Sue was right about the not good feeling. It seems that most of us in Racine didn't pass. I was a casualty as well. I'm actually not upset or frustrated. I also know that my failure wasn't a measure of how good of a nurse I am or can be. I failed on Sunday, so I did get through the labs and passed one PCS. I did know my mnemonics, and the areas of care were pretty easy. It came down to things like ice. (That was my final PCS failure). The first one I failed because I missed initialing one med on the MAR, but I initialed all other meds. That was totally my mistake, but I would have caught that at some point if I had been working the floor rather than having spotty access to the chart. The second failure was because my apical pulse on an infant was off by 14. Ouch! Here's the thing, though. I had no idea we had a limit on how many times we could listen. I placed the steth on the baby twice but lost my count and verbalized it both times, which they counted as auscultating 4 times. (I verbalized this after about 30 seconds each time and definitely before a minute.) I made an educated guess on the apical because of that. The last PCS I failed was over ice. However, other things were going on that weren't my thing but were a distractor, but I messed it up, plain and simple.
The scary thing is that I could have passed, no doubt, but you just never know what you'll get, had it been different patients, different CEs, etc., etc. I was comfortable with all my AOC. It wasn't that. I also know that it would cost me the same amount of money to pay my continuation fee, the CPNE fee, the graduation fee, and the traveling/lodging fee to just do the local LPN-RN program. I don't feel like reapplying now for the CPNE. I haven't made that decision yet. I don't know if I will. It's not that I'm down about it--it's because I don't know if it's worth it. I made a lot of people's lives hell for this thing.
I also think this test can be passed without a workshop. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I am so sorry you weren't successful. As many have pointed out, it doesn't reflect on your nursing skills at all. *huge hugs* I hope you reapply!
I don't consider myself unsuccessful. I consider myself successful because I gave good nursing care--but I simply failed the test. It's been a long time since I've been a nurse for money. (I've done clinic volunteering here and there.) I proved to myself that I can still do nursing care. I am quite happy with that. It could be worse, you know?
I didn't want to say "failed" because the last time someone said that with regards to the CPNE, the person got upset. In any case, you're in my thoughts.
I didn't want to say "failed" because the last time someone said that with regards to the CPNE, the person got upset. In any case, you're in my thoughts.
I won't come beat you up or anything. :) It is what it is. Thank you for being considerate, though. I'm trying to look at the good side of this all. I failed, failed, failed, failed. But I did perfectly good overall patient care, so I'm cool with that part.
sweet, sweet, apple...you are a winner because of the awesome attitude you have. you are a success for exploring an unknown event. you now know what to expect. thanks for keeping me updated during the weekend...i hope i was able to give you some type of virtual "lift". i have stayed away from this forum all day because i did not want to let anything slip...i wanted you to tell when you were ready. i know we have never met, but hey girl...i would consider you a great friend, and imagine many others in this forum would agree. like other posters have said give yourself some r&r...you have earned it. you need it. i feel you have a determined spirit...and only you can decide what map to follow. explore your options if you so desire. this is your life to make your choices. you are an awesome person and a winner. your friend, traci
sweet, sweet, apple...you are a winner because of the awesome attitude you have. you are a success for exploring an unknown event. you now know what to expect. thanks for keeping me updated during the weekend...i hope i was able to give you some type of virtual "lift". i have stayed away from this forum all day because i did not want to let anything slip...i wanted you to tell when you were ready. i know we have never met, but hey girl...i would consider you a great friend, and imagine many others in this forum would agree. like other posters have said give yourself some r&r...you have earned it. you need it. i feel you have a determined spirit...and only you can decide what map to follow. explore your options if you so desire. this is your life to make your choices. you are an awesome person and a winner. your friend, traci
thanks so much, traci. thanks for your encouragement during my testing as well. it would have been okay for you to tell everyone, but it worked out well for me to do it. i didn't want anyone to think i was totally devastated or anything before i could say otherwise--failing sucks, but it's definitely not the end of the world. (i want everyone who is going to take the cpne to know that...it is not the end of the world.) i can tell you it's a relief to not be studying right now. i've been a bear to my family over studying for this thing, and for what? they don't deserve that. they are too good to me and tolerate the heck out of me. :)
i've done things in my life, my boring ol' 29 years thus far, that i consider pretty great accomplishments for myself, and failing the cpne does not take away from them one bit. it was another notch in the belt that would have been great to have, but not the end all, be all for me.
i also have no desire to knock out that cpne right now, so i'm going to work on my yarn work (all 500 projects i have), enjoy my family, work my butt off, make my husband more chicken scrub shirts for work, and do taxes. (i love to do taxes.) however, if i give it a week, a month, 3 months, whatever, i might want to go back. i went in to the cpne (and ec's program period) thinking i wanted to go ahead in my nursing education to work with obese people trying to lose weight. however, i am pretty darned happy working at home. since i proofread the cpne study guide for fun and found errors, that just be what i am meant to do...work at home as a transcriptionist.
hugs to traci and all you allnurses peeps. (except lunah--i have to kick her butt first, then hug.)
Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN
1,130 Posts
I don't consider myself unsuccessful. I consider myself successful because I gave good nursing care--but I simply failed the test. It's been a long time since I've been a nurse for money. (I've done clinic volunteering here and there.) I proved to myself that I can still do nursing care. I am quite happy with that. It could be worse, you know?