CPNE & excelsior resources!?

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Hi All! ? about excelsior resources for CPNE, which ones were extremely helpful? I know i've heard about the skill kit, what about any other resources such as the flash cards, etc.? Thanks so much in advance!

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I purchased the IV/wound kit to practice with. The IV kit was especially helpful since it is rare that we have to calculate and count the drip rate. I don't know how they package the kits now, but the basic one with the wound was all I needed as far as supplies.

I purchased the IV/wound kit to practice with. The IV kit was especially helpful since it is rare that we have to calculate and count the drip rate. I don't know how they package the kits now, but the basic one with the wound was all I needed as far as supplies.

Thank you! Any other biggies that were an extreme help in passing the beast!?

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I recommend a workshop. The lady that trained me no longer does it. She was the best! Also, practice, practice, PRACTICE! I reheorificed every word of what I was going to say to the patient and how, where, and when I was going to knock on the door, everything from introduction to exit. At night, literally when I closed my eyes for bed, I silently reheorificed the speech until I drifted off to sleep.

Know those mnemonics for the critical elements and when the CE says you can begin, write them down on the back of the care plan for your reference...if they still allow this.

Wash your hands! Better to wash and sanitize too much than not enough! And do it before you even heads towards the patient.

Place that MARY directly next to the patient's armband while identifying him/her. There was incorrect information on the paper MAR. (To this day, I firmly believe they do this purposely to see if you are really checking because this didn't just happen to me).

Finally, find your comfort zone so that you can keep those nerves in check. For me, as a former LPN, my comfort zone was the bedside and I was more than used to people watching my every move. Also, already possessing that LPN license, it hit me that this was not something that I had to do, but wanted to do. That thought alone, took away all of the stress for that weekend. I looked at it as another day at work, except I wasn't getting paid for the short time I was there.

Friday night: 40 minutes (10min per station)

Saturday: 2 1/2 hrs in the morning, 2 1/2 hrs in the afternoon

Sunday: 2 1/2 hrs in the morning, Happy Dance in the evening!!!:eek::roflmao::cheeky:

Monday: wake up as a Graduate Nurse!:nurse:

I recommend a workshop. The lady that trained me no longer does it. She was the best! Also, practice, practice, PRACTICE! I reheorificed every word of what I was going to say to the patient and how, where, and when I was going to knock on the door, everything from introduction to exit. At night, literally when I closed my eyes for bed, I silently reheorificed the speech until I drifted off to sleep.

Know those mnemonics for the critical elements and when the CE says you can begin, write them down on the back of the care plan for your reference...if they still allow this.

Wash your hands! Better to wash and sanitize too much than not enough! And do it before you even heads towards the patient.

Place that MARY directly next to the patient's armband while identifying him/her. There was incorrect information on the paper MAR. (To this day, I firmly believe they do this purposely to see if you are really checking because this didn't just happen to me).

Finally, find your comfort zone so that you can keep those nerves in check. For me, as a former LPN, my comfort zone was the bedside and I was more than used to people watching my every move. Also, already possessing that LPN license, it hit me that this was not something that I had to do, but wanted to do. That thought alone, took away all of the stress for that weekend. I looked at it as another day at work, except I wasn't getting paid for the short time I was there.

Friday night: 40 minutes (10min per station)

Saturday: 2 1/2 hrs in the morning, 2 1/2 hrs in the afternoon

Sunday: 2 1/2 hrs in the morning, Happy Dance in the evening!!!:eek::roflmao::cheeky:

Monday: wake up as a Graduate Nurse!:nurse:

That just sounded SOOO GOOD! That little end excerpt there! Thank you for all of that info! Im

worried about the nerves

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Oh my! Third paragraph should be "place that MAR"...not Mary. Autocorrect.:no:

Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

thanks for that info, most people are so evasive to give ANY info to those of us who are biting our nails and waiting, knowing this made it a little more manageable.

Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

seriously, I thought they kept you 8 hours for each day of the exam, whew!

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

Mandy, there are tons of journals floating around online - trying Googling "CPNE journal" and see what you find. I wrote an article here: https://allnurses.com/excelsior-college-online/clinical-performance-nursing-884109.html

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
seriously, I thought they kept you 8 hours for each day of the exam, whew!

Hi mandylpn,

You may still be there for 8 hours (4 hours on that Friday skills night) depending on how many students are with you waiting to be tested. This is because you all will 'move' as a group even though you are being tested individually. Think of it as a class trip to the zoo where everyone is lined up to go to the restroom. Everyone has to stay together until all have had their turn, before the group can move on to the next location.

Well, after you've been tested on your particular assignment, you will be directed to a waiting location until everyone is done, leaving only to go to the restroom or vending machine. This is a safety issue for you, Excelsior College, and the hospital because the general population cannot distinguish between students or actual nurses/nurse-employees in the hospital setting, especially if you're wearing white. So, you wouldn't want to be roaming around the facility and find yourself in the center of a medical emergency, not being able to help because you're not an employee, and something goes wrong. The hospital and Excelsior College could be held liable.

Also, this ensures that you're not accused of sneaking off to review some notes or get testing tips from someone. You're paying over 2 grand for this weekend, so you will want to protect not having to repay that 2 grand at all costs. If you're caught 'cheating', at the very least, you will be thrown out of the test and possibly the college. So, it's worth it to play the waiting game until they direct you or dismiss you for the day.

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