Excelsior students/CPNE info

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 8, 2004

Have you already taken NC 7? If not, it's also required to take the CPNE. You also have to be within at least 9 credit hrs of finishing your general ed requirements.

I'm preparing to take the CPNE in Atlanta in May. I finished my last NC course on 1/31, and it took a couple weeks to get my paperwork sent to me fot the CPNE. So, my wait for Atlanta is 3.5 months...not too bad, considering. You can contact the nursing team advisor and have the "carjack" (the CPNE study guide) sent to you now, so you'll get it early. There are also EC CPNE workshops you can go to, in order to get a feel for how things work during the performance exam. I hear good things about them. Just know that when you do start studying for the CPNE, you will be expected to do everything exactly as the Clinical Evaluators want it. It is very by-the-book, and they won't eaccept less than what is given out in the carjack. Good luck on NC6! It wasn't too bad of an exam.

HAPPYNPROUD · Mar 8, 2004

thanks for responding. Yes, nursing concepts 6 is my final exam....i completed all prereqs and nc7....congrats on getting your cpne scheduled a friend here in st louis will be going to albany early june...i only hope to be scheduling sometime right after that....i will be taking nc6 at the end of this month....i already have the cpne study guide, but won't start with that until this last exam...what have you heard about the simulation labs?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 8, 2004

Congrats to you, too! I've heard that the lab portion is very cut and dry as well. Join the rnstudygroup at Yahoo.com. They've got the best CPNE info of all the study groups in their files sections, and in the postings from students. They also have a CPNE subgroup, and a care plan subgroup if you are interested. It's been a huge help to me, and there seems to be a very good CPNE pass rate in this group. My study buddies in this group are very good at posting their experiences at the CNPE. Some of them post from the hotel while they're there!

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 8, 2004

Congratulations to you both! Working on NC-4 here.....

Please post feedback here and to the various Yahoo groups when you do the CPNE.... No "cheating" hints (emphemistically referred to as "tips" sometimes) wanted, just an idea....

Good luck!

HAPPYNPROUD · Mar 8, 2004

thanks for the study group info.....i will begin my studying for the cpne within the next few weeks, but didn't know exactly where i could get more information...i go to the epn chat room on excelsiors website but can hardly ever catch anyone in there congrats to the both of you also i took nc7 out of sequence because it's subject matter seemed easier to me than nc5 and nc6 i took nc5 last month and got an "A".

whatsup2u · Mar 9, 2004

Hello everyone....I am currently studying for my final exam for the ADN program (nursing concepts6) and am wondering if anyone can give me any tips/information about the CPNE....what places are scheduling within six months of applying....what your experience was with cpne...and what a typical day was like at cpne? any information would be appreciated.. thanks so much!

first i would like to say "way to go!" you are almost there!!!could you please tell me if you used a publishing company like rue, or chancelor or college network or did you just buy textbooks and use exc college study guides. i am in the process of starting this program and just wanted to know what worked for you guys that are almost finish... i don't know how to put this thread where others could respond also. so could you please tell me how you did yours , and tell me what you think about the publishing companies. i hear the same material that is in the books are in the study guides from these companies, how did you do yours...and best wishes upon your completion.......please respond if you get a chance, thanks alot....

whatsup2u · Mar 9, 2004

Congratulations to you both! Working on NC-4 here.....
Please post feedback here and to the various Yahoo groups when you do the CPNE.... No "cheating" hints (emphemistically referred to as "tips" sometimes) wanted, just an idea....
Good luck!

hello, hello..i first want to say to you "keep up the good work" i KNOW this home study thing calls for commitment, dedication and determination and if you are on nc-4 you have them all(and i pray i will too,smile) anyway, i see the thread i just sent actually went out to all to read, so i hope all will reply...so could you please tell me how you are going about with your studies...did you get textbooks and use exc study guides or did you do the, rue, chancelor or college network thing, obviously whatever you are doing is working...so please shed some light and let me know, ever ounce of advice is helpful....i know diff. things work for diff. people....but i was just wondering...and wanted to know what worked for you guys; that are almost finish or in the process and on your was to completion!!!please respond who ever has time....thanks alot..thanks...

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 9, 2004

whatsup2u, I have PM'd you.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 9, 2004

I just used the EC study guides & recommended books, the Yahoo study groups, and some supplemental materials like the "Made Incredibly Easy" series CD Roms, and NCLEX CD Roms to test myself after studying. You can resell these things on Ebay when you're done with them if you keep them in good shape. If you really want to use a good publishing company, I hear good things about Chancellor's. You can resell your Chancellor's notes on Ebay, too. They tend to sell for a pretty good amount. The biggest help to me has been the study groups, though. Keeping contact with other current students is a great way to keep on top of things. I don't know what I would've done withouth them, to be honest.

grumpynurse · Mar 9, 2004

I graduated from Excelsior (then Regents) in Nov 1999. I was an LPN for 4 years before going through this program and it was the only way for me to go at the time. I had the CPNE in Atlanta and waited about 2 months at the time. The first day , we had a little orientation then did the lab portion. It was very basic. Give a shot...change a dressing, calculate an IV drip. They thoroughly explained everything. The next day I had two patients. I can not strongly emphasize enough to memorize those critical elements. It is key because you already know how to do the rest of the stuff. They gave us our first patient the night before and let us do the care plan at our hotels based upon what we knew. We were allowed to change risk of blah blah to actuals on the plan after assessing the patient. After a short break, I went to my second patient. Still basic nursing. They will tell you which critical elements you have to do before you see the patient. The last day, I had my peds patient. He was the most challenging, but still, once again, the basics. Just remember that you can assess comfort levels by asking the pain scale or using the faces and something as simple as repositioning or giving tylenol will cover that critical element. The instructors were great. They were not horrid old bats like I was expecting and they wanted us to pass. They took their jobs seriously, but they have to. They have 3 days to decide if you can be an RN. Bottom Line............breathe, breathe, breathe. You know this stuff and just ignore the instructor when you are in with the patient. They will tell you what they want and they will help you. One of them helped me give a bed bath and change the occupied bed. Please PM me if you have any questions and Good Luck............................by the way, do not waste money on outside resources such as Rue or Moore. I downloaded my study guides from the college website and saved myself thousands of dollars.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Mar 9, 2004

Agree with Grumpy Nurse on all counts ! Did my CPNE in Milwaukee Oct. '02

One thing I might add.... be sure to allow yourself plenty of time after doing the actual nursing care to redo your careplan... this nearly cost me everything I had accomplished ! I went through all the actual CARE perfectly... no errrors. But I allowed myself to get so caught up with the patient and providing care, doublechecking, etc., that I forgot I still had to go back and revise the careplan once again at the end of each PCS, and barely had enough time to do this ! VERY SCARY !!! I failed one PCS due to this... and that's a shame to have completed all the actual care part flawlessly only to fail the entire PCS because you ran out of time to complete the careplan in at the end.

But I made it, and passed the CPNE the first time... so can YOU... provided you learn and follow all the steps listed in the CPNE study Guide EXACTLY as they have them written out ! I made tapes and listened to them everywhere I went.. grocery shopping, to and from work, etc.... listened to these for three months before my CPNE. Study that book until you know it in your SLEEP !!!

Good luck to all of you !!!