Excelsior CPNE

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 22, 2016

Good evening! I have moved your post to the Excelsior College forum to ensure maximum responses.

I was a paramedic when I took/passed my CPNE in 2008. I had a lab set up at home for practice and also had a dummy in our spare room to practice PCSs. I didn't take Sheri's workshop, but I know many who have. I did a different workshop that no longer exists. When do you take your CPNE?

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · May 22, 2016

I was a paramedic while doing mine. I just practiced the skills on a manaquin I made and practiced assessment on my wife and kids. They hated me by the end of it and my 10 year old could quote most of an assessment.

emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P · May 22, 2016

Hello, everyone. This is my first time adding a topic to the site. I would like to know if any of you (or anyone you know) has ever taken the CPNE from Excelsior while NOT working as an LPN. And if so, how did you (they) go about practicing? Thanks. Also, any comments on Sheri Taylor workshop? I dont live in the area, so I would be paying a small fortune, but will do it if it's worth it. TIA!!

While I have heard nothing but great things about Sheri Taylor's workshop I would also condone doing your research into other workshops. There are many great ones out there if that is the route you wish to take.

kotalewis1223 · May 22, 2016

Thanks for the response! I have not scheduled mine. I finish classes in the end of August, but have been doing research so that I have a plan in action :). I will be making a lab at home and practicing the best I can on my own, but I feel as though a workshop of some kind will give me the confidence I need! I would like to be taking it by February of 2017.. Can I ask where you all took yours? I have not found any workshops in my area, aside from Excelsior's. I have not read many good things about their workshop. I live in upstate NY if anyone has recommendations.. I have been searching for weeks! Also, input from where you got your practice supplies would be helpful~ I am thinking the wound from Excelsior, the rest I will order from Sherry Taylor and random supplies from Walmart, I'm sure!

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 22, 2016

I ordered the skills kit from Excelsior - I figured that would be the closest to what we'd actually be using. I tested in Ohio in 2008, the site is no longer a test site, unfortunately.

The major workshop vendors are offering online versions of their instruction, that might be worth doing - make sure you do a careplan class, I think careplans are what trip most people up during the CPNE. That and silly mistakes like getting distracted and not properly identifying your patient (I did that, failed a PCS for it).

A bit of advice: if you want to test by February 2017, you'll have to be aggressive about calling for cancellation dates. Seriously, call three times a day. And the more sites you select for potential locations, the sooner you'll test. A lot of people narrow their options to one or two sites, and then complain about the wait time; well, of course - if you limit your options, the line in front of you is longer!

Good luck!!! :)

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · May 22, 2016

I took the CPNE in 2010 (and passed on the first attempt), I was one of the last grandfathered EMT's.

I did not take any workshops but did a lot of preparation by studying many different resources (websites, youtube videos, textbooks etc). I compared everything I was planning to use to the CPNE preparation guide to make sure it was appropriate. My friends were probably really tired of being my guinea pigs! I made my own wound (not that it looked anything like a wound, but I could practice the technique).

I also did a lot of practice care plans.

Best of luck to you as you prepare. EC is not an easy option, but it was well worth it for me!

kotalewis1223 · May 23, 2016

Thanks!! :bugeyes:

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · May 26, 2016

I just passed CPNE last weekend. It was hellishly stressful, but with exhaustive prep, you can do it. I used Christy's Clinical Boot Camp and Care Plan classes and for me it made the CPNE make sense. Cheducation.com also has really great information and it's pretty inexpensive.

Nurse_Of_All_Trades, LPN, RN · May 26, 2016

Congratulations!

kotalewis1223 · May 31, 2016

WOW! good for you, congrats.. now on to boards :x3: . Would any of you say I'm at a disadvantage for not currently working as an LPN while I prep for the CPNE? Im a stay at home mom, so I will have more time available, but the obvious downfall is that I don't have much experience. Would you all say as long as I practice, practice and take Sherry Taylor I should be good?

emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P · May 31, 2016

WOW! good for you, congrats.. now on to boards . Would any of you say I'm at a disadvantage for not currently working as an LPN while I prep for the CPNE? Im a stay at home mom, so I will have more time available, but the obvious downfall is that I don't have much experience. Would you all say as long as I practice, practice and take Sherry Taylor I should be good?

Doesn't the CPNE currently require one to be working as a medic/lpn/corpsman to register for the CPNE. I read something about having 200 hours of work within a certain amount of time.