[bsrn0523]

I just started my CPNE studies this week by cracking open the carjack. Well, I am on section four and I have to say, the amount of information seems so overwhelming. I plan on setting up a lab in the house, practicing mock CPNE's, I am even taking a workshop as well as the documentation/careplanning conferences. Is there anything else I can do to get myself in tip top CPNE shape?

[Boston-RN]

I'm in the same boat with you. I checked out the EPN (excelsior peer network) to see where others started. My plan of attack is to read the study guide once over to get a full picture of what the test is looking for. Then I will separate the labs from the PCS info. After looking over the Areas of care and the lab requirements I'll fiqure out what Areas Of Care I'm not that comfortable with and use the books as reference. Then I'll start memorizing the critical elements and practicing going through the motions.

I am also scheduled for a workshop in July so at that point I'll refine things.

I did pretty good on care planning in the LPN program so I'm not too worried about that and I'm just assuming EVERY LITTLE THING will need to be documented....those things I can refine during the workshop if needed.

That's my plan of attack. I'll let you know if anything else pops up during my studying. Good Luck to you in your studies.

[caliotter3]

I've noticed that a lot of people say that having attended a workshop helped tremendously. I am almost at that point and plan to attend a workshop.

[Mudwoman]

Take each section and put it in your own words. I got on the computer and typed it in WORD. I whittled it down to no more than 2 typed pages for each area of care.

Next, I got another notebook and dividers and made my own "study guide" with my typed word document. I put these in those clear document protectors. I got one of the notebooks that zipped. Handy to grab when I was going someplace I could study.

After that, I made 5 x 8 cards with mneumonics and put those in document protectors in the area of care sections they belonged to.

The best thing I did was time myself when doing anything. I would time how long it took to do a pretend care plan. How long to do the pretend lab simulation etc.