Where are each of you in the EC program?

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I am just begining with EC and I was looking to get a post going with any other new EC students wanting to share. I'm not looking to set up a formal study group just a chance for any interested EC students to find others who may be working on the same NC. I am starting with NC1 and then MAYBE micro, depends on how strong I feel :)

Opal

So you're one ahead of me -- since I haven't taken the fourth exam yet! And if I don't get some studying done this weekend I'll probably postpone it.

As much as I would love to finish before I have to renew again in July, I'm going to need every bit of the standard waiting period and then some to prepare for the CPNE. I'm eight years out of school, five years from my last bed bath, and while I have looked into resources that will allow me to refresh my clinical experiences I'm not sure how it will pan out and have chosen pretty much to totally passing those exams first and then working on it. That's the really scarey part for me, preparing for the CPNE! I never doubted my clinical experience before, but when you haven't put your hands on the hands on for a while confidence won't be enough.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

You seem like you know your stuff about this and I am new. Can you take these exams out of order? Also Im not no where near close to this but where is the best CPNE exam site as of right now?

Thank you

All of my pre-requisite courses transfered over, of course none of my nursing courses did (I went 3/4 through a traditional program 8 years ago). Some of that credit was CLEP, and they wouldn't accept my ENG 101 CLEP for writing but they DID accept it under humanities so I'm 3 credits closer -- and they've approved ENG102 for my writing requirement. I'm doing that in the spring. It also appears that while they aren't accepting my old lifespan type CLEP test credit for credit because the content has changed, they ARE accepting it at partial credit and the test I have to take is only on the adult.

I've taken and passed NC1 (B) NC3 © and NC4 (A!!) and have to retake NC2 (D, I blanked out) and NC5 (E, and it was my strong area to start!). I'm taking NC6 next week. I need the $$$ for the last 3 NC exams, but will take them one at a time as the cash comes in -- takes me about 2 weeks to get serious and study, allowing more time does not help me do better (although the first test I flunked I flunked because I tried 2 in one sitting and I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was!). My HOPE is to be done with that part by the end of the calendar year but money is tight and I'm not sure how I can make that happen and still have the funds for ENG102 in January, Then use tax refund $$ (usually get by mid-Feb) to pay for the CPNE and as many workshops as I can swing depending on the refund. Or maybe I'll meet some rich doctor who wants to further my education lol ...

That's where I am.

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I have a question. I have been thinking about excelsior for my ADN. Where can you do your clinicals?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Research, ER, PACU, Pheresis.

There are several CPNE (clinical) sites in different parts of the states. I went to Columbus, Ohio Sept 24-26...That site is awesome. The examiners were all fair. (I would still say that even if I had failed). I felt stressed, but not like they were wanting me to fail. There are also sites in California, New York, Phoenix, Wisconsin, Atlanta and Texas.

Yes, you can take the exams out of order, but I think Excelsior recommends you take them in order. I took NC1, 7, 3, 4, 5, then 6. I was able to waive NC2 since I received better than a B average in LPN school less than five years before I began.

Good Luck with pursuing your degree.

Lorri

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I pretty much know what I need to finish, and it was my choice to take the exams out of order -- I never actually heard anyone say you shouldn't but if others say so there might be a reason. Being so long out of a traditional classroom I like to mix my stronger areas with my weaker areas, or what should to me be an 'easy' exam with one that needs more serious study. I have no idea about the best CPNE site -- I've heard good things about all the Wisconsin sites and the one in Atlanta, more than the others, but sometimes you hear good stuff about some of the others too. On other boards I've heard that people post about their experiences at various sites, I don't know what that (or those) sites are but will look for them once I get closer to actually taking the CPNE. I figure I'm still at least 6 months, maybe 8 or more, away from doing it -- at least 4 months from having to make a choice.

You seem like you know your stuff about this and I am new. Can you take these exams out of order? Also Im not no where near close to this but where is the best CPNE exam site as of right now?

Thank you

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Specializes in Education.
Yeah baby, that's the way to do it. Congrats, it's a great feeling to pass. Thanks for the info on EC!

What material are you using for micro?

mona

I've been using the free study guides from Excelsior along with the text book for my other exams but I wanted to try something different like Chancellor's off of Ebay for Micro, but I can't seem to find one cheap enough, so I'm bidding on just the Micro text book and plan on just using the study guide. It's worked so far.

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I think taking 1&2 is an option but I am not quite sure if I need 2 if I am an LPN. Does anyone know?

I am also thinking one test per month but we will have to see how it goes. :uhoh3:

If you graduated from an LPN program within the last 5 yrs. with a B average you may be exempt from taking Nursing Concepts 2.

You can take Nursing Concepts 1 and 2 without being enrolled in Excelsior.

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As much as I would love to finish before I have to renew again in July, I'm going to need every bit of the standard waiting period and then some to prepare for the CPNE. I'm eight years out of school, five years from my last bed bath, and while I have looked into resources that will allow me to refresh my clinical experiences I'm not sure how it will pan out and have chosen pretty much to totally passing those exams first and then working on it. That's the really scarey part for me, preparing for the CPNE! I never doubted my clinical experience before, but when you haven't put your hands on the hands on for a while confidence won't be enough.

I can understand this laurie888-i have worked nights for 7 years and a lot of that daytime stuff (baths, feeding, etc) has been few and far between. add to that i've spent the last 2 years in the er-so floor nursing seems really strange to me now. I just want to get to the point that i can start focusing on the cpne since that is the hurdle we all seem to fear!

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As much as I would love to finish before I have to renew again in July, I'm going to need every bit of the standard waiting period and then some to prepare for the CPNE. I'm eight years out of school, five years from my last bed bath, and while I have looked into resources that will allow me to refresh my clinical experiences I'm not sure how it will pan out and have chosen pretty much to totally passing those exams first and then working on it. That's the really scarey part for me, preparing for the CPNE! I never doubted my clinical experience before, but when you haven't put your hands on the hands on for a while confidence won't be enough.

I can understand this laurie888-i have worked nights for 7 years and a lot of that daytime stuff (baths, feeding, etc) has been few and far between. add to that i've spent the last 2 years in the er-so floor nursing seems really strange to me now. I just want to get to the point that i can start focusing on the cpne since that is the hurdle we all seem to fear!

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On other boards I've heard that people post about their experiences at various sites, I don't know what that (or those) sites are but will look for them once I get closer to actually taking the CPNE.

try rnstudygroups on the yahoo groups and alittlesarcasm.com...they have lots of info on cpne and the ec tests.

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On other boards I've heard that people post about their experiences at various sites, I don't know what that (or those) sites are but will look for them once I get closer to actually taking the CPNE.

try rnstudygroups on the yahoo groups and alittlesarcasm.com...they have lots of info on cpne and the ec tests.

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On other boards I've heard that people post about their experiences at various sites, I don't know what that (or those) sites are but will look for them once I get closer to actually taking the CPNE.

try rnstudygroups on the yahoo groups and alittlesarcasm.com...they have lots of info on cpne and the ec tests.

Sounds like missnurse01 and Laurie888 will be good resources as we plug along. Thanks for posting and continued success with EC.

Hope to see both of you here often.

Opal :)

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