Question about CPNE

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Feb 12, 2003

We don't start IVs on patients during the CPNE, although we may be assigned to flush a lock. We do hang minis and adjust/set gtt rates (gravity or pump) and we may have to d/c an IV. But no IV pushes or any starting of an IV. The first day of the CPNE is a simulation lab, and there is an IV push station as well as an IV piggyback station where we hang a mini and figure out and set the gtt rate by gravity IV.

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

Is that how it is in nursing school? Do nursing students actually start IV's or do you have to have a license first?

mona b

CindyJRN · Feb 12, 2003

It is different in the traditional setting because of state regulations about students and such. With Excelsior, you are not covered, so are not allowed to do anything "invasive." In traditional programs, students also practice IV's on one another.

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

Thanks Spazzy Nurse and Cindyjrn. I was curious as to how Excelsior did things vs a traditional school.

StinkyMcStinker · Feb 23, 2003

Yes, that is one of the incredible things I found very difficult to believe at first. You will NEVER be tested or evaluated for competancy on a very important skill such as I.V. insertion, You WILL however be FAILED for not offering a "comfort measure". Unbelievable.

debRNo1 · Feb 24, 2003

Originally posted by StinkyMcStinker
Yes, that is one of the incredible things I found very difficult to believe at first. You will NEVER be tested or evaluated for competancy on a very important skill such as I.V. insertion, You WILL however be FAILED for not offering a "comfort measure". Unbelievable.

Not so unbeleivable-there are nurses with many many years of experience that WILL NOT start IV's. Imagine if they took ALL licensed nurses and tested them on their IV insertion skills ??

I would love to see those stats :roll

I agree that IV insertion is a valuable skill but not required during CPNE. You are expected to act as a new grad would- show me a new grad proficent in IV insertion. They cannot and will not ask you to do any invasive procedures during the CPNE. You would however be required to hang or regulate IVF's or IVPB in a PCS and follow the specific criteria involved. IVP will be simulated in the lab and follow the "critical elements" for that "required" area of care.

Comfort measures are an "area of care" during CPNE and YES you will fail for not offering/documenting 3 measures if assigned that area.

Some people just dont understand how the whole Excelsior process works and I highly reccommend that you research the program and what is and is not involved before you enroll or sign up with a company that gaurentees you'll be an RN............

I would be happy to answer anything I can to help

clarify the misconceptions :confused:

deb

Excelsior ADN '01 :nurse:

kavi · Feb 25, 2003

IV Starts was one of the things that concerned me when deciding about Excelsior. Although I've been 'taught' to do them, I have very little practical experience.

Then I spoke with a recent 'traditional' nursing school graduate--through a college ADN program. In school, they practiced on mannikins. In her clinicals, the hospital had an IV start 'team' and it was very difficult to get any practical experience because the 'team' automatically was called for all starts.

I've also worked with a few other new nurses who had attended on-site college related programs at other schools who had very little practical IV experience.

So I decided that I wasn't losing out on much by going through Excelsior.