cpne

hello

i sent my application in last week for the cpne and am waiting for a test date. i was checking to see what kind of resources that you guys used to study for the cpne. i have read most of the study guide which is overwhelming. have any of you used robs dvd or the flash card and audio from excelsior?

thanks

i bought rob's videos, ecs flashcards and audio as well. the audio was totally useless to me because i could not listen to the speaker. i just did not like it. i listened to it for less than 5 mins and never used it again. the flashcards is very handy and i always brought it to work or where ever i want to study. but the study guide is the best source because it is comprehensive.

i attended a workshop (tina in pa) and out of everything i used, this was the must for me. i could not have passed my cpne without this workshop.

i liked rob's videos just to see how he interprets the study guide and be able to see it in videos. so i like that. but please make sure to get his corrections from his website. there are a few mistakes in his videos regarding some info. but over all, i recommend you get his dvds.

where did you apply, npac, spac, mpac? you should call ec a couple of times weekly and ask for an update. i got my date for npac in less than a week.

you should visit the epn and read as much journals as you can. i learned so much from reading people's cpne experiences and even able to apply some of the tips on my own cpne.

you should set up all labs stations in your house and practice daily. i "borrowed" some supplies from my work and set up everything.

good luck!

angel, gn

I used the study guide, EC's flashcards, Rob's video, and East Coast Tina's workshop.

I took the flashcards everywhere. All my kid's sports games and practices, work, social events. Could not get enough of the critical elements.

Tina's workshop was invaluable for many reasons, but the care plans were the biggest and best take away from there.

And then if there was enough time in the day, I would obsessively scour the internet for blogs and posts about people's personal experiences. EPN also provided good access to CPNE blogs.

Thanks for the info guys. I think that I will go ahead and purchase the flashcards and audio from excelsior and robs dvd to get started.

Angel - I applied to the MPAC site

Thanks

I used the study guide, Taylor's clinical skills, and Fundamentals book. The most important thing is the study guide!!! It is what you will be graded by. I bought a dry erase board, and I would make mneumonics (or modify ones passed on from other students) as I went through critical elements in each section. Then once I had them like I wanted them, I wrote them in my study notebook.

I ordered the skills kit (wound, IV, IM & SQ) - set up a lab at my desk and practiced a few hours each day. I made up mneumonics & grid for each AOC & labs, memorized them...I studied for 5 weeks, and passed on first try. I tested less than 6 weeks from applying for a test date (i took cancellation) - No workshops.

There is lots of free resources online...

Look up Vanessa's Lab videos on YouTube...only thing is she doesn't wear gloves while pushing the IV med, which would be a fail. Other than that, they are spot on. I downloaded them to my computer, and would play them while I practiced, until I felt comfortable doing them alone.

few links:

http://cpnex.blogspot.com/

https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd3vnpzc_309gknq35gv&hl=en some guy named Dave's CPNE stuff...pretty good, but not current with new study guide...you'll have to modify

Also, practice writing careplans & notes to send in to ECE. I would send in a pt scenario, the care plans, and the nurses notes most days the last 2 weeks to be critiqued. Write down questions as you study, and schedule weekly Q&A session with ECE staff. (you do it every day the week you test if you need to)

Make a grid & write in your mneumonics, and practice it over & over until you can do it in just a few minutes (will save you time in planning phase) --- your grid will be your lifeline in PCS :-)

if your on facebook, look up Let's Conquer the CPNE Beast...really great support group :)

I agree with the above post about Vanessa's videos on youtube.com. I got a cancellation date as well. I took two months to do the tests and then three weeks to study for the CPNE. I used the videos from vanessa, some mneumonics from something written by LunahRN and another passed medic. I never spent a dime on prep courses or other materials...I was broke from the tests and CPNE lol. I passed with no repeats and felt like the nurses were there to help by being supportive. I think we had a couple fails, but if you were ready it wasn't too hard. Bottom line is to be comfortable with your skills, be focused on treating your patient (not your paperwork), and keep the care plan SIMPLE.

BTW, you do have to keep your gloves on through the IV push or u will be doing it again.

Lisa,

That paper that was written by you and Ivan was definately the key to my making it thru the test!! I can't remember where I got it but I used the mneumonics and the grid plan. The first nurse said...hmmm, you keep up the grid and you will do fine...so I did and lol, I did!!

The only other thing that I can't stress enough is that you need to practice the simulation labs until you think you will vomit...then practice them some more. I watched Vanessa's video and how she said to use the paper from the sterile gloves during the wound sim since there is no other paper available. When I opened my gloves, it turns out that my glove wrapper was plastic...I had the deer in the head light look for sure and froze for what felt like an eternity. Since I had practiced so much, I used the 4x4 paper and moved on. Just breathe guyz!! Your :heartbeat will pound out of your chest, but just look like a duck on water and it will be over before you know it.

Something I learned at the CPNE: You can write down/use Mneumonics for the sim labs. I'm not sure why I thought you couldn't but you can. Just mentioning it in case it helps anyone else :). I had 2 fellow testers who passed their first 2 PCS's on Sat morning and then failed a repeat of the IV push station on Sat afternoon. THAT sucks.

I passed my CPNE in Atlanta this past weekend! Workshops will help relieve some of the stress of not knowing what to expect, but ultimately the study guide was the key to my success. As boring as it was, I made myself read it, and I made flash cards on all the areas of care. I also practiced the care plans from the study guide using Mosby's....they strictly grade from that book! I set the labs up at home and practiced them until I felt I could do them with my eyes closed. It was a lot hard work, but it sure was worth it in the end!!