cpne grids

[shawnnarae]

Hi. Just staring excelsior and looking at some of the cpne threads to get a clearer picture of what is ahead of me. However, I keep reading all these thigns about the grids. Im lost... what are these? and what are the critical elements?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

A grid is basically a paper that you make up for yourself during the planning phase of a PCS (the patient encounter). You can't take any outside notes with you to a PCS, but it helps many people to divide a blank sheet of paper into several squares (one for each assigned area of care) and write out the critical elements (from memory) before going in the room.

By using a grid, you sort of make yourself a checklist and it's not as easy to forget something while you're providing the patient care.

When I took the CPNE, in addition to having a square on my grid for each area of care, I also had one to jot down "pending" items, like needing to report a particular finding to the staff nurse at the end of the patient encounter.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

And critical elements are items that you must complete within a skill or assessment in order to pass. For example, I was assigned a neuro assessment during one of my PCS's, but the nerves got to me and I rushed through the easiest thing, forgetting to check pupillary response with a penlight. I had to repeat that PCS since it was a critical element that I missed.

[shawnnarae]

ooo ok i gotcha now. Well its a long ways a way but i can't wait!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

i have a question. you cannot go into the room with the critical elements written down ,but you can write them down once inside the room. what i want to know is at what point while in the room do you do your jotting down. i know you have certain things you must do , introduction , washing hands things like that, where does this fit in.

a grid is basically a paper that you make up for yourself during the planning phase of a pcs (the patient encounter). you can't take any outside notes with you to a pcs, but it helps many people to divide a blank sheet of paper into several squares (one for each assigned area of care) and write out the critical elements (from memory) before going in the room.

by using a grid, you sort of make yourself a checklist and it's not as easy to forget something while you're providing the patient care.

when i took the cpne, in addition to having a square on my grid for each area of care, i also had one to jot down "pending" items, like needing to report a particular finding to the staff nurse at the end of the patient encounter.

[shawnnarae]

oh and i have another question... i have my study guides through the college network and im enrolled in excelsior. Just wondering if when i am at MyEC if I should be enrolled into those classes or just take the tests??

[DoubleblessedRN, ADN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-P]

i have a question. you cannot go into the room with the critical elements written down ,but you can write them down once inside the room. what i want to know is at what point while in the room do you do your jotting down. i know you have certain things you must do , introduction , washing hands things like that, where does this fit in.

during the planning phase (writing the care plan) you may do the grid, writing acronnyms or mneumonics for each area of care. you may not bring any type of study material (such as flashcards) with you, so it's up to you to remember them, then write them down on the grid. you submit the care plan for evaluation, and once approved, you may begin the implementation phase. once you enter the room, you wash hands, id the pt, do the 20 minute check, and then follow your grid in the order in which you planned it.