I have a question for those of you that are familiar with EC or graduated from the program. I know there are a hundreds of questions about EC, but I couldn't find one that addressed this one and I was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share....
I am an LPN enrolled with EC, I currently work in LTC. Most of my nursing experience is in that area. I worked in a hospital but as a CNA, not the same at all. I have 2 concerns about not having much hospital experience as a nurse: (1) will it make the CPNE more difficult to get through? seems that the majority in this program are are already in the hospitals. (2) I would like to work in a hospital if/when I get through this program and become an RN. Has anyone been in a similar situation and run into difficulty getting into the hospitals without having the clinical time of a traditional program or OJT?
This concern was raised by an RN I work with (not an EC grad). Her statement was that Excelsior's program is designed for ppl that already have the clinical time found in a hospital setting.
I am kicking around applying at one of our hospitals soon (in central PA) but I like the job situation I have now. I work 3rd, can carve out an hour or so of study time and no one bothers me about it, definitely wouldn't fly on 1st or 2nd.
I have been here a long time but rarely post, unless I have a question, which is usually answered somewhere on this board.
I think experiences like that would teach you to deal with following procedure, without letting nerves get the best of you. I can see how the CPNE situation could do that to anyone. I'm sure having proven yourself with that first set of skills, you'll have a handle on the problem of nerves.
Anticoagulationurse,
About the only thing I'm not brushed up on is IV's, I haven't done any since school and that was in the lab.
I do have a question, is inserting a foley in an actual patient a possible skill for the CPNE or is it an insertion in the lab and then proper foley care? I've done my share of straight caths, but in a testing situation on a real patient that could easily make or break ya, depending on who you get.
I think experiences like that would teach you to deal with following procedure, without letting nerves get the best of you. I can see how the CPNE situation could do that to anyone. I'm sure having proven yourself with that first set of skills, you'll have a handle on the problem of nerves.
Oh, I'm sure I'll still be a nervous wreck ... but hopefully a nervous wreck who will still be able to function and successfully pass on her first attempt.
And I do believe urinary cath insertion is something you might be tasked with at the CPNE ... I thought I read that somewhere -- maybe on the FAQ on the EC website where it discussed invasive procedures? Not sure.
Mmmmm, check the CPNE study guide for the foley question. I really don't remember there being one, and I read that thing 14 times... I think if I'd have come across it I would have been even scareder than I was! You are right, foley insertion could make or break you depending on the patient! But, no I don't THINK invasive procedures are allowed during the CPNE. Like, I know starting an IV was not on the list of possibilities either, but maintaining one, YES. That includes picking the right bag of meds from the others in the lab, spiking the bag, hanging and then regulating the drip the good ole fashioned way, gravity drip. I had never done a gravity drip before. I kinda tried to practice at home but not having the proper tubing or bags of fluids made it different from when I was actually in the CPNE lab station. I swear that one took me forever to get the right drip rate, but eventually I did.
I would suggest calling a home health (infusion department) or LTC pharmacy to see if you can get your hands on a set of tubing and a couple of sizes of saline bags (expired). Then hang at home and practice regulating. If you know the principle of it, you can figure it out. The CPNE study guide has step by step too...
I went back and checked on the CPNE FAQ on the EC site, and it says (under the "General" section):
Q: Is it expected that I do invasive procedures during the PCSs?
A: Invasive procedures such as starting IVs or inserting NG tubes are not a requirement of this examination. However, you may be assigned to insert a urinary catheter or perform tracheal and nasal bulb suctioning. You will not be assigned to hang blood or work with blood products during this examination.
Maybe the FAQ is a little out of date with regards to the urinary cath insertion? One can hope ...
Well so much for wishful thinking..... I think everyone has had one of those foley insertion gone bad situations.... You know the one with 2 nurses a flashlight, an Aide on each leg, everyone's looking "Do Ya see it yet?????"
In the perfect world of textbook nursing the urinary meatus is easily visualized, we all know it is not a perfect world. Regardless, we had to do 3 caths (2 females) in school, I survived that, I will get my hands on a cath kit (I'm pretty sure you can buy them) and practice, practice, practice, technique and maintaining that sterile field. I will pray that the heavens are kind and if I would asked to do such a procedure it will not be on a contracted 90y/o F, confused and trying to kick me in the head.......
Anticoagulationurse,
Thanks for the tip about home health and pharmacy, I hadn't thought about asking for out of date stuff....
Thanks to all for words of wisdom and help.... The CPNE is a long way off and I will face that dragon later on down the road.
My current task is the Ethics exam I have to take on Monday. I'll be glad to get it out of the way!!
hello everyone! i was a cena for 7 years before i became an lpn. i have been an lpn for about 6 years. i work in ltc in the subacute/medicare section. i was also a little worried about the cpne and not being in a hospital, but i have learned a lot working there, from the other nurses i work with (they are great people) since graduating from nursing school. but i am looking forward to becoming an rn. i have just started this, am working on prereqs so this will take a while, i have been lucky and work with a lpn who has all the nc1-7 material from the college network,and she is going to share. (save lots of money)
Informative thread. As of now, I am not working at all, I am going to try to buckle down and get these exams out of the way. I do however plan on getting on PRN, with some hospitals, and home health agencies. I am going to tell them that I'm an RN student, and that I need some exposure. I may also call up some education departments to ask about job shadowing. I would think most facilities would jump at the chance, to real in an RN without having to work for them.
I just enrolled to EC this week. i need to get all my college credits as well as the nursing ones. I did get a loan from wells fargo so that will help with the fees. i am an LPN who works in a sub acute unit at a LTC which is building a new state of the art sub acute unit with telemetry and cardiac rehab, that opens next summer. Does anyone out there have advice on EC, are there fourms out there where i can meet other EC students online? I have email EC with a ton of questions, since Im enrolled hopefully they will get back to me shortly. so i can get this thing going.
Well so much for wishful thinking..... I think everyone has had one of those foley insertion gone bad situations.... You know the one with 2 nurses a flashlight, an Aide on each leg, everyone's looking "Do Ya see it yet?????"
In the perfect world of textbook nursing the urinary meatus is easily visualized, we all know it is not a perfect world. Regardless, we had to do 3 caths (2 females) in school, I survived that, I will get my hands on a cath kit (I'm pretty sure you can buy them) and practice, practice, practice, technique and maintaining that sterile field. I will pray that the heavens are kind and if I would asked to do such a procedure it will not be on a contracted 90y/o F, confused and trying to kick me in the head.......
Anticoagulationurse,
Thanks for the tip about home health and pharmacy, I hadn't thought about asking for out of date stuff....
Thanks to all for words of wisdom and help.... The CPNE is a long way off and I will face that dragon later on down the road.
My current task is the Ethics exam I have to take on Monday. I'll be glad to get it out of the way!!
Lisa
Lisa, you can go on EC's wesbite and go to the message boards. Look under CPNE journals...............they have a wealth on information from many many students who have done the CPNE. I have read thru many of them, dont think I have read anyone having to do a straight cath. I think the examiners go in, check out who would be good CPNE "subjects" (patients) and choose ones that will get the job done. I get the feeling that they want you to pass. Now, in an off chance that you are with a patient during the exam, and they scream out that they need to relieve themselves, then maybe you would need to straight cath them(if of course there is a doctors order) But I would think that all patients would be ambulatory and able to void on their own, again, going back to the examiners who want the student to succeed, and reading the journals, almost all the students ambulate their patients. So if they can ambulate, get them to the toilet, and it not, put them on the bedpan. (I would think that the cath care would have to be on your exam check off, dont know for sure, so maybe.....if one does need done, the staff nurse or patient tech could do it....we can wish!!!!!)But I do know that it is NOT one of the skills that they routinely check you for.So I would not worry about it....
I hope I am making sense.
Also, I have friends who went thru traditional RN programs, their experiences were similar to my LPN clinicals. Standing around waiting for assignments. Unless your one of the ones who follows that staff nurses around to see wound care, IV care ect.
Anticolagulationnurse posted about getting IV supplies, expired bags of solution, ect, and practice at home. I think you can buy practice items from EC. I plan to do that, ===thank you Anticoagulation nurse!
And there are CPNE workshops. I hear those are great!!!! So dont worry....................................
EC does sell a kit for IV's and Dressings, I found it to be cheaper (FREE actually) just to dig the supplies up myself. My nursing manager donated some stuff for my cause too.
I just enrolled in EC this week too! I also work in LTC. Finding a job in a hospital for an LPN in my area is difficult, since they only seem to want RNs. While I am concerned about not having the "clinical skills" needed for the CPNE - my facility contracts out IV's, wound vac type stuff - I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, as I have quite a ways to go, since I need all of the general education courses too. Thanks for the tips on obtaining expired equipment (IV solution/tubing) to practice with. I hadn't thought of that!
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
i don't think you have to worry about the cpne covering wound vacs. i am pretty sure it is a wound that requires simple packing. i know that you can buy the exact same wound from ec and practice.. as far as iv's you are not starting them just maintaining them. if you felt uncomfortable i would get a iv course, just as a introduction . you will end up having to do it the ec way. oh and i too have every intention of setting up a lab here and practicing on all my kids....
i just enrolled in ec this week too! i also work in ltc. finding a job in a hospital for an lpn in my area is difficult, since they only seem to want rns. while i am concerned about not having the "clinical skills" needed for the cpne - my facility contracts out iv's, wound vac type stuff - i'll cross that bridge when i come to it, as i have quite a ways to go, since i need all of the general education courses too. thanks for the tips on obtaining expired equipment (iv solution/tubing) to practice with. i hadn't thought of that!
rh39
74 Posts
Lunah,
I think experiences like that would teach you to deal with following procedure, without letting nerves get the best of you. I can see how the CPNE situation could do that to anyone. I'm sure having proven yourself with that first set of skills, you'll have a handle on the problem of nerves.
Anticoagulationurse,
About the only thing I'm not brushed up on is IV's, I haven't done any since school and that was in the lab.
I do have a question, is inserting a foley in an actual patient a possible skill for the CPNE or is it an insertion in the lab and then proper foley care? I've done my share of straight caths, but in a testing situation on a real patient that could easily make or break ya, depending on who you get.
Lisa