CPNE Failure

[Medic2RN2B]

I failed this past weekend. I failed 2 labs the first night (IV push and SQ) primarily on nerves. PCS's went ok Saturday, failed the IV push station again because I ran out of time (played with the bubbles in the syringe too long).

I plan to re-test as soon as I can, but in a different location. I don't want to forget all of the material! Chancellors careplan lab was great preparation, my grid was 100% memorized. I can't believe I failed on something so stupid!

Any advice from prior CPNE-ers is quite welcome. I am afraid to go again because there are no guarentees. I felt well prepared this time and didn't make it! How do you manage the nerves?

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I hope you do try again at another facility. Sounds like your first try was a nightmare. They muist have completely different CEs than when I was at SRMC. Did you bring up the wrong chart thing with the CA? She could have intervened in that case.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

If your CA fails to advocate for you, I know that there is also an appeals/grievance process.

[Melinurse]

Hang tough. I work at a test site and sooooo many don't pass first time though. #1 problem is nerves! I take my CPNE 4/18/08 and even though I know the CE's are nice and really do hope for us to pass, I am nervous and fear that will get the best of me. People I've spoken with who failed first time, pass on second. Hang in there. Be confident and relax. You'll be a nurse before you know it. Good luck!:wink2:

[ltcconsultant]

I finally passed the CPNE this past weekend at Grady in Atlanta and had a good ole time. Each PCS went smoothly and quickly, got out of implementation phase in 15 to 45 minutes for each one, and passed everything. I did have to repeat two of my labs because of brain farts.:brnfrt:

For my IM injection, I drew up my first med, flicked out the bubbles, and gave it to the CE to verify. It turns out that I had somehow drawn up air and the bubbles I flicked out were actually pretend medication. And then for the IVMB, I calculated the drop rate wrong. Not thinking, I put down the dosage in place of the volume in the formula. I knew something wasn't right when I got a rate of 100 drops per minute but I just couldn't put my finger on it. When I repeated the labs the next day, I did just fine.

[Melinurse]

CONGRADULATIONS!!! WAY TO GO. I test April 18 th through 20th. I hope to pass too. It's wonderful to hear such great news.:nuke: Please post any tips for others about to test. Now for the NCLEX-RN:wink2:.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I finally passed the CPNE this past weekend at Grady in Atlanta and had a good ole time.

Congrats!!! That is fabulous!! Good luck on the NCLEX!!

[zimsaint]

the weight of my ce was not the biggest issue but it was an issue due to she was so large i could barely get around her in the room not to mention i had a hard time hearing my patient's lung sounds because she was so sob and breathing so hard that it was distracting. the biggest issue was the fact that she gave me the wrong chart to do a care plan with and i had 20 minutes to finish my planning phase. as far as failing the cpne if i had done something that warranted failure then i wouldn't be upset but i did not. there were 9 people there most had been lpn's at least 10 years and i was the 6th person that failed. one lady failed because she didn't circle vital signs on her pcs recording form. they want you to behave like a new grad,first day on the job well the last time that i checked everyone has a preceptor for at least 90 days in order to be prepared to work independently as an RN.i would have finished school the conventional way if i had known how bad this test was. the test is not fair and it's not even reasonable by any means because if you want perfection from the students then the ce's better be perfect themselves. i have had several people ask about this program and i tell them DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

:icon_hug::flwrhrts: Let me start by saying that I am sorry for your terrible experience. And although I know you are saying these things out of anger I do agree with you somewhat. I am an Excelsior College graduate 01/2008. Fortunately I passed my CPNE exam the first time, but that does not negate the fact that I think the "exam" is very unfair and unrealistic. I just knew that it was their hoop and I had to jump through it if I wanted to graduate from that program. But keep in mind the clinical instructors at traditional nursing programs are just as unrealistic, they just wait and torture you for 16 weeks before they fail you. At least this is over in 3 days.

If you are concerned that you were treated unfairly then you need to file a grievance. I do know students who have had clinical failures reversed to pass or no penalty ( take over without paying 1825.00 fee and without long wait). You should have been given the time back that you lost on the wrong chart at the very least.

As for the weight comments, I agree with you there too. And I happen to be overweight myself. There are times when I think, why are nurses in America some of the fattest people. It is because we don't practice what we preach. I just recently passed my NCLEX RN exam 4/12/08 and I have decided that my next goal is to lose 60lbs. If I can pass Excelsior's CPNE and the NCLEX RN, I can do anything. I joined Weight Watchers today and I am going to get these pounds off. Now what you need to do is stop feeling sorry for your self, get up, shake it off and get back on that horse. You have come too far to turn around now. :heartbeat

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

As for the weight comments, I agree with you there too. And I happen to be overweight myself. There are times when I think, why are nurses in America some of the fattest people. It is because we don't practice what we preach. I just recently passed my NCLEX RN exam 4/12/08 and I have decided that my next goal is to lose 60lbs. If I can pass Excelsior's CPNE and the NCLEX RN, I can do anything. I joined Weight Watchers today and I am going to get these pounds off. Now what you need to do is stop feeling sorry for your self, get up, shake it off and get back on that horse. You have come too far to turn around now. :heartbeat

It could be because nursing is a stressful-as-hell job and McD's at the nursing station while a nurse furiously charts is the only way he or she can eat in the next 12 hours. If someone is a clinical examiner, he or she may have those terrible eating habits as true habits and vices from the wonderful world of floor nursing. I do remember "being there" in the weight department; believe me, sometimes one is judged on weight more when he or she is skinny. You can't ever win when someone is taking a cheap shot.

Congrats to you on passing the CPNE and the RN boards. WW is a wonderful program, IMO. When you do lose the weight, remember what it felt like. That in itself (not being judgmental of obese people when you are no longer obese) is really a challenge, but it pays off in the end.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

A gentle request to please stay on topic, and not to let this turn into another overweight nurses thread. We can support the OP without taking it there, and we have plenty of those in the break room. Thanks. :)

[sweetneek1]

Im Sorry Dont Give Up

[traumahawk99]

in the overall context of life, this is only a minor setback. and it should set the stage for future success.

i'd forget about feeling like a victim, buddy up with someone else and practice those stations and pcs's. i failed my first cpne, because i didn't prepare at all for it. i passed the second go around. turn your hurt into action, and you'll get there. wallow in sorrow, and you're only setting yourself further back. no one will care about anything except that you've got an rn license.

[rylie1210]

:heartbeatI am scared to death I test in the middle of june 09 in janesville wi, anyone heard about anything with this site? Stacie