Need Excelsior CPNE Advice Please!!!

I have my CPNE at the end of October. Would you send me a copy of your grid?

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A grid works better if you come up with your own. I went through and wrote down the requirements of a particular area of care and then came up with letters to remember each, then tried to make words or just remember the letters. I also noticed that what you do is NOT the same as what you chart in some cases.

Here are some of mine, but again make your own.

Everytime you leave the room.
SWIM
S-Safety (ABC'S---Apply brake on bed, Bed in Low position, Call bell in reach, Side rails up)
W-Wash hands
I-Inscribe/write/record where needed, especially your 20 min check
M-Must tell RN and PT

MOBILITY
To Do......
NEST
N-Non skid footwear
E-Equipment needed (robe, pad)
S-Supportive devices (walker, cane, crutches)
T-Tolerated how

To Chart......
WABLER
W-What I did
A-Assistive devices used
B-Balance abnormals
L-Level of mobility
E-Extraneous movement (tremors, tics)
R-Response of Pt

ABDOMINAL ASSESS

Remember 4 P's Privacy, Pee, Position, Pain assessment

To Do.......
SODA POP
S-Suction off
O-Observe distention, contour
D-Don Gloves
A-Auscultate 4 quads
P-Palpate lightly, tender, rigid
O-On suction
P-per assignment measure girth before turning on suction

To Chart.......
Do Take Rolaids before Bed
D-Distention
T-Tenderness
R-Rigidity
B-Bowel sounds

NEUROLOGICAL Assess

To Do and Chart.......LPN FFF

L-LOC (person,place, time, familiar obj/family)
P-Pupils PERRL
N-Noxious/stim/non-communicating/pinch nailbeds
F-Fontanel <1 yr
F-Flex feet equal?
F-Finger squeeze equal?

i'm coming back here after taking a year off. I failed the cpne at Albany Medical last July. I just took a workshop this week...i'm still so scared about taking it again. Any advice?

The grid is nothing more then simply dividing one of the blank Kardex pages into 12 seperate squares. In the top left square you write you mneumonice for entering the room. Going to the right the next square you write the mneumonic for 20 minutes checks H,I,D,S is sufficient for the 20 minute checks. H is hydration status, I is Intake and Output, D is Drip rate verified, S is Site check (IV). The next grid is the VS grid, you write the VS's you are assigned and you highlight it on the Kardex and the PCS recording form as a checks and balance system. The next block you write the mneumonic for Mobility. These top four left to right boxes are areas that will be assigned on every patient. The remaining blocks will be filled with the areas of care you will be assigned for that patient. This system worked very well for me. I just checked it off as I completed it. The grid will keep you on track and helps keep you from making mistakes.

Your mnuemonics are you critical elements for each area of care.

The best thing for you to do is pay a little extra money to attend a workshop. They will explain it and show it to you. Not just the grid, but what to expect during the entire test.

I had to test twice and that extra $2000 hurt.

Greg

I just took the workshop last week-glad to hear that you passed it on your second try...hopefully i'll have the same luck. What happened with your first try?

My question is how often does Exclesior update the CPNE guidelines ?

The new edition of the CPNE study guide is released each July. I think they're on the 16th edition now.

Ah the first try. Lets see, I failed IV push on friday. Mis drew drug on second try and threw the syringe in the trash. Automatic fail.

I just took my CPNE last week end Oct 30- Nov 1 2009 in Racine WI. Thanks God I passed! Pls email me if you have questins about my experience. I can share tips and guidelins on how to make it thru..... God Bless to all of you who are preparing for it.