In need of practical steps to start studying for CPNE

Nursing Students Excelsior

Published

Hi everyone,

So I have the CPNE material to study and have NOT gotten started yet (I got it in Sept '12)

I need some help.

If you have started studying or have completed the CPNE, can you

give me some pointers on how to began this study journey please!

I feel challenged because of the thickness of the packet (that I had to print from CD)

and I don't even "feel" like reading through that nonsense.

I'm just tired of studying,(loss my motivation) but if I can get some practical steps on how to break down this study process, I believe I can get started.

I'm one step away from the NCLEX and I want this over with already.

Just thought I should reach out to my fellow excelsior nursing students for help.

Thanks in advance!!

I heard Sherri's workshop is great..

I will be attending Sheri Taylor's workshop this weekend, in Atlanta. I hear it is great, I sure hope so. I feel overwhelmed with all of the CPNE material too...but getting started.

I am in the same boat as you. Passed the FCCA at the end of Oct, got my CPNE stuff turned in and approved Nov 14th, have my book printed out and have read like 10 pages of it. I just feel so overwhelmed and just don't know where to start. I know I just need to start reading. I am one who procrastinates though (Heck, I started the program in 2006).

I think once I get my actual date (I am doing it in Lubbock Texas, takes forever to get a date) I will be more motivated, but I need to get going now.

Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.

Here are some tips:

1. Break your study guide down. I put units I-III into their own binder and I put dividers between all the sections in unit IV The first thing I did was read the whole thing, cover to cover like a novel. It was hard to do, but it will set you a good foundation. I also read the guide cover to cover once a month and will continue to do so until test day (takes me a bout a week to do!).

2. Do each section you will be tested on individually (break it down, again!). For instance, I set up a lab and spent a week getting the hang of the stations. Then I spent a week taking notes on the Planning phase while continuting to practice my labs. Next, I spent a week getting my pneumonics for the Implementation phase, reviewing procedures and such while continuing to practice labs and care plans. Finally, next week I will be working on my rationales and cheat sheets for my narrative notes (Evaluation phase). The key for me was to break it down into chunks, while still continuing to practice the procedures from the previous sections while learning the new sections. If you think of it as "labs + PIE", maybe it won't seem so overwhelming. :-)

I too, have heard that Tina no longer does workshops, but I'm doing Sheri's online workshop and I'm finding it extremely helpful.

Good luck!

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