Must haves for studying for CPNE?

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I just ordered Rob's dvd.. are the flashcards from EC worth it or should I make my own? Would/did you buy a wound simulation? If so, from where (ebay or EC?).. which nursing diagnosis and careplan books are best to learn from? Did you buy any specific things directly from EC? Anything else to add? Thanks!

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

I did buy the flashcards from EC, they were very helpful for me to take on the go and they had critcal elements on them. I bought a wound/skills kit from ebay, set up a lab and practiced daily the last 6 weeks so it would be ingrained in my head. I bought Rob's DVD and other books to help me study but honestly didn't look at them much, just mainly used the study guide and advising phone calls. Oh, and I made LOTS of copies of the PCS recording forms and used them for practice pcs's on my husband and dummy. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I would recommend Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills CD-ROMs. They are around $40. They rock but are a bit corny--I've never been in contact with nursing students like them! Get the flashcards from EC. It's the one thing they make affordable. Get the Mosby's nursing diagnosis book they recommend--the Carpenito book is apparently being phased out. Get the wound and bag from EC's source. I got the EC video, which is okay, but it is super expensive for the content. Peruse the EPN and someone may "pay it forward." Ebay also sometimes has it.

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Buy the flash cards. And write the mnemonics in the "I took the Excelsior Workshop" on them.

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Attend one of the workshops offered if you have the funds (Tina's or Lynns would be my personal recommendation).

Make a lab set up in your house and practice, practice, practice!

Buy the wound from an EC vendor...some of the others aren't the same specifications as the one you will test on. DO wrap it around a towel so that it is opened up like it was actually an arm or leg wound.

Buy EC's flash cards or make your own with your critical element mneumonics on them...record them on an audio cd if possible so you can test yourself while you are folding clothes, driving, cooking etc....

Buy the Mosbys book and USE it before you need it at the CPNE!

Get a white board & dry erase markers and EVERY DAY write out the critical elements for each area until you have them memorized.

Copy a blank grid and practice filling it out with the 5 required areas and 5-8 seleceted areas. See how fast you can get this done, time yourself, then try to beat your time. (Time is your enemy during your PCS, so make everything you KNOW you will have to do be as fast as possible to make up for the unknown events). Blank grids are available in the Yahoo groups.

Oh, and DON'T buy the EC video....it contains OVER 41 MISTAKES and is not advertised as a teaching tool, only as a demonstration.

Good Luck!

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Oh, and DON'T buy the EC video....it contains OVER 41 MISTAKES and is not advertised as a teaching tool, only as a demonstration.

Good Luck!

That was a huge waste of money.

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"That was a huge waste of money. "

Have you taken the CPNE yet, Suesquatch?

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"That was a huge waste of money. "

Have you taken the CPNE yet, Suesquatch?

Yup. Passed a week ago, second time.

:)

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Yup. Passed a week ago, second time.

:)

CONGRATULATIONS! :yeah: When do you take NCLEX? :coollook:

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CONGRATULATIONS! :yeah: When do you take NCLEX? :coollook:

No idea yet. If Lunah's experience is typical, the end of September.

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