Mastering clinicals?

Hi- you might want to ask your employer if they would be willing to allow you to do a nursing externship. This will allow you to get a certain amount of clinical experience while you're in the nursing program. Some of my EC study buddies have done this, and it worked out quite well for them.

EC offers a "skills bag" which contains a bunch of practice materials for the CPNE labs. I think it's over $50 though. I got a list of what was in the skills bag and got the supplies on my own. When I finished my CPNE, I passed on my supplies to another CPNE'r. :)

But the skills bag won't help you out in any of the areas besides the lab stations. Have you considered getting your CNA cert? My past experience as a CNA made my CPNE a heck of a lot easier on me.

And so you know nothing about IVs, NG tubes, foleys, and a bunch of other things. So what. I had never touched an NG tube and had very, very limited IV experience. So those were 2 of the main things the that I concentrated on when I was studying and brushing up on skills. I spent a heck of a lot more time on that stuff than I did on things I was comfortable with.

You can't get hands-on experience with every skill out there. While in nursing school, many student nurses have things that they never get to do, either. For the CPNE they expect you to perform as a graduate nurse, meaning you may be a bit green in areas. I found that when I showed the CEs that I knew the steps in how to do something but I had never actually performed it, they helped me out. For instance, I had to give meds through an NG tube. I stated the steps to the CE but said that I had never done it, so she walked me through it.

Do whatever you can to get experience. Your ideas are great, as is Large Florida Minivan's idea about a nursing externship. You can make it through this. :)

I did work for several years as a CNA,and as an uncertified home aide off and on. I help on the floor when I can and they let me move patients up but I am not sure how much else they would allow me to do without being legally certified, even though I am a nursing student and students can work as CNAs it has to go through the BON and getting answers from them is like pulling teeth -- I've been trying for a year to get somewhere. I don't have the money or the time for a formal CNA course just so I can take the test comfortably ... I hope to be finished with my exams by the end of October. I just passed 3 and 1 in the past couple of weeks and am heading for #2 on Wednesday. I failed 5 but I made the mistake of thinking I knew too much plustried to wipe out 2 in one day since it is such a long trip. I won't make that mistake again.

I tried to feel them out about externships when I was first hired and there seems to be insurance issues, but they don't mind having clinical observers. I'd like to see a foley inserted on a real person and not a manequin!

Well you have some decent experience then. And just working in the environment that you work in will help a lot. I've heard people who aren't LPNs who haven't had any hospital experience can have a tough time on a unit..... very intimidating for some, and I can see why. Even my little bit of hospital experience while in LPN school made me feel more comfortable in the CPNE setting, and I'm sure it'll help you too.

And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I was told by EC that we may be assigned to manage a foley, but we will not have to insert one.