My thoughts on the CPNE I just took

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Hi all. I just passed the CPNE this past weekend with no repeats. I've been browsing/apart of this website since I was in LPN school six years ago. First I would like to say do not believe all the horror stories you read around the internet. A lot of people don't prepare properly and then have sour grapes.

Excelsior is very rigid on hitting the critical elements of the CPNE and that is well established, so as long as you prepare for that, you are fine. There is nothing complicated about the CPNE. They are testing basic nursing skills. Skills I had when I graduated LPN school. So as long as you develop a plan to remember all the critical elements, you will do just fine. Pretty much everything you need to know is given to you by Excelsior in the study guide. Now it can be beneficial to get help in sorting through all that material, and I would reccoment Sheri Taylor's ATL Clinical Workshop. I did the online program and it had everything I needed.

The two most important skills to develop while you are studying for the CPNE are mastering careplans and memorizing your mnemonics for your AOCs. I worked in a nursing home, so really all the assessments and managements for the CPNE I did at work already. I just had to tailor them to the way Excelsior demands, which they tell you.

I can not stress enough the importance of mastering careplans. You can't get into the room with out your care plan getting approved, and it sets the whole tone for your PCS. The majority of fail stories I have read stem around issues from careplans, by either not writing them properly, or taking too long which causes you to have too little time in the room. You can't build a strong building on shaky foundation.

PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE. I've read a lot of stories of nurses with 20 years experience thinking they are just gonna run up in there and knock it out with their experience. Then they complain about the small 'stupid' things that they failed for. Well it is known ahead of time that you will get popped for those things, so take it serious and prep. I truly believe this is a test of preperation, not skills.

Good luck and remember it is totally doable. 4 out of 6 passed at my weekend and we were all first timers.

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Thank you!!!!!!!!

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Thanks for the information!!! I have a while to go, but I have stressed over the CPNE, due to all the horror stories I have heard/read about...

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Thanks for sharing and congrats on passing! Really good input! I start my first trimester with Excelsior in February and I have been nervous about the cpne because of all the negative comments from people who failed.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Congrats!!! I will never forget the feeling of passing the CPNE. :)

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Specializes in Admin.

This post gives me hope :)

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It gives me hope as well, and congrats to passing!

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Specializes in ED, Addiction, Corrections, Med Surg.

It is completely doable! I failed the first time. My fault! I let nerves control me! Last month I passed! Study, practice, memorize, and be confident! The CA and CEs are not out to get you. I found them very encouraging and helpful.

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Congrats!!! I will never forget the feeling of passing the CPNE. :)
You played a part in my going through with it. When I very first started looking around 6 years ago at Excelsior there were a lot of horror stories with the CPNE. Your posts helped me think it was doable, and now I know it is. My only regret is not starting sooner.
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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
You played a part in my going through with it. When I very first started looking around 6 years ago at Excelsior there were a lot of horror stories with the CPNE. Your posts helped me think it was doable, and now I know it is. My only regret is not starting sooner.

That is awesome! Glad to have helped. :)

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Where did you take your CPNE? I take FCCA in Feb and I am already planning to do Sherri Taylor in ATL for one weekend, but I have heard horror stories about completing CPNE in ATL.

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Thank you for your story OP. It was very encouraging.

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