i'd like to share my story and get any and all advice i can.
i'm at the lowest of my low at this point ..
18 years old. start pre-req's for community college RN program. breeze through 'em.
2 years later - take the first RN class - get a D. (had NO clue how much it would take .. lesson learned.)
next semester - decide to go for LPN to ease me into things. graduated with LPN.
go back for LPN to RN Bridge - pass that, the RN psych. course, get a D in Peds. (not again!)
enroll in excelsior. oh boy .. passed all of the exams with no problem. get to the final clinical exam -- of course, "fail." we all know excelsior -- one little thing wrong .. it's over.
sooooooooo down and out by now.
am i not supposed to be an RN?
is this a sign?
should i just stick with my LPN and be happy with that?
got back on my feet recently and enrolled in yet another program. now, the cost of education and working/not working -- impossible in terms of debt. what if i don't pass again? do i really want to go thru yet another program only to fail?
i know i might hear 'you can't think like that!' 'you must keep trying!'
but seriously. you can only hear 'fail.' 'fail.' 'fail.' but so many times before you have to stand back and say ok .. what do i do?
it's so easy to say 'oh come on .. just do it.'
but anyone who's been through nursing school knows .. it's just simply not that easy.
i love nursing. obviously, i really do. i know i know it.
but to go through all of this has been such an experience. i've never in my life had such a time with getting to a goal.
my question is .. what would you do if you were me .. and be honest.
i don't want to hear 'brick walls are what you hit to see how badly you want something.'
i've hit like eight million brick walls .. i should have a severe concussion by now.
thanks for your advice and listening.
love,
laura the (always) LPN ???
p.s. - totally nothing against staying an LPN for the rest of my career. totally fine with it. however, my ultimate goal was to be an RN. more opportunity, more voice, and more financial room to grow. so it's hard to give up on a goal .. but how much more can i take?
Oh my Gosh!!! You are so close. Don't give up. Just retake the clinicals. You now know how the CPNE works. It shouldn't be as intimidating a second time. Of course it is expensive to retake, but I would imagine it will be more expensive to start from scratch with yet another program.
One of the best nurses in my hospital bridged from LPN to RN years ago when it was still Regents. She failed the CPNE the first time she took it. When she found out I'm going thru Excelsior she offered me some advice: "If you don't make it thru Excelsior, its your own fault. If you fail, repeat the course. You are given enough opportunities to succeed." Please don't quit now. If I was only a CPNE away from graduating, I'd be ecstatic!! Good luck and let us know how it goes.
i live in richmond,va. and they placed me in upstate new york.
i had to fly, get a hotel room .. and all of the expenses that go along with that.
not to mention the cost of uniforms, CPNE supply preparation tools (DVD, book, etc..) and the CPNE cost itself.
******
also - this CPNE failure happened about 3 years ago.
AND ... yes, it's true - if you fail excelsior, it is your fault. that's obvious. anytime you fail anythng, you can't blame anyone but yourself ..
HOWEVER, have you gone through the CPNE? it is no easy feat. i wish you knew the teeny tiny details they will fail you for. and though i'm completely aware how serious the nursing profession is and what we are responsible for (people's lives), excelsior takes it to another level, in my opinon.
You have to decided what you REALLY, REALLY want out of your career and then go for it. There were always be sacrifices along the way (don't I know this) either financial or personal - such as family stuff. For me, NOT getting my RN has not been that big of an issue..I tend to believe that you are what you are...you "prove" yourself no matter whether you are an LPN or RN and the respect you earn far surpasses any and all time spent in nursing schools! Not to mention the personal satisfaction!!! I have learned this along the way...
You've made it through an LPN course and gotten the license. You obviously have what it takes to be a nurse.
Take a long, hard look at everything that you have failed (besides that crappy Excelsior test - I wouldn't go through that again). Did you not do enough test questions or was clinical your downfall? Do what you need to do to fix that specific portion, and - don't forget - you've passed the rest. If you need to do test questions, buy three NCLEX review books and get cracking. If you aren't good at skills, find a skills lab when you re-enroll and get additional help.
Remeber, you've passed some of the most difficult portions of nursing school by becoming an LPN. Don't let one setback make you think that you can't do it. Also, the financial difference here between the LPN and RN is enough motivation to keep me going, if nothing else!
please nurseLPNtry youi can make it youve gone through everything else you are so close more money more respect you can do it you are so smart i wish i had alittle of your smarts id get a degree in nursing to im also an LPN (SMILE)
Don't give up! I failed the NCLEX-PN my first time. My nerves got the best of me and I started over analyzing the test qustions to the point where I ran out of time. I took a review class and I sat and took the NCLEX-PN again. I passed with just 75 questions. My point is I felt like you did, and 20lbs later, I gave it another try. DON'T GIVE UP!! NEVER GIVE UP! :nono:Take a workshop or whatever you have to do. But give it another try.
HopeItWorksDNP
83 Posts
Oh my Gosh!!! You are so close. Don't give up. Just retake the clinicals. You now know how the CPNE works. It shouldn't be as intimidating a second time. Of course it is expensive to retake, but I would imagine it will be more expensive to start from scratch with yet another program.
One of the best nurses in my hospital bridged from LPN to RN years ago when it was still Regents. She failed the CPNE the first time she took it. When she found out I'm going thru Excelsior she offered me some advice: "If you don't make it thru Excelsior, its your own fault. If you fail, repeat the course. You are given enough opportunities to succeed." Please don't quit now. If I was only a CPNE away from graduating, I'd be ecstatic!! Good luck and let us know how it goes.