thinking of starting with Excelsior....

caliotter3 · Apr 16, 2009

As far as scholarships go, you pretty much have to already be progressing in the program before you are eligible as far as I know. You also have to submit a copy of last year's tax return when you apply. They used to offer one that covered your cost of the CPNE at the end. You are smart to consider buying your study resources used on ebay. You can save the most money by buying the StudyGroup101 notes or Lisa Arends notes for around $10. There are some people who say those notes are all they used and passed the exams. You can find notes for free in the Files sections of Excelsior study groups on yahoo. Don't worry about the notes or other resources being up to date as there is little change in the exams from one year to the next. You can take the exams in any order you want. Suggest you take the first exam now before you enroll to see what it is like. Download the study guide from http://www.excelsior.edu. You can buy the suggested texts from any source you want, or if you don't want to buy them at all, that is up to you. As for your prereqs, they might take all of them. The sooner you get your transcripts in for your evaluation, the sooner you will know. It will take you about a year if you light a fire under yourself and get lucky with a CPNE date. You can always ask questions here. Good luck.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 16, 2009

Sorry about your LPN-RN program.

You can take the nursing exams in any order. Used texts work fine -- you just have to make sure you've covered the subject matter in Excelsior exam content guide, so how you get there is up to you. :) I liked StudyGroup101's notes that I bought on eBay, too.

EC does offer some scholarships, but I'm not sure how/when you apply for them -- but I know some members of this forum have received money from EC.

You are aware that some states don't recognize the degree, right? I'm sure you are, since you've read the stickies and whatnot on this forum, but I just wanted to make sure. :)

Edited to add: I completed everything in one year, one month, and one day.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Apr 16, 2009

You are aware that some states don't recognize the degree, right? I'm sure you are, since you've read the stickies and whatnot on this forum, but I just wanted to make sure. :)
Edited to add: I completed everything in one year, one month, and one day.

yes, i called the Florida BON today. they told me as long as i was applying for the LPN to ADN program and not the EMT-P to ADN program, i would be eligible to sit for the NCLEX in FL and practice here.

you did yours fast! wow! that is what i'm hoping to do also. i am going to be out on maternity leave somewhere around november and i figure this would be better since i could stay home and study.

i think i am going to take the first nursing exam and then see how that goes before i decide to pay the big enrollment fee. i have a friend back in NC who just passed the CPNE and she offered me some of her used books too.

i'm excited. i hate sitting in a classroom!!!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

i did mine in two, including a 6 month lapse where I took no exams and the CPNE wait. Twice.

Gp for it!

flightnurse2b, LPN · Apr 16, 2009

that CPNE scares the crap out of me. i have so many bad habits and i've read so many horror stories about it. i have a friend who failed in atlanta, and said i need to go to new york because the examiner was much nicer.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 16, 2009

For the most part, the students' preparation has more to do with CPNE success/failure than the test site ... for the most part. I know a few people who have changed sites for the second attempt and had a much better experience! But don't be scared ... by the time you'll go for your CPNE, you'll probably be OVERprepared. :)

Just FYI (and you've probably already read this elsewhere here), as an LPN, you can skip the second nursing exam (Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Differences). You don't have to enroll until you're ready to take the third nursing exam.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

For the most part, the students' preparation has more to do with CPNE success/failure than the test site ... for the most part.

Thank you for adding that.

I do believe that the examiners have a LOT to do with the entire experience, the CA in particular. She sets the tone. My first and second experiences were night and day and it was all the CA. Not to mention the Xanax (seriously) and cowbell.

Pmdc · Apr 16, 2009

With your pre-req courses done, it sounds like you're good to go. Don't let another day pass without doing something to work towards your goal. It's a great program for those already having clinical experience, and Florda seems to be EC-friendly for LPNs for now. Not easy by any means, but it provides opportunity where most traditional programs currently do not.

As far as testing in Atlanta, it wasn't too bad. There were about eight candidates in my group at SRMC. I know that two of us passed; me and an LPN from Florida. I never found out about anyone else. A couple of the candidates were asking questions that made you think they had not prepared at all. All the evaluators were very nice and professional; most of them worked at Atlanta area colleges and universities as nursing professors. One candidate was there to make his final attempt at the CPNE (I can't remember how many they allow, but talk about stress).

Stay clear of publishing companies. As Lunah says, find the study guides you need on eBay. You can find all of your textbooks there too. Or maybe on half.com or amazon. Buy used books, maybe even a previous edition. Very little usually changes from edition to edition, and you'll save a lot of money. I completed all seven NC exams in six months, then waited another six months for the CPNE. The wait is a blessing though; you'll need that time to prepare.

Finally, network with people on here who are actual EC grads, but beware of people who present false info as fact. There's always one or two of those lurking around. Also, when in doubt about anything, get the final word from EC and your state's BON.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 16, 2009

you did yours fast! wow! that is what i'm hoping to do also. i am going to be out on maternity leave somewhere around november and i figure this would be better since i could stay home and study.

I found the best way to stay motivated was to pay for/schedule my exam about 3 to 4 weeks out, then study up to that "deadline." It definitely worked for me. The only exam I ever rescheduled (twice, or something like that!) was Microbiology, but I took that one after I was already CPNE-eligible, so it didn't matter so much. I didn't allow myself to reschedule anything else, just to stay on track. I swear I spent the entire year with my nose in a book/notes/something. It was exhausting, but rewarding in the end.

Once I took the first exam (A&P), I couldn't stop! I knew I could do this. I just let the momentum continue to carry me forward.

And like Pmdc, I didn't mind the CPNE wait time at all; I used every moment of it to study and prepare. I spent more time waiting for the CPNE date than I spent doing exams and whatnot! :)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 16, 2009

One candidate was there to make his final attempt at the CPNE (I can't remember how many they allow, but talk about stress).

Three attempts before you're dismissed from the program. Ugh.

caliotter3 · Apr 16, 2009

If a person is dismissed for failing the CPNE three times, they can reapply and do everything all over again after five years has gone by. Why someone would wait that long to continue with their plans to become an RN, is beyond me, unless, of course, Excelsior is their only option. Of course, during that five year time period, their state can always decide to stop honoring EC. That is the risk one takes.