CPAN Exam

Specialties PACU

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Who here has taken the CPAN test and what did you use for your study guide? Give me some tips

Thanks....Casey

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I actually just took it today!I took a review class about 3 months ago, then I studied for about the last month, but some days I would study for HOURS. They tell you to study in little chunks at a time over a long period, but I am not too good at that, lol... I used the core curriculum for reference, the practice questions book and aspan standards book. I never opened Drain's perianesthesia book, but hear its good. The core curriculum is nice because it's just the facts, very concise and aspan approves. Great to make flash cards from. My practice questions book, (I think is by Putrycus?) is not approved, but I liked it because it tells you the rationale for the answers. I did the whole book and reviewed only what I missed. Chapters 6&7 were pretty brutal!

Best advice: don't spend time on what you already know, if you are constantly recovering ortho patients, you know the dermatomes... If you never recover kids or pregnant women, make sure to check that out. All the best to ya! I was just about nuts when I was done!

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Specializes in PACU, ICU, Burn, Teletriage.

My friend went to a review class. She had TONS of handouts she gave meto study with, and that was helpful since i hadn't been able to go along to the class. I also used the Core book as well. Also study the meds, brand and generic names, effects, side effects and such. Even if you don't use a drug in your PACU, the meds and practices vary A LOT and often depend on the anesthesia practice, so study them even if you don't ever use them. Example, one PACU I worked at used ketamine post op frequently. Most of the others not so much.

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Who here has taken the CPAN test and what did you use for your study guide? Give me some tips

Thanks....Casey

I just did tons of practice questions. I did no review courses. I'll admit I found the test to be harder then the NCLEX. I went in there did the 175 questions in about an hour or so,prob had half of them marked as i don't know and passed. I've only been an RN for a little over a year now but did PACU in the military.

My advice for anyone doing any test is practice questions/practice questions. I wouldn't bother going over stuff you already know like trying to read a chapter and then do questions. Overall, not a bad test at all.

Also purchase the practice test off of the ASPAN website for a decent representation of the test questions ( types not exact). Its usually 2 test for 50 $. I did 2 test before I started studying and 2 test before I actually took the test.

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Specializes in Surgical oncology, pacu.

I am taking the exam in two weeks I am so nervous

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