CPNE

How far along are you in your studies? Did you take a workshop? CP's are super important; they get you in the door. Learn how to make a grid and follow during your PCS. When doing your labs at home try to have them down to about 7 minutes, when you test you will be so nervous you will be slower.

I have been studying for a couple of months now. I am currently enrolled in Sheri Taylors online workshop. The price of an actual in person workshop was just to much for me. I have a practice lab set up in my home. I am sending practice care plans to both Sheri and Excelsior.

Good; I did her online workshop and passed my CPNE. Bring a few pencils with you; you will be using them a lot! Practice at home; including washing your hands the EC way. Grids going to be your best friend. I wore cargo style pants and kept my papers in my side pocket. I told my patients that I would be looking at them so I won't forget anything. Verbalize everything because the CE will be writing things down and may miss something. Bring snacks. Eat a good breakfast because it will be a long day. Be nice to the CA and CE's; they may cut you a break. I would put all my mnemonics in a hat and pulled out four and would write out my grid and do the assessment on them . I had apical pulses on all my patients, practice. If you use your stethoscope it goes on the patients skin, never listen over clothing!

I used RobsCPNE.com for my study along with the Excelsior study book.

For me Robs was great because he breaks it down to the minimums of what is needed to pass the CPNE. While we normally don't want to go for the minimums, for the CPNE you do, do only what is required to pass, nothing more, since that more gives you another chance to mess up.

Wow! I'm doing that weekend, too. It sounds like you are doing way more than I am...Mostly I'm just reading the test guide over and over again. I plan to set up a skills lab in my house and have been watching youtube videos. Is the Sherri Taylors thing worth it? I was watching her free stuff. I don't think that I will do an in-person workshop, either. They are so expensive and the feedback seems kinda hit or miss. Good gracious I'm nervous....would be nice to have a buddy there, tho!!

Just wanted to say....Kmcm and I both passed!! Woot, woot!!

Just wanted to say....Kmcm and I both passed!! Woot, woot!!

Wow! Congrats! With hard work it can be done. Did you think it was hard or you felt you prepared yourself good enough?

Congratulations, I'm truly happy for you both.

Any details you would like to share?

Congrats!

Just wanted to say....Kmcm and I both passed!! Woot, woot!!

Congrats to both of you!!!

Thanks! I'm not gonna lie, this test weekend was TOUGH! The CPNE pushes you...mentally, physically, and emotionally. I pretty much felt like a queasy, nervous wreck the entire time. For everyone out there that is waiting to test, I have some good, basic advice.

1) First of all, READ THE STUDY GUIDE! I think that I probably read it 3 or 4 times. In fact, I hauled it around in a backpack every single day for about half a year and would read it while at work, at home, waiting to get my car's oil changed, whenever and wherever. I also got the CPNE flash cards from Excelsior's bookstore and they helped, too. You need to memorize those critical elements, they need to be burned into your brain! I didn't use a grid to check off my critical elements, for some reason this method just didn't click for me, but Kmcm did and the CA actually announced to us what a good job she did with it and how organized she was.

2) You gotta know how to make a careplan, and you need to know how to do it the Excelsior way based on the Kardex that they give you. Do not stray from the Kardex!! Do not go on a tangent. Keep it simple and do not give yourself extra work. Tab the most commonly used nursing diagnosis in your Mosby's and stick with those and only those. Remember, if they don't accept your initial careplan, then you don't even make it through the door to see the patient. Game over for that PCS.

3) Set up a skills lab in you home and practice those lab stations. This is imperative, because otherwise you go into Day 2 with additional stress and fear hanging over your head. I passed all my labs on the first try and it definitely helped me face Day 2 with more confidence (and you need every last little bit!). I did Sheri Taylor's online workshop, and found it to be helpful. Plus, a workshop, whether online or in-person, makes you feel less isolated and more connected to other people that are experiencing the same fear, anxiety and self-doubt that you are.

4) Lastly, try to keep in mind that the CA and the CEs are human beings, too, and they want you to pass. Talk to them. Ask them questions. At the worst, they will simply say, "I can't answer that," but they may give you a significant look instead and say something like, "Why would you need to change that?" Who knows, they may just drop little hints here and there that will save your butt...mine did! Thanks CE! Btw, the Savannah site is nice, low-key, and the CA and CEs were all super nice and approachable. I definitely recommend this site vs somewhere like Grady if only because you won't have to deal with the stress of downtown traffic or the big city craziness of ATL.

Well, that's about it! The Excelsior journey has been an interesting experience, but I'm sooooo glad that it's over!! I feel like I'm part of a really exclusive club now. For everyone out there that is waiting to test, GOOD LUCK! You can do it! Walk into that hospital with confidence knowing that you have prepared (and probably over-prepared) and stay positive. Try to keep a mental image of that white congratulations letter in your hand. It shall be yours, oh yes, it shall be yours...Keep your anxiety in check and put on your happy face. With hard work and the right attitude, this exam is doable.

Best,

Maria