Finally did it! CPNE date 11-18-11!

hey everyone! so i finally did it. i have been cpne eligible since september '09 and i just set up a payment plan and got a date for the cpne. my date is 11-18-11 medcentral health system in mansfield, oh. i have about 5 1/2 months to prepare and i want to be ready. there will be no second shot for me. if i fail, i will just go back to a brick and mortar. i have printed a small library worth of journals, tips, the ec study guide, etc. i just don't know where to start! so here's my question. can anyone give me some tips on studying?? like, what did you do from the second you started till you took the cpne? i have never been a studier so this is where i am struggling! where, how, what? oh, and if anyone can share some info about the testing site that would be wonderful. i have watched soooo many wonderful people here start and finish the program over the last couple years and now i am ready to finish too!!! i want to be successful so i need a good jump start! thank you all so much :)

jocelyn

congratulations on getting your date! :-)

don't know anything about ohio, but i know that lunah passed there and also dstep (debbie) just recently passed there.

i am testing in september so i am right where you are, feeling like i need directions lol!!! i have been checking the epn alot and reading journals about other student's experiences. i am planning on doing sheri taylor's online workshop and i have rob's dvds. good luck on your studying!!

let me know if you want to skype together and critique lab skills or something! there are about 10 of us here waiting to take the cpne this fall, so we have a big support group :-)

I suggest that you start with reading the study guide and finding some good mnemonics. They saved my butt a few times, when I forgot stuff.

congrats on taking the leap. :) i tested in mansfield in 2008 -- loved it. well, i liked it a lot ... "love" is a bit strong where the cpne is concerned. my advice for starters -- read the whole study guide, every page, front to back. i know it's enormous, but it must be done! then get comfy with unit iv, the critical elements. i also give mucho credit to the ec epn for keeping me on track. please keep us posted!!

thank you for the advice. i am literally going to start with that. just read the study guide. i feel like i need my hand held, i've psyched myself out that much lol. i remember when you tested (i was hoping you'd respond..i remembered you testing in mansfield) and when you came on here and passed! i was so excited for you! gawd, that seems like forever ago! i'll be around alot the next few months here and on the epn..no more just lurking for me :)

jocelyn

congratulations on getting your date! :-)

don't know anything about ohio, but i know that lunah passed there and also dstep (debbie) just recently passed there.

i am testing in september so i am right where you are, feeling like i need directions lol!!! i have been checking the epn alot and reading journals about other student's experiences. i am planning on doing sheri taylor's online workshop and i have rob's dvds. good luck on your studying!!

let me know if you want to skype together and critique lab skills or something! there are about 10 of us here waiting to take the cpne this fall, so we have a big support group :-)

i'm really not from the dark ages, but i have never skyped..don't even know how! lol..thank you for the offer..i may have to have my lil bro come help me out there..i would love to be able to bounce skills off each other and what not! :)

I tested Dec 2009 in Utica NY. Faxton St. Lukes hospital was a good place to test. The CE's were nice and wanted you to pass. The hospital is old and most of the rooms have 2 people in it.

I studied by reading the studyguide and tried to wrap my head around what they wanted from me that weekend. I got some good mneumonics and started learning them and practicing. I went to Lynns workshop. Watched the EC video, Robs video and anything else I could find. I learned the careplanning and doceumentation by taking a EC online workshop and practicing with Chucks Scenarios. I lived on the EPN and wrote down anything that I thought would help me pass that weekend. With alot of practice and praying, I was successful and life is good!

i've heard rob's videos are good, and i hope to be able to go to a workshop. i have a question about my cpne status on excelsior's site. everything has been accepted. now a corporate compliance training and an information systems tab have popped up with no status posted and it gives me the option to browse my computer files to find them. does anyone have any idea what these two are or where i can get them? thank you!!

i've heard rob's videos are good, and i hope to be able to go to a workshop. i have a question about my cpne status on excelsior's site. everything has been accepted. now a corporate compliance training and an information systems tab have popped up with no status posted and it gives me the option to browse my computer files to find them. does anyone have any idea what these two are or where i can get them? thank you!!

maybe it is a site specific thing? i know for mine, a document for the uuh syracuse confidentiality agreement i had to sign popped up after i got my date.

Lol!! As I read over my post,I actually realized that I took the CPNE Dec 2008. I started my hospital job April 2009 and have been there 2 years. I am not sure how current Rob's video is. The CPNE studyguide has changed several times so make sure any video that you watch is current and all the guidelines and rules apply.Anyways good luck again. Its a tough road but definetly doable.

I studied for about 3 weeks after going to Sheri Taylor's workshop. ( I know I should have studied before but I'm a horrible procrastinator) When I got home I wrote out Rob's mneumonics (sp) on cards exactly the way he had them, pictures and all. I took those cards with me everywhere. I made myself a dummy using an old sweatshirt and sweatpants stuffed with old clothes and inserted a swimming noodle for arms. I also used another swimming noodle that I cut in half and used one piece for a practice IV push arm and the other to wrap my wound around. I set up a mock lab and for 8 hours a day x 3 weeks I went over those mneumonics and did each scenario on my dummy, lab stations, etc. I HIGHLY recommend Sheri's online workshop!! I watched those videos over and over and over. Her careplan webinars and videos are outstanding. There's also a girl on you tube with a spanish or cuban accent that demonstrates the lab stations and I watched those a million times too. My biggest piece of advice though is to KNOW how to write a fool-proof careplan in under 10 minutes or you will become so nervous BEFORE you even start your pcs. Also, practice your lab stations until you're a ninja warrior! I had my time down to where I could do all lab stations twice in the allotted time, so in case I made a mistake I KNEW I could start over. Good luck, and message me if you need help. I passed with no repeats on 3/25/2011 at York hospital.

edit: OMG...I forgot the study guide! I had the study guide for a couple of months before I would even touch it! I felt like it would stare and hiss at me everytime I would walk past it. LOL! I was so afraid of that giant monster! I finally broke it down into sections and realized that it was so full of wonderful information that it finally stopped hissing and became my best friend!

i studied for about 3 weeks after going to sheri taylor's workshop. ( i know i should have studied before but i'm a horrible procrastinator) when i got home i wrote out rob's mneumonics (sp) on cards exactly the way he had them, pictures and all. i took those cards with me everywhere. i made myself a dummy using an old sweatshirt and sweatpants stuffed with old clothes and inserted a swimming noodle for arms. i also used another swimming noodle that i cut in half and used one piece for a practice iv push arm and the other to wrap my wound around. i set up a mock lab and for 8 hours a day x 3 weeks i went over those mneumonics and did each scenario on my dummy, lab stations, etc. i highly recommend sheri's online workshop!! i watched those videos over and over and over. her careplan webinars and videos are outstanding. there's also a girl on you tube with a spanish or cuban accent that demonstrates the lab stations and i watched those a million times too. my biggest piece of advice though is to know how to write a fool-proof careplan in under 10 minutes or you will become so nervous before you even start your pcs. also, practice your lab stations until you're a ninja warrior! i had my time down to where i could do all lab stations twice in the allotted time, so in case i made a mistake i knew i could start over. good luck, and message me if you need help. i passed with no repeats on 3/25/2011 at york hospital.

edit: omg...i forgot the study guide! i had the study guide for a couple of months before i would even touch it! i felt like it would stare and hiss at me everytime i would walk past it. lol! i was so afraid of that giant monster! i finally broke it down into sections and realized that it was so full of wonderful information that it finally stopped hissing and became my best friend!

thank you so much for all the great advise!! i love the idea of the dummy with noodles :) my sister in law is a critical care rn and i think she would love the idea of critiquing me on a dummy lol...and omg the study guide is sooooo intimidating...i have, um, personally been carrying it around for two years..no joke..i think i invented proscrastination haha....i even had to reprint the new version when i signed up for the cpne (finally) lol...i am on page 80 now and you have given me hope that it will become my friend instead of my 5lb enemy! i am working my way through that and then will be looking to you all for guidance and support!! :redbeathe

jocelyn

maybe it is a site specific thing? i know for mine, a document for the uuh syracuse confidentiality agreement i had to sign popped up after i got my date.

it turned out to be site specific..when i printed my confirmation pdfs off my message on ec they were exactly what i needed. now they have everything they need from me and life ends and studying begins! lol thank you!!!

jocelyn