For the new crop of CPNE study-ers ....

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

Just a tip about practicing your grid: get yourself an 8.5x11-sized erasable white board and use it to practice making grids. I wrote the different AOCs on pieces of paper and would draw 3 or 4 of them at random out of a baggie, then make a grid. It was helpful -- I could do my grid in my sleep by the time my CPNE rolled around. Haha ... it was 3 years ago TODAY that I completed my CPNE, how funny.

I am enjoying seeing you all get to this point! This is why I still visit the EPN, too. It's highly addictive to watch people succeed, especially when you understand the stress yourself.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

That's a great idea. I can't wait until I finish my exams so I can begin my CPNE study. Hoping to be finished with the exam portions by September. I've scheduled them about every 2-3 weeks apart and cut my work schedule down to only 2 days a week to prepare.

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Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

I would have never thought of that! Great idea!! My creative point was last night making a make shift primary and secondary hangers out of wire hangers... my 9 yr old son said "Wow mom thats a neat idea!"

Did you make a grid square for each assessmt, managment, etc? Thats how Ive been making mine.

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
Just a tip about practicing your grid: get yourself an 8.5x11-sized erasable white board and use it to practice making grids. I wrote the different AOCs on pieces of paper and would draw 3 or 4 of them at random out of a baggie, then make a grid. It was helpful -- I could do my grid in my sleep by the time my CPNE rolled around. Haha ... it was 3 years ago TODAY that I completed my CPNE, how funny.

I am enjoying seeing you all get to this point! This is why I still visit the EPN, too. It's highly addictive to watch people succeed, especially when you understand the stress yourself.

This is exactly what I have been doing... drawing an AOC out of a bowl and writing it on a dry erase board then practicing the steps! Great minds think alike :-)

Just a quick question. I think it's a silly one too. So, when you set your papers down in the designated area and your hands are washed, when you go to check off the boxes on your grid, is your pencil considered dirty? Do you have to gel if you write something? When I am practicing these things I am not too worried about touching the pen and then touching the pt but at the PCS are they worried about this? Did you check your grid off after you left the room?

Thank you so much for all your advice and support!!! I cannot wait to be finished with all this and have my life back. :nurse:

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Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

I have heard and think Ill try to go with keeping the papers in my pocket with my pencil.

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

Haha, I did the same thing with wire hangers in my guest bathroom. The guestroom became like a mad scientist lab, I swear. I had a dummy on the bed (stuffed shirt and scrubs) named Esmerelda Formaldehyde, and I assessed and managed the heck out of her. :)

beachnurse, I didn't have any problems with clean vs. dirty anything. It's really common sense when you're in the room. Probably helped that I stepped over to the gel dispenser and gelled every time I needed a moment to think, it was a great way to get my brain together and take a pause. Everyone gets crazy about the hand cleaning, but it wasn't a problem.

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Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

OMG LOVE the formed body to the left!! lol

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

Excellent idea Lunah, thanks. I use the extra space on my kitchen counter for my wound and for my IVMB I brought home an extra hanger and bags from work. They are attached to the outside of my bathroom door so that when I'm practicing and the door is open I let the fluid drain in the sink while I'm regulating my gtts.

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Specializes in Acute, Adult Gerontology.

Thanks for the tip Lunah!, I just had a nightmare yester night that i failed coz i did not wash my hands, I forgot to ID my patient..... I take in in 5 weeks!....

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

Haha, I had nightmares before and after my CPNE .... PTSD, I swear. Before the CPNE I dreamed that I was in my hotel, about an hour from having to be at the test site, and I had not studied and knew nothing. After the CPNE I kept dreaming that they called me and told me I had to come back and do one more PCS before I really passed. Ugh. Thankfully the dreams faded after a few weeks!

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i keep hearing about the EPN, what is that, i am about to do ls1 and am already falling over with nerves about the CPNE and i don't even qualify to schedule the darn thing yet, i have rob's, plan on going to sheri, i have my dummy made, and i too worry about my clean or dirty pen. But i don't want to miss out on any resource so as soon as i know what the epn is i will look on it. :eek::eek::uhoh3::uhoh3::heartbeat:heartbeat:confused::confused:

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
http://www.excelsior.edu/epn, it's a peer network, they have message boards for all the exams and a great one for the CPNE. :-)
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