Which degree???

[Getiton1]

Hi Sanantone,

Exactly. The final nursing exam for Excelsior's Nursing Program is the CPNE (I think it stand for Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam). It's 8 credits and basically you go to a hospital that you have either never been to (often it's in a different state since only a few states host it), and you take care of real live patients for 3 days. If you pass all the patients and labs in 2 days you are done. It's SERIOUSLY intense. I have studied with very experienced Medics and LPN's and they fail. The mental game is a lot of what that exam is all about. Anyone reading this thread that has gone through the EC CPNE will likely back what I am saying because it's got a ridiculously low pass rate. I think it's around 60%.

Excelsior Pass Rates!!! - Excelsior College Online Nursing Degrees

You have to be absolutely cool headed and focused to pass this CPNE exam and hope that you don't have one of the evil reviewers is what I have gathered from people that have taken and passed a well as those that have not. If a person is not even sure they want to be a nurse, these MSN's will sniff out any weakness and pounce. It's a 2,000 exam plus time off from work, travel and likely lodging. I feel like as a person who walked through that fire, that I should at least warm people it's hot.

I think EC toughened their admissions standards because a lot of students were failing the hands-on portion whatever it's called. That why the last exception only considers people currently working in a clinical capacity. They will probably only consider those working as CNAs, physical therapy assistants, diagnostic sonographers, or something like that.

As a kid of a medic, and several people in the armed services as well as other public service sectors, I agree that people think going into them is going to be some kind of exciting glamour job. I only saw the affects of those jobs as a family member. People I know still can't talk about what they saw in Iraq after 3 tours in the early 2000's.

Being a FBI agent is dangerous. Working in Homeland Security is not always like it is when watching "Homeland". Plus the day to day is not always as exciting as they show on TV. In real life, there is a lot of investigation that takes months and even years to put together. Another harsh reality about law enforcement is people you have been interviewing die, families are split up, there's a lot of politics and bureaucracy. One thing I have noticed in the last 10 years is people get into the police academy and forget that they are still supposed to protect and serve the people. Not seek and destroy them. The very best people in law enforcement, keep the human aspect of security, and work for the greater good of the entire society. They have excellent critical thinking skills and common sense. They see the BIG picture. The worst people in law enforcement I have seen are cocky, show zero critical thinking skills and have no desire but to establish dominance over the common every day citizen. Whenever I see a great law officer or hear a story where a cop or law enforcement person went out of their way to do something noble and good for a common citizen, I try make a point of saying "thanks". The example that comes to mind for great cops is 9/11. I live pretty close to New York, and my Mom and I volunteered to help out right away. We could see the towers burning, and watched as people jumped to their deaths on the monitor. I can't thank the police and firefighters that ran into World Trade to save other people that September morning that didn't come out. I absolutely did thank the ones that did. But I knew a few of these brave people and to me they were the bravest and strongest people ever, and I will never ever forget them. When I think of the best people in law enforcement, I think of them as chivalrous Knights. People that are loyal to the cause of something bigger then themselves for the sake of a better more peaceful society. They put their life on the line, and for that I am grateful and humbled by their bravery. It too is a noble profession serving the public, and I am in support of the people that risk their lives to defend a peaceful way of day to day life. We need you and I feel you are important to a peaceful society.

Sanantone, do you think that TV dictates the career choices of young people? For example, the top shows are Homeland and often Hospital based shows. When 30 Rock was popular I think people went into that kind of career. How much do you think the media influences career choices?


There is an unrealistic image problem in my field too. Almost everyone seems to want to be an FBI agent, work in homeland security, or become a CSI based on what they've seen on t.v. There are a lot of people who also want to become police officers, but they have no idea what's required to become one or all of those other things.