Which publishing company?

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Ok, so I know plenty of people have passed and did well without using any of the publishing company materials. I think I might want to use one because I think I may need some extra direction - and I always am more successful when I have a focused, organized way of manipulating the material. I have only taken health safety and honestly I did not end up studying for it and got a B, but I know the other exams are going to be more challenging for me.

So if someone who has experience with the publishing companies wouldn't mind giving me some recommendations that would be wonderful. I have visited the websites and they do not provide as much information as I would like.

This is what I think I need:

A workbook format (can be paper - but computer based is even better) that goes through the material where I have to find the answers in the textbook or other sources. A very organized approach to the material - I tend not to be very organized and need help in that area. I also am easily distracted, so really need the info to be broken up nicely. Also, it needs to be something where I can pick it up and do an hour here and there and go right back to where I left off. I also, would like some sort of tracking tool so I can see where I am - like a visual chart of what I have accomplished and how much more I have to study to go through all of the material.

I know I am kind of specific and guides that would work best for me may not exist, but maybe someone here may have some experience with some of these materials.

Thanks for your help

Amanda

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Don't do it! Go to ebay and buy the college network books for a fraction of the cost. That what I did. I got 5 modules for $160 and sold them back for about $240.Just type in "college network" and several of their moduled will come up. Don't be fooled into thinking those publishing companies are gonna help you pass the test. How can they? Over the telephone? Most of them have chat forums, but so does EC. If you sign with college network, expect to pay $500 per module. $4000 just for the books alone not including enrollment fees, annual fee, CPNE etc. I thought the college network modules were fair. I still bought some of the EC recommended book. My only concern is EC required tons of self motivation. This program is not for everyone. If you are finding it hard to stay motivated then signing up with a publishing company will only complicate things. In the end, you will still have to pay them money even if you decide EC is not for you.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

I would recommend www.istudysmart.com; You do not have to sign any contracts, and Excelsior recognizes them also. You can buy one course study material at a time to see if they're helpful for you, if not, then you don't have to buy anymore. RUE and The College Network requires you to sign a contract that is almost impossible to get out of if you have a change of heart about their study materials. istudysmart have either paper format and computer-based study material. Good luck to you!

Ok, so I know plenty of people have passed and did well without using any of the publishing company materials. I think I might want to use one because I think I may need some extra direction - and I always am more successful when I have a focused, organized way of manipulating the material. I have only taken health safety and honestly I did not end up studying for it and got a B, but I know the other exams are going to be more challenging for me.

So if someone who has experience with the publishing companies wouldn't mind giving me some recommendations that would be wonderful. I have visited the websites and they do not provide as much information as I would like.

This is what I think I need:

A workbook format (can be paper - but computer based is even better) that goes through the material where I have to find the answers in the textbook or other sources. A very organized approach to the material - I tend not to be very organized and need help in that area. I also am easily distracted, so really need the info to be broken up nicely. Also, it needs to be something where I can pick it up and do an hour here and there and go right back to where I left off. I also, would like some sort of tracking tool so I can see where I am - like a visual chart of what I have accomplished and how much more I have to study to go through all of the material.

I know I am kind of specific and guides that would work best for me may not exist, but maybe someone here may have some experience with some of these materials.

Thanks for your help

Amanda

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I have ADHD, so I'm a distracted studier, too. I did quite well with a NCLEX-RN review book, studying the outlines given, and then reviewing a text for items that I did not know well in those outlines. It gave structure without an information overload.

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I bought used stuff from TCN and Chancellors on ebay. Neither one of them were even worth the discounted price that I paid. I would suggest buying used materials on ebay. You will see if they are helpful for you and you won't be out thousands of dollars to find the study guides to be useless.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

i forgot about www.istudysmart.com. ec does endorse them. try one module and see how it does.

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Thank you for all your replies - I think I just got nervous, because I have a lot going on right now and am afraid of failing - but we keep forging ahead if that happens.

I think I will look and see what is available on ebay for each particular exam - I think I will also try one of the istudysmart online modules - I just wish I could know if they would benefit me for sure, because they have the club for under 700$ per year and you can access up to 14 ( I only need 6 or 7)

I just want to take all of the exams ASAP before I forget everything that I worked so hard to learn in nursing school. I plan on taking the rest of the exams, one every other week between July and September.

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Don't forget to look in the files sections of Excelsior College groups on yahoo, and http://www.flashcardexchange.com. Both of these resources are free.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I used Chancellor's study guides for all my 14 exams and passed all the first time. You can usually find them cheap on ebay. I also found Studygroup 101 to be helpful as well and they were about 10 bucks each.Good Luck.:D

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
Thank you for all your replies - I think I just got nervous, because I have a lot going on right now and am afraid of failing - but we keep forging ahead if that happens.

I think I will look and see what is available on ebay for each particular exam - I think I will also try one of the istudysmart online modules - I just wish I could know if they would benefit me for sure, because they have the club for under 700$ per year and you can access up to 14 ( I only need 6 or 7)

I just want to take all of the exams ASAP before I forget everything that I worked so hard to learn in nursing school. I plan on taking the rest of the exams, one every other week between July and September.

If you wait till after July 1,2009 to enroll, you can get a great discount on enrollment and 4 exams. Good Luck to you and I would not buy the 700 a yr access from Istudy. Save that money for the EC workshop.

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Has RUE stopped publishing modules, I haven't heard anyone talk about them. I thought those were supposed to be helpful.

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I am doing the Rue online program. This might be helpful to you if you need some structure. They give you assignments to complete online, then you get a grade. They have all kinds of support, faculty and the other students taking the class. To me, it seems like going to an actual classroom, but you do it in your free time. I wanted to do it on my own through EC, but I didn't get motivated after I bought the books on ebay. The reason that I am doing the Rue online program, is because my hospital is paying for it. I think it's about $14,000 if you pay it on your own. I get my assignment on Sunday at midnight, or whenever I log in, then I have until the next Sunday at midnight to complete it. I have a Rue textbook and workbook, and Rue flashcards, plus there is an online lecture from a teacher, and online assignments. I have to complete two discussion groups online, one crossword puzzle online, and an online test.

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