looking for some friendly advice about CPNE

gstrahan · Feb 14, 2006

I'm from Louisiana also, between Hammond and Baton Rouge. Where are you?

I just passed my CPNE this weekend at Grady in Atlanta. Grady is probably the biggest hospital in the area and if you go there you almost definately have a pediatric patient. Hughes Spalding is right across the road and is attached through an underground walkway. There were six that started and I know for sure 5 passed the entire CPNE. One of those five had to retake one lab station. The one I don't know about failed one PCS in the planning phase. She used to risk for dx's on her care plan and the book tells you repeatedly, one of the dx's must be an actual problem and the other may be an actual problem or something the pt is at risk for. She just got nervous and forgot.

I think SRMC is a smaller hospital on the outskirts of Altanta (Riverdale, maybe?) I've been told the examiner's move around the different hospitals in the area and you can never say who is going to be there for sure.

I found the examiners and the CA very fair and friendly. The never gave any of us the impression they were out to get us. I only had one really major problem and they discussed it, decided that it was something out of my control and gave me another option on completing the area of care. They could've made me repeat an entire PCS over it if they'd wanted. So with that, I passed with no repeats, yeah!!!

Send me an e-mail at gina_strahan at yahoo dot com and we will talk further.

Gina

pedinurse05 · Feb 14, 2006

Hi everyone! I am trying to decide where to do my CPNE? I live in Louisiana, seriously considering SRMC in Atlanta. I want to know is this a big busy hospital, are there any hotels near by, if so what do they cost...what do you have to wear? I heard you are allowed to bring a careplan book? Is this true? Which is the hardest NC test? Also I was planning on bringing my boyfriend with me to Atlanta for moral support, is this allowed? Any advice or information will by very deeply appreciated.. Thanks! Christine.

I liked Southern Regional hospital. I think it is fairly small (I work in a 1500 bed hospital...so small to me is 500 beds or less). There is a nice Holiday Inn right up the street. You get a discount for being a student and they give you quiet rooms. You can bring anyone you want with you to the hotel for support. You will receive a study guide from the college that will go into great detail about what you need to know and wear for the exam. As far as the concepts go, I thought 5 was the hardest. The CPNE isn't bad if you prepare...although this is just my experience.

yvonnemuse, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2006

I too thought NC 5 was the hardest! I have my CPNE in one month. I know my critical elements and even dream them ..I am working on my labs and careplans now. All in my world is eclipsed by this CPNE.I wish there weren't so many variables IE type of pt, mood of the CE,disposition of the CA. I will just have to make up for any imbalances by being very prepared.