What's the next step?

[agldragonRN]

hello my fellow distance learners.

i have finally taken my first ec exam after all the postponement from the past nine months. i had no choice but to take it this morning or else i will forfeit the exam and my money. i really don't have a motivation to do my rn because i am very happy and content with my lpn title at the moment. i passed with a c without studying. i guess i still remember my lpn stuff from last year.

anyhoo, passing the first exam gave me a little push that i need to go ahead and tackle these classes head on.

i commend you guys who are doing or done distance learning. it is very difficult to study independently.

well, my question is what do i do now? do i go ahead and enrol or wait until i finish all my prereqs? i have everything else except apii and micro. i will take these two classes at my local community college because i want to do my bsn in a local university later on.

or do i just do all the ec nursing classes first then do the prereqs afterwards. or just take all of them concurrently?? mind you i work full-time 3-11 shift as an lpn (i did this when i was in lpn school).

thanks for all the advice!!!!

angel (confused lpn)

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Have you already applied and received an unofficial eval of any transfer credits?

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Well, it depends on when you want to get the CPNE out of the way. You have to have all your NC tests done, but you don't have to have all your prereqs done to be CPNE eligible. However, I thought microbiology was a great test to take before old-school NC6, for example. I know you are planning to take the micro class, however. I personally would just want to get the classes out of the way before the tests. I took Statistics (BSN prereq, of course) and Intermediate Spanish I (to raise a grade) while trying to do NC tests, and it just didn't work for me. When I got to the NC tests after those classes, though, I knocked 'em out fast.

If you are happy as an LPN and not very motivated to get your RN, why not just stick with the LPN for now?

[NC Girl BSN]

Honestly, You have to be motivated to continue this program. The test do get harder and it does get harder to stay motivated. I finished all the exams in less than 7 months and had to repeat 2 exams. It takes alot of determination because the CPNE is a whole other kind of motivation. I also work 3-11pm in a nursing home as a LPN but my biggest motivation was my boss hiring Med techs and cutting LPN staff. I passed the CPNE in Dec 08 and I will take the NCLEX RN next month. I look back on my EC journey and say I am so glad that I pushed myself. It is not easy but it can be done. I finished the program in less than 1 year. My future looks alot brighter. You do realize the next step is paying the $800. Be sure of what your going to do before paying all that money. My EC journey ended up costing $6457 but that did not include books, workshops or airplane tickets which all brought the cost to around $8500. You can take AP and Micro at your local CC as you study for the nursing concepts. They just wont let you start the nursing exams if you have more that 11 hours of general eds to take. Keep us updated on your decision. Also make sure that your state accepts EC.

[agldragonRN]

have you already applied and received an unofficial eval of any transfer credits?

thanks lunah. no not yet. that should be my frist step. can't believe i was already thinking of enrolling without

doing this.

[agldragonRN]

well, it depends on when you want to get the cpne out of the way. you have to have all your nc tests done, but you don't have to have all your prereqs done to be cpne eligible. however, i thought microbiology was a great test to take before old-school nc6, for example. i know you are planning to take the micro class, however. i personally would just want to get the classes out of the way before the tests. i took statistics (bsn prereq, of course) and intermediate spanish i (to raise a grade) while trying to do nc tests, and it just didn't work for me. when i got to the nc tests after those classes, though, i knocked 'em out fast.

if you are happy as an lpn and not very motivated to get your rn, why not just stick with the lpn for now?

thanks for the info. yeah i should get all the prereqs done first.

yes i am happy being an lpn right now. but i know that having the rn title would give me more opportunities and i know i want to be an rn and i will be one. i just don't want to be out of school for so long that i will be too lazy to pursue my rn later.

i know ec rn program is very difficult. i just need to motivate myself and once i get the ball rolling, i know i can make it.

[agldragonRN]

honestly, you have to be motivated to continue this program. the test do get harder and it does get harder to stay motivated. i finished all the exams in less than 7 months and had to repeat 2 exams. it takes alot of determination because the cpne is a whole other kind of motivation. i also work 3-11pm in a nursing home as a lpn but my biggest motivation was my boss hiring med techs and cutting lpn staff. i passed the cpne in dec 08 and i will take the nclex rn next month. i look back on my ec journey and say i am so glad that i pushed myself. it is not easy but it can be done. i finished the program in less than 1 year. my future looks alot brighter. you do realize the next step is paying the $800. be sure of what your going to do before paying all that money. my ec journey ended up costing $6457 but that did not include books, workshops or airplane tickets which all brought the cost to around $8500. you can take ap and micro at your local cc as you study for the nursing concepts. they just wont let you start the nursing exams if you have more that 11 hours of general eds to take. keep us updated on your decision. also make sure that your state accepts ec.

new jersey accepts ec. thanks for all the info. good luck on your nclex! i hope i can be in your shoes in less than a year. i just need to motivate myself enough so i can get the ball rolling. i know i can do it.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Hello, fellow night owl!

I think that sounds great. My state has crud for LPNs but many more opportunities for RNs. I don't think the EC program is that difficult (though we'll see what I'm saying at this time next week when I'm done with the CPNE). It just requires you to really be motivated with no one pushing you. That's the tough part for some. Another tough part for some is the part where you don't have a teacher to walk you through things, but reading and learning on my own is fun for me. :) If you really want, go get the first nursing test out of the way. You don't have to enroll to take it, and you just may find that either this is perfect for you or you don't like the test-for-the-whole-shebang type of format.

[agldragonRN]

hello, fellow night owl!

i think that sounds great. my state has crud for lpns but many more opportunities for rns. i don't think the ec program is that difficult (though we'll see what i'm saying at this time next week when i'm done with the cpne). it just requires you to really be motivated with no one pushing you. that's the tough part for some. another tough part for some is the part where you don't have a teacher to walk you through things, but reading and learning on my own is fun for me. :) if you really want, go get the first nursing test out of the way. you don't have to enroll to take it, and you just may find that either this is perfect for you or you don't like the test-for-the-whole-shebang type of format.

hey fellow night owl. i already took the first exam that is why i was asking what would be the next step. well, i am going to apply first then have ec evaluate my transcripts. i have so many credits from 3 different colleges so i should wait for them to tell me which ones i need. thanks.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Just take the next test.