CHPPN/CHPN exam-HELP!

TammyG · Mar 29, 2015

The only study material that I am aware of is the core curriculum and the study guide, both of which are published by HPNA. The study guide contains sample questions and was very helpful. This is really all I based my studying on. Someone recommended that I look at a palliative nursing book, however, I did not have time and did not feel that was necessary. I did fine on the test, though I have a strong oncology background and I think that helped a lot.

I do not remember any conversion questions at all. Is that material in the core curriculum? If it is not, and if it is not on the outline for the test, then it will not be covered.

elb3006 · Mar 29, 2015

Thanks for your response- it makes me feel a bit better. Book has equiananalgesic dosing and outline says need to be able to identify equal doses for opioid rotation. I think I complicated it and thought I would need to do conversions. Glad to hear you did fine on test. I have many years of experience plus have been studying a lot. Haven't taken a test in a long time, but prefer to over prepare.

TammyG · Mar 29, 2015

Hmmmm. Being required to identify equal doses for opioid rotation sure sounds like conversions to me. I honestly do not remember that, however, I took a test a few years ago. I just looked at the new core curriculum that just came out last month, they definitely include a conversion chart. I do remember questions related to proper calculation of breakthrough doses. My recollection is that the test was heavily symptom management oriented, with a lot of oncology related questions.

elb3006 · Mar 29, 2015

Was it the adult or PEDs test? I've spent the majority of time studying pain and symptom man agent and meds. And, med conversions.

TammyG · Mar 29, 2015

I was referring to the adult.

elb3006 · Mar 31, 2015

Thank you, Tammy. Your replies were helpful as I needed reassurance that I was on the right track. I took the exam yesterday and passed. I studied the core curriculum book and reviewed other materials from recent conferences. There were a couple med conversion and titration questions, but they were pretty basic (I didn't use the scratch paper). For me, the key was knowledge of pediatric illnesses and symptom management, and reviewing the entire core curriculum book (a lot).

TammyG · Mar 31, 2015

Fantastic and congratulations!!

_firefly, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 9, 2015

There are a lot of 'what should you do first' for this patient questions. There are only a small number of equianalgesic questions, and almost no pediatric questions. The complexity of this test for me was really knowing diseases, their progression, diagnosis, and symptom management (including pharmacology). Anyway, on my second attempt I passed. I really just went through the Mometrix practice questions book about four times and the HPNA Core Curriculum book once.

Nashvillejeanne · Jun 9, 2015

I found it to be focused on grief and care of patients throughout the lifespan. Lots of peds questions. A few conversion questions but not many. Lots of symptom management and disease progression! Good luck to you!

tbatoto24 · Jun 9, 2017

I'm still not sure why everyone freaks out about it. I just passed the test today and started studying yesterday. lol I got the chpn secret guide and read maybe 30 pages of it but did all the test questions on the back. A lot

Of cancer questions. Good luck