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.
Don't give up, Apple. You can do this- it's all in the details, eh? Listen to Sue- reschedule that bear.
Oh- and more cowbell & Xanax.
Ativan (and more cowbell) is my drug of choice! Certain CEs made me nervous, not the test itself really. One was becoming visibly annoyed with me for whatever reason. She's the one with whom I missed the one initial on the MAR.
She wanted her can of pop with ice in it. I forgot the amount of ice I put in the styrofoam cup and I didn't have time to look again. There was a specific reason I didn't mess with going back in to look. The cups have markings on them, but you can't see through them. At that point, though, I was really exhausted and just wanted out.
I will never again dis microwaving Jell-O for real, though it is still kind of funny. After this weekend, though, I bet it would have been a point of failure without being the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Now I know that sometimes it isn't all hugs and loves and "We really want you to pass!"
I want to add something to this statement. The first PCS examiner I had told me not to count the water in the marked styrofoam cup as intake when I was initially looking for how much water was in there, even though the patient sipped some with her medication. The last PCS examiner I had--the one I failed with the ice in the marked styrofoam cup--told me that the ice cream wasn't a liquid and not to count it as fluid intake. However, I had to measure the potato soup, chunks and all. (She ate one full bowl of it and half of another.) The styrofoam cup stuff had to be measured, unlike my first PCS. How's that for confusing?
Sounds like you got some conflicting info from the CEs there. :bugeyes:The CPNE is stressful enough as is without them adding to it. I'd write a letter documenting the conflict just as an FYI to them. Maybe they'll get on the same page and make things better for the next testers.
I want to add something to this statement. The first PCS examiner I had told me not to count the water in the marked styrofoam cup as intake when I was initially looking for how much water was in there, even though the patient sipped some with her medication. The last PCS examiner I had--the one I failed with the ice in the marked styrofoam cup--told me that the ice cream wasn't a liquid and not to count it as fluid intake. However, I had to measure the potato soup, chunks and all. (She ate one full bowl of it and half of another.) The styrofoam cup stuff had to be measured, unlike my first PCS. How's that for confusing?
I also want to add that I wanted to look at the cup for a visual cue as to how much ice I had put in there initially that she had partially taken in. However, because of a specific unrelated incident during my PCS, I decided not to do that. I might have written it down....in fact I believe I did, on the back of my form. I actually wrote out in words "ice in" as a mental cue for myself on the front of my PCS form. I messed it up, plain and simple. I don't know how much else I should say. I haven't said it all out here for the world to read. I'm considering an appeal.
Most CPNEs out there sound like they are great, supportive, etc. I know I'm still feeling the sting of this one, which leads me to whine a bit more, but some things ain't right here, dontcha know.
When I grabbed the ice cream as I was verbalizing input, she said that ice cream isn't a liquid. If she had not said that, I would have microwaved it in all seriousness.
I just know I cannot pay so much money to run the chance of what I had again. How disappointing. Maybe I was one of those nurses that was just on the brink of pass/fail. I'll never know. It's okay if I was, but I'd rather know that than the uncertainty that comes with sucking at counting ice. I think I'd rather spend $3000 for another CPNE fee, traveling, graduation fee, etc., on the local traditional program than put my family through that again. What troopers they were.
I truly think you should appeal especially if you got conflicting information from one CE to another. If there is the slightest chance that it could turn around the result you have nothing to lose but only to gain.
I truly think you should appeal especially if you got conflicting information from one CE to another. If there is the slightest chance that it could turn around the result you have nothing to lose but only to gain.
Definately appeal that one and if they send you back for a retest at no cost, the ice cream at St.Mary's is 90cc.
If you have to or decide to go back to the same site you can PM me anytime.
I have to agree with the others, you should definitely appeal! We are already overloaded with information as it is but to have confliciting answers on intake is just that much more frusterating!
When I grabbed the ice cream as I was verbalizing input, she said that ice cream isn't a liquid. If she had not said that, I would have microwaved it in all seriousness.
Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN
1,130 Posts
Ativan (and more cowbell) is my drug of choice! Certain CEs made me nervous, not the test itself really. One was becoming visibly annoyed with me for whatever reason. She's the one with whom I missed the one initial on the MAR.