22nd Edition CPNE

Nursing Students Excelsior

Published

Specializes in Dialysis RN.

Welp... Just when I had begun studying for the 21st edition study guide it was changed in the fall. I swear there must be a gray cloud that follows me around. :banghead: I was trying to get a date sooner but I could not get a cancellation date. Now I see why! So now I'm looking at the new 22nd edition CPNE and I am literally shaking in my boots. True, I have been nursing for 4 years but, yikes! It's a lot more stuff that has been added to this 22nd edition in my opinion. I could go on whining about it for hours but I was just wondering if anyone else is preparing to take the CPNE for 2017 soon. If so, do you find it a better format? (not trying to discuss testing material)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did the CPNE way too long ago to give you any helpful advice, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Do they still mail you a hard copy of the study guide? Back in the day, we called it "The Car Jack" because it was so big and it seemed so intimidating.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I did the CPNE way too long ago to give you any helpful advice, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Do they still mail you a hard copy of the study guide? Back in the day, we called it "The Car Jack" because it was so big and it seemed so intimidating.

Nah.

It is now a pdf download and is only about 108 pages. Still daunting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis RN.
I did the CPNE way too long ago to give you any helpful advice, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Do they still mail you a hard copy of the study guide? Back in the day, we called it "The Car Jack" because it was so big and it seemed so intimidating.

No more hard copy in the mail. Its a PDF file and about 108 pages. But its not "easier" in my opinion. But thanks for the response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know how you feel the same thing has happened to me nurse effort

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey there! I just passed the CPNE last weekend. Honestly it wasn't too bad. I can't give you any details because of school rules, but I can tell you how I studied for it and maybe that will help you:

. 1) Make mnemonics for the critical elements of each area of care, then make flash cards out of the mnemonics. When you go through them, don't just verbally say it - write it down. If you can't remember them , put them to music! I did PNVM to the tune of "wake me up before you go-go" Lolzs I made recordings on my phone and listened to them in the car. They really do guide you. 2) practice the careplans. Do at least 2-4 a week. You can find practice scenerios on Excelsior's website or just online. You can have a lot of Careplans already written out and thought about and just change certain variables depending on your patient. 3) once you have careplans and mnemonics the rest is muscle memory. Practice the labs and PCSs - I made a patient out of a body pillow dish glove hands and some towels. I called him Bob Schmob. Gave him IVs and an ID bracelet and acted like he was real. Talking out loud helps you practice real conversation. Practice on real people if you can. Talking to the patient is how you'll teach them! Practice teaching them things while you're going through the PCS. For Labs - make practice MARs look up common meds and do the math. Act it out like its real!

4) one last thing. I wrote out a reference everything. Printed off the PCS packet and lab forms - or made my own and filled out the whole thing using Excelsior's examples just to have a reference

We are there for success but we are also there for the patient! Put their needs first and you'll do great!! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have 7 more classes left. What are PCS packets, what labs, I guess I haven't made it to that yet, and where do I find this stuff on the website? Thanks in advance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Do exactly what NurseyNurseface said! I passed CPNE last May and I spent 6 months before my test doing everything she did. I had a big teddy bear from the Goodwill named Ted Bear, he had an ID band and an IV site. As the day got closer I enlisted my husband to be my patient one or two days a week for two or three full scenarios. (They go faster with a super cooperative, healthy patient) Don't forget to practice verbalizing your clean zone for paperwork and living by it. Have a bottle of fake hand sanitizer and use it! Practice washing your hands, it will make it easier to do "correctly" when you're under pressure.

I stapled together a CPNE packet in booklet form like the real test so I could be used to flipping through the pages. Big tip, take post it note page tabs to put on each important page so you don't waste time flipping the pages. During my practice scenarios I would draw three or four "assigned areas of care" out of a stack of cards so I was getting a random variety.

NurseyNurseface is also spot-on about writing your mnemonics over and over. Say them out loud as you write them, say them as you do them. During my PCS's I spoke aloud about every move I made and it can save you if the examiner doesn't see something, she will hear you say it. Also that helps with avoiding emotional jeopardy, if you continually keep the patient informed.

You can do it! Remember to breathe, if you have a flustery moment, step back for a few seconds, take some breaths and continue only when ready. The examiners understand that you are stressed and freaking out, the examiners I had were firm, but very kind.

I had a grid, and I don't think I could've passed without it.

Good luck, knock 'em dead, slay that beast!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating room.

you got some great tips here I passed last april one big tip I found was working from the scoring tool. It is subjective in grading so look at the scoring tool make sure you are hitting everything you need to do to pass.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just took my CPNE after studying the guide religiously for 3 months. All 6 (100%) students failed the first two pcs and all of us washed out on Saturday. My care plans were both accepted, but failed d/t items not in the study guide. I signed up for a weekend clinical, not a 3 day state evaluation.Not going to pay them another $4000 just to wait 14 months for them to fail me again. Time for a brick and mortar accredited school, even if it means repeating all the nursing courses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Just took my CPNE after studying the guide religiously for 3 months. All 6 (100%) students failed the first two pcs and all of us washed out on Saturday. My care plans were both accepted, but failed d/t items not in the study guide. I signed up for a weekend clinical, not a 3 day state evaluation.Not going to pay them another $4000 just to wait 14 months for them to fail me again. Time for a brick and mortar accredited school, even if it means repeating all the nursing courses.

Please consider filing an appeal if you feel that you were failed in error. The procedure is in the study guide. If sites are failing students against guidelines, the school needs to know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I passed a PCS even though I left out a critical element. What does that say about this program? Should I appeal?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment