Failed in Utica............

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Well I failed this weekend. The CE's and CA are wonderful there and I highly recommend this site to anyone. But, my advise to anyone going any where to do this is GO ALONE. My support person was no support! She was sick, nasty and her coughing and snoring kept me awake all weekend. Friday I passed 3 of 4 labs (missed the bubble in my sq syringe)I did not know that the locking device turned, and when the CE turned it there was my bubble hiding! Saturday I sailed through both PCS's and my sq repeat. All I had to do was 1 more on Sunday.

Well by Sunday morning After getting about 3 hrs of sleep since thursday morning I was now sick, tired and downright exhausted. My head was in such a fog I just could not think anymore. My first pcs was way more involved than the 2 on saturday and as I am writing my grid and on O2 management I knew I was forgetting something but I just couldn't think straight and I was running out of time. Well it was Cap refill ! so it was a fail. I was too tired to even be upset. Next one was way easier and yes O2 management again and yes I checked!

I did all my areas of care and 2 sets of vitals checked and rechecked my grid at least 10 times, still had an hour left to do my charting. I declared my vitals and heard those lovely words (Lets step out of the room for a minute) I couldn't believe it what did I miss? I checked and rechecked my grid over and over. APICAL pulse! I never even noticed it! Never wrote it on my grid, took 2 radial pulses,thaught I had it kicked in the butt! So we all know what happened. FAIL

I will reapply asap and take a cancellation, I am still to tired for this to even sink in. I knew my AOC's and should have passed this, It was not as bad as I thaught it would be, The pcs's are very basic care. If I would have went alone I would have passed. I was second guessing taking someone with me for months and I should have went with my gut instinct. For my friend this was a cheap road trip, For me it was a $2000 lesson!

So the moral of this story is, if you take someone with you make sure you know there sleeping habits, if you have trouble sleeping, it will be 10 times worse this weekend and every little sound will sound like a bomb! If you need to have someone with you then spend the extra money for a separate room, it may save you thousands in the end.

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Well, crap, ceb. I'm really sorry.

I went alone the first time, took my husband the second - but he's my rock of strength, not th anchor tied to the chain dragging me down to the bottom of the ocean.

I'm really sorry. I think that you know I know how you feel.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Wow! That really hurts. You knew what you were doing the whole time. I loved Utica. My friend failed the first time there over a repeat lab and reapplied and called the CPNE office alot and retested with a 1.5 months. You got it in the bag next time. Review your critical elements(know them inside out) in the mean time and not only review your grid but the whole PCS form. You will definetly pass next time and I agree, go alone after what you experienced,

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Sorry to hear the news but at least you know you can do this and it wasn't as bad as you imagined! Good luck the next time.

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Specializes in Med surg and Psych.

Your attitude is impressive. At least you now know what to expect now and how to handle things. Good Luck to you as you test again? Are you testing in the same place since you liked it so well? Traci

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Your attitude is impressive. At least you now know what to expect now and how to handle things. Good Luck to you as you test again? Are you testing in the same place since you liked it so well? Traci

Yes I am! I really liked St. Lukes, and the staff as well as the CE's and CA are very supportive. They really want us to pass. I thought about Chambersburg, PA because it is half the distance, But, decided I want to go back to Utica so that is where I will reapply to.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

*hugs* I'm so sorry! Ugh, so close. :( You'll nail it next time, though!

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

You have a great attitude! You know what you will do next time and you will pass with confidence. Good for you and I am sorry the first time didn't work out...but I love that it isn't holding you back.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

so sorry, and kick butt next time!

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

So sorry, ceb. We're rooting for you!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I am sorry to hear about your test, but it still sounds like you did very well, even though the result wasn't what you hoped for.

Here's my story about bringing people to the CPNE--My 5-year-old daughter bonked herself on the bedside table right above her eye within 5 minutes of being in the hotel. She required a visit to the hospital's urgent care clinic 2 days later because of infection on her new owie, and she definitely couldn't open her eye. It didn't help any when it came to my test! She definitely has my grace. My husband was also much less supportive after my first day of PCSes. When he heard that the PCS I failed that day was because I missed signing a MAR, I think that lessened his confidence in the test (not my ability to pass it), which did rub off on me. The "you can do it" encouragement over and over from the night before was gone the night after PCS 1 and 2. I don't know what I would have done without them, though.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
I am sorry to hear about your test, but it still sounds like you did very well, even though the result wasn't what you hoped for.

Here's my story about bringing people to the CPNE--My 5-year-old daughter bonked herself on the bedside table right above her eye within 5 minutes of being in the hotel. She required a visit to the hospital's urgent care clinic 2 days later because of infection on her new owie, and she definitely couldn't open her eye. It didn't help any when it came to my test! She definitely has my grace. My husband was also much less supportive after my first day of PCSes. When he heard that the PCS I failed that day was because I missed signing a MAR, I think that lessened his confidence in the test (not my ability to pass it), which did rub off on me. The "you can do it" encouragement over and over from the night before was gone the night after PCS 1 and 2. I don't know what I would have done without them, though.

I would have done better if I had brought my family with me, at least they are supportive. Not only did my friend keep me awake but she was nasty and not supportive at all. When I called my husband from the hospital lobby Sunday and told him I failed, at first he couldn't believe it since I passed everything on Saturday,then he told me not to worry I could reapply as soon as I got home! He is a real trooper and has never been anything but wonderful through all of this, but I still think I will go alone next time.

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