How I studied for the CPNE

[PiedPiperRN]

The CPNE can seem a little daunting, but I feel that studying for it can be pretty straightforward. I spent about two months doing light reading for the CPNE and one month really buckling down, and I was pretty well prepared. Basically you need to be able to do four things-- have the physical skills to do the labs, know how to use the care plan book to make a care plan, know how to do the AOC's, and know what things need to be documented. Each of these can be learned in a few days, and practice will drive them into your brain.

Anyway, here is what I suggest to do:

- Find a local study group (If you do ONE thing, this is it!!!)

With my study group, we were able to pool resources, CE each other, and make comments. There was a girl in my group that did take a workshop, and so I was able to get all of the workshop information at none of the cost. My group also had a rule that you had to keep coming for about a month or two after you passed, so there were always a few people that had actual CPNE experience, which can make a huge difference. So far we are boasting a 100% pass rate!

- Take a (Good) Workshop

I didn't take a workshop, but I have heard that many of them are very helpful. A good workshop should walk you through a simulated CPNE and allow you to understand how the process works. But beware: there are a lot of people that advertise workshops (espeically care plan workshops) that don't have any qualifications other then a CPNE pass.

- Practice the labs (using real equipment)

There is a kit that you can buy from EC, but a lot of the stuff can be bought pretty cheap off the internet. Or, if you know someone that works at a hospital, you can "borrow" the supplies. Often hospitals have expired supplies that are free for the asking, espeically sterile gloves and other packages. Again, a study group can allow you to pool this stuff. But you want to have access to a set up to practice the labs. They are basically memorization.

- Watch Rob's videos (http://www.robscpne.com/)

These are good because you can see someone actually doing the AOC and labs. These videos really brought it together for me. They are kind of pricy ($40 plus S&H) so again, see if you can pool with a study group. A lot of people sell these when they are done with the CPNE. I would recommend getting the AOC DVD and just watching Vanessa's YouTube for the labs.

- Watch Vanessa's YouTube videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/vanessamenan#p/u)

I have no idea who this chick is, but she is probably responsible for about 2/3 of all CPNE passes, plus she has an adorable accent. These videos are free on YouTube. They are just her demonstrating the labs, but she does a stellar job. (She doesn't wear gloves when doing the push, which you should wear, and she draws up NS from a bag, which we don't do anymore. Other that these videos are right on. Also, she uses mneunomics, which a lot of people, me included, do not do.)

- Write a billion care plans (Do you know about Chuck's Scenarios? http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd3vnpzc_294f7wpxghj)

When you do write these, you can send them to "Dr. A" via the EC Message center. You can send one a weekday. I do NOT recommend the care plan workshops, they are a waste of money. (Basically, they are someone like me who passed the CPNE and thinks that this makes them an expert.) Dr. A will give good feedback and suggest areas of improvement. This is free for EC students.

- Do a billion practice PCS's

I did mine on a dummy as well as anyone else that I could con into doing this! When you do this, try to emulate the process as much as possble. Use the actual PCS forms found in the study guide. Use a care plan that you wrote (see above), make a grid and write down the observations as you find them on your grid and PCS response form. I would get my friends to describe actual health problems they had in the past. (For example, my housemate needed a heart valve transplant about 10 years ago, and my best friend broke his leg as a teenager, both very likely CPNE scenarios. I asked them to remember and describe thier symptoms from those times, and to pretend that these were happening again.)

- Practice documentation a billion times!

After you do a practice PCS, document what happened, using the language that your practice partner used.

- Read EPN boards

A lot of great information here! There are also a few EC staff members that troll the boards-- they try to answer questions and dispel facts. There is also a place where chat transcripts can be found, these are hard to read but contain gold information!

- Read these sites:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd3vnpzc_309gknq35gv&hl=en (needs formatting but a really good set of notes)

http://cpnex.blogspot.com/ (The links along the right are the real meat, I didn't read the blog posts)

https://allnurses.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7428&d=1252951623 (Very good document that has been floating around for a while)

These sites are just the ones that I liked the most, there are many other good sites out there.

- AllNurses.com:

Need I say more?

[caliotter3]

Thanks for providing your tips in an easily read, outlined format.

[scoobytrevor]

I am studying for my CPNE and keep on reading about 'Dr. A' in blogs, but haven't seen any info on the Excelsior website. How do I submit care plans to him? When I go to my Message Center, what topic do I choose in order to send him the NCP?

Thank you!

[dstep102570]

Thanks for all your information. It's great. Im studying for CPNE now.

Debbie

[BeachieRN84]

Thank you sooo much for this info! I bookmarked those skill sites for when it's my time to study for the CPNE!

Question, I saw Vanessa using a calculator in one of the clips, are you allowed to use one for the calculations if it's the Excelsior college calculator?

[SweettartRN]

I disagree about the need to attend a workshop.

I did just fine without one and feel that they are a big waste of money, when Excelsior really and truly gives you everything you need in the CPNE Study Guide.