is that you have a good theory base and good clinical skills in which to build upon.

hey spooky,
i agree with what the others are saying, but only to a point. i've tried the study notes, and found that they were not giving me a very solid introduction to nursing. i was constantly looking at the ec study guides and checking them against the notes i got from ebay, and it wasn't working for me - i felt like it was all just a bunch of unrelated facts. i decided that i was going change strategy, and use fundamentals of nursing as my primary study source, and maybe use study notes to help solidify the info.
so i'm reading fon from cover to cover (about 1500 pages) and it's slow going, but i'm glad i'm doing it. i'm getting sort of immersed in it, and feel that the material now has a logic and a sense of context that i was missing from the notes. it's a well written book. i think the extra effort might pay off, and maybe even save time in the end.
everyone is different. if some people can get by concentrating on mostly the notes that's great. i suspect most people use a combination of books and notes, and will put more emphasis on one or the other according to personal preference. (i don't plan on reading every book on the ec list from cover to cover, but it's important for me to do it with this one). and it's also about more than just passing the tests - it's about really knowing and owning the material.
i just wanted to write this to say that there's no right or wrong way, and slogging through that book may be the best approach for you, or maybe not - only you can decide.