Anyone do the CPNE with minimal clinical experience?

[erinp88]

So, I'm still waiting for my CPNE date and I'm freaking out. As most of you know, I live in Michigan where the economy is extra dumpy compared to the rest of the country. When I enrolled in Excelsior about two years ago, I worked for a school district but had intended on finding a different job to obtain some clinical skills........Well, the economy has continued to sink and minimal opportunities have been available for me to get back into a clinical setting. I finally left my school job all together (a pretty gutsy thing to do) and spent the last 3 months applying for jobs non-stop. The nursing home I used to work for ended up rehiring me and I'll begin work there again soon. I'm not sure if it'll be enough to get me up to par to pass this nasty exam.

Obviously I'll be practicing on my own and I'm hoping to go to Chancellor's workshop. I'm hoping that there may be someone else with similar experience that has conqured this!!

I know it was probably a poor choice for me to obtain my RN, but I have to stick with it at this point!!

[RNandRRT]

I have no advice for you at this point. Good luck in your future endeavors.

[caliotter3]

You have to practice at home on your own. A good idea is to watch all the videos you can get your hands on. There are some pretty good ones on youtube by vanessa and Rob's DVDs are a good place to start. As for people with no clinical experience. When the EC program started as the Regents program back in antiquity, one was not required to have any healthcare background. People entered the program literally from off the street and were able to teach themselves the requirements and pass the exams, including the CPNE. That was one of the major initial drawbacks to the program and why changes came about increasing the standards over the years. If people can come off the street and pass the test, then, supposedly, someone with minimal experience can so too. Might not be the easiest thing in the world to do, but possible. With hard work. Good luck.

[BetterMeRN]

You certainly do not need clinical experience to do the CPNE. You need only to do things the way EC wants them. The previous poster is right you need to look at the videos, Robs is a great way to start. Please attend a workshop, I have only been to EC's so I can't comment on the others. I heard Chancellors was good but they lack in care planning. You can pick my brain for any information you need. Wishing you the best.

[pebbles57]

Think of it this way . . . you have no bad habits to break from past clinical experience. You can learn fresh the EC CPNE way. Lacking clinical experience could be a factor if you face some "unexpected" events in your CPNE testing but if you are well prepared by doing things as the other post are directing, I think you will be okay.

[erinp88]

Thanks for the support!! I truly appreciate all the information and additional advice!!

[ialord]

Erin, I'm in Lansing, Michigan. I got a message from you today asking me how I was doing in my preparation for CPNE. My test date is on late February. I study by myself. I have no plan to go to a workshop. I do have nursing experience in long term care and home health care as an LPN. But just like some people said here, it's not about how much experience you've had, it's all about the ways Excelsior wants you to do. I'm sticking to the Study Guide, especially the Unit that talks about Critical Elements. I try to memorize those Critical Elements and practise the lab & assessment skills. If you would like to contact me, please use my email (email edited out per the website TOS). It's kind of inconvenient to talk here, because I don't come to this website every day. Good luck...to both of us!

[ialord]

Erin, I have sent a message to your hotmail and kent mailbox. Just letting you know in case the mail was sent to the junk mail box and you have not received it. Good luck with your study.