CPNE Mistakes - I would love to learn from yours

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Specializes in Clinic, Travel Meds, Acute Clinic.

I want to thank all the CPNE takers that share the mistakes they have made. I have learned so much from those post b/c it seems like it is the things that you usually wouldn't think about and could probably throw you off. Those post have made for many "ahh-haa" moments where I have made a mental note. It helps to not only know what you should do and how to do it - but what do you do if something goes wrong . . . like dropping a pen.

I would really love to hear from anyone who is willing to share and to consolidate in a thread these great tidbits of wisdom!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

For my Lab simulation station, I drew up the wrong amout of insulin. The 50 unit insulin syringes had the tiny increments marked on the syringe so it was hard to see--for me. I drew up the insulin and didn't double check the dosage I drew up before handing the syringe to the examiner. So always double even triple check your dosages before giving them to the examine to check. It's nerve-racking having to repeat a lab, I didn't want to fail the CPNE due to labs!

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

I didn't ID my patient properly in what should have been my last PCS -- d'oh! Didn't make that mistake again. :) I asked the patient's name, but failed to compare her armband with the kardex and ID her by two identifiers, because I lost focus when the patient started in to a litany of complaints. Whoops! Oh well. It's the little things that get most people.

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Specializes in ER.

I got too confident during my skills lab and failed the 1st one because I forgot to look at my mnumonic I had written down. Had I done that I would have had a pass...oh and I forgot to let the tubing go when I was counting my drip rate and then when te CE came over to count I was over by 6 drops...yep, one drop too many.....I nearly wet myself! But, I pulled it together on saturday and passed with no PCS repeats on sunday.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

prior to the lab stations you are given 15 minutes to look at equipment. touch, open and make sure you are familiar with the syringes, abdominal pad, injection sites and etc. i failed the wound station because they had a different 5x9 abd pad then the one i practiced at home!

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Specializes in Nursing home, Research, Pulmonary.

I passed no retakes however, I KNOW I really bugged one of the CEs by washing and geling my hands WAY too much....She really was bothered by it.

I became Fanatical about studying, and then once you are done and PASSED, its a total body and mind melt down.

gail

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On my first PCS I was psyched, I was ready, I did everything right. Finished my documenting (I thought), turned it all in to the CE, she read the statement, I said yes, I'm finished . . . turned to walk back to the waiting area while the CE reviewed my stuff and immediately realized . . . I completely forgot to document my outcome assessment (the part of your care plan where you document whether your outcomes were met). I didn't even look at that page. Of course I turned around and asked if I could have it back just a second -- I had time left. But the statement had been read by the CE, and I had confirmed 'yes, I'm done, it's complete' and there was no turning back. So I failed my first PCS. Other than that one glaring omission, my CE said I had done everything right. Needless to say, that didn't happen again.

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I failed a PCS for not documenting on the PCS Recording Form "Skin Turgor". The CE saw and heard me check it on the pt, I checked skin and mucous membranes, had documented same in the Nurses Notes, but not on the form. FAILED that one.

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I failed the IVP lab because I took too long getting the bubbles out of the syringes - and went over by one minute! The instructor told me I could just draw up the whole syringe full of fluid and then expel the extra into the trashcan (I knew this, I just forgot due to nerves) - I did just that the second time and I passed!

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Specializes in oncology, med surg & corrections.

I had an almost fail. you have your papers with you and I had approx. 42 pockets on my scrubs, but when I went into my first patients room, I set it down on the patients bed, as soon as it touched the blanket, I snatched it up, to look up to see the CE had turned for a second, to grab the patient his remote for the TV. Yikes - that was close:eek::eek::eek:

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ID ID ID ID ID. Sounds ridiculous while you're comfy at home but when your nerves are rockin' and the patient's got a tray and relatives and an attitude your instinct is to walk over and do something for them. In labs they kind of turn that armband away and out of sight so same applies there. Also, ASPIRATE before IM and before first flush on IV push. I think lots of folks go home on that one too!

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I failed a PCS for not documenting on the PCS Recording Form "Skin Turgor". The CE saw and heard me check it on the pt, I checked skin and mucous membranes, had documented same in the Nurses Notes, but not on the form. FAILED that one.

I did the exact same thing during my first CPNE. Have to really go through that PCS recording form before you hand it over. I had something in almost every blank second time (lots of n/a's :) !

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