A couple of CPNE questions

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The nightmares have officially begun. I had a dream that one of my old (favorite) clinical instructors walked me through my first PCS and I failed it because the patient stole my paperwork and flushed it down the toilet.

Anyway, my biggest problem that I forsee is the I/O.

I understand we have to record every drop of water/liquid that goes into their body and out, but how? What is the best way to do this?! I am afraid that this one thing is going to cause me to fail because I am horrible with this type of thing. Do you measure their cup, do you keep them NPO? Do they always have a catheter? Do they already have a hat in the toilet, or do you need to bring one of those in? Do you start counting the IV solution going in from the moment you start and then calculate based on the minutes/hours you are in with the patient?

Help please! :)

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Sweettart,

I took the CPNE five years ago, so I'm too far removed to remember many of the specifics. I just wanted to wish you good luck as you continue to prepare. When I had very specific questions, I found it helpful to call and ask to speak with a faculty member for reassurance.

Look at it this way. No matter what happens in there, it's almost certainly not going to be as bad as your dream!

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Specializes in LTC,acute care, and corrections.
The nightmares have officially begun. I had a dream that one of my old (favorite) clinical instructors walked me through my first PCS and I failed it because the patient stole my paperwork and flushed it down the toilet.

Anyway, my biggest problem that I forsee is the I/O.

I understand we have to record every drop of water/liquid that goes into their body and out, but how? What is the best way to do this?! I am afraid that this one thing is going to cause me to fail because I am horrible with this type of thing. Do you measure their cup, do you keep them NPO? Do they always have a catheter? Do they already have a hat in the toilet, or do you need to bring one of those in? Do you start counting the IV solution going in from the moment you start and then calculate based on the minutes/hours you are in with the patient?

Help please! :)

Utilize the EC EPN board, if you haven't already. I found it invaluable finding answers & getting questions answered plus its monitored by faculty(Civita) who is also the CA at Utica. We also have a cpne forum on facebook search cpne conquering the beast. Good luck!

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Your instructor will keep a measuring cup in her pocket. Just measure what is left in the cup and subtract from the starting amount. The instructor will have the measuring vessel in the bathroom for output. You must offer fluids during your pcs its a critical element. As far as Iv fluids you only count it if it runs out during your pcs. At least when I took the cpne that was the way it was done. Like slcrn said go to the EPN board,

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I was watching the youtube videos and where do you get all of the supplies to practice???? She had a lot of supplies.

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I'm on the EPN board as well I just like the feedback from here better.

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Most people get their supplies from their jobs.

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Specializes in LTC,acute care, and corrections.
I was watching the youtube videos and where do you get all of the supplies to practice???? She had a lot of supplies.

EC sells a cpne skills kit, you can order it online thru them, and they give you the web address of the distributor & you can order thru them as well. I got my supplies from work & got the wound off ebay

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Their PO intake will be measured off their food tray. Keep an eye on it and don't let staff run off with it. You go through it with your insructor and write down how much of everything they ate or drank. Be sure to tell the patients you are going to measure thier urine, so if they flush it you aren't responsible for the loss. Make sure you do your math right! I failed a scenario for the sole reason that I added up the I/Os incorrectly. Good luck.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Most patients have been in the hospital for a bit, so they probably understand about your need to capture their intake and output. The one pt. I had who actually had some output used his urinal as requested, no problem. :) If they're consuming any liquids when you enter, you'll just noted the starting amount, then either measure remaining or eyeball it with the CE. For example, my first patient drank about half a cup of coffee while we were in the room. The tray list showed that the coffee was so many milliliters, and she and I guesstimated he'd consumed about half that, so that's what I put down as part of intake. I was most concerned about I/Os, too, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought. :)

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Most patients have been in the hospital for a bit, so they probably understand about your need to capture their intake and output. The one pt. I had who actually had some output used his urinal as requested, no problem. :) If they're consuming any liquids when you enter, you'll just noted the starting amount, then either measure remaining or eyeball it with the CE. For example, my first patient drank about half a cup of coffee while we were in the room. The tray list showed that the coffee was so many milliliters, and she and I guesstimated he'd consumed about half that, so that's what I put down as part of intake. I was most concerned about I/Os, too, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought. :)

Lunah, I knew I could count on you.

I leave a week from Thursday. :eek:

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Go back and read this one when you doubt yourself:

Less than two weeks to the CPNE - Nursing for Nurses

*hugs* :)

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