Need Excelsior CPNE Advice Please!!!

t-lo · Oct 13, 2010

This is a suggested Time Line of study I provide my Workshop Students

It is not written in stone and it may not work for everyone, but I do hope it helps with the organization of your

CPNE studies.

Good Luck!

At Approx 100 days or 3 months prior to your Clinical date or what you think will be the month of

your Clinical date.... you should,

Have purchased the skills kit and set up your labs to run through at least 1X/day every day

Have purchased the wound and practice packing it at least 1X/day every day

Have looked into or scheduled to take a workshop in the next 30 days or 2 months

prior to your Clinical date or month you think you are going.

Have read through the CPNE manual and decided how to split it up to make sense to you.

Start learning the critical elements for the AOC's and labs. Daily

Learn how to do all the calculations for the labs and write them out daily

Learn the calculations for tube feedings

Look up all the procedures and speci collections that are listed in the CPNE manual that you could

have to do and become familiar with them.

Start to dabble in care plans and know the basic parts on how to formulate dx statements,

goals and interventions.

Have purchased the dx care plan book

Approx 45- 60 days prior to your Clinical date or the month you think you are going...you should

Attend a good Workshop

Know how to use the care planning book

Be able to write care plans the eval phase and do charting with some corrections still needed and be sending

2 or more/week of them to EC or someone qualified to critique and correct them.

Know what's included in the 20 minute check

Have called EC to set up your weekly phone calls with questions to ask and are doing the phone calls

Know all the critical elements for the AOC's and be able to write them

Know the critical elements for the labs and how to perform the labs correctly and daily

Practice completing at least 3-5 AOC's a day on a dummy or family member

Approx 30-45 days prior to your Clinical date

Take the EC care planning and documentation course if you are not going to a workshop or if you have

already taken a workshop and still feel weak in care planning and charting.

Or participate in one of the Care planning groups that charge a fee per month. Or in my student's case they get it for free

Know how to set up a Grid

Be sending 3-5 care plans, eval phase and documentation/week to EC or qualified person for corrections and

getting most back with little or no corrections.

Know how to complete all the critical elements for the AOC's and have practiced on their dummy or family

member at least 3 or more times each.

Be able to complete 3 or more of the labs correctly and within the time limits

Approx 15-30 prior to your Clinical date

Continue to do your labs daily and can do all them within their time limits and accurately.

Doing a complete practice PCS with all the over ridding and 3-4 assigned AOC's and completion of the planning,

introduction, 20 minute check, implementation and evaluation phases within 2.5 hours on a daily basis

on a dummy or family member

Be sending 3-5 care plans, eval phase and documentation/week to EC or qualified person for corrections

and getting most back with little or no corrections.

Approximately 0-15 days prior to your Clinical date

Daily you should do a complete practice PCS from a scenario and in 2.5 hours or less for all phases

Be sending 3-5 care plans, eval phase and documentation/week to EC or qualified person for corrections

and getting them back with no corrections

Be able to complete all the labs accurately and within the time limits.

And be going nuts, because you have Clinial in 2 weeks or less.

Good Luck with your studies

Soozul · Feb 6, 2012

Hello, I have took & failed the CPNE twice. Lots of preparation. Workshop in IN , purchased additional cards this time.I did well- 2 mistakes- but that still fails me.Paperwork is where I failed.I WAS positive, felt very prepared. And thet weren't mean this time like in WIS. last time. I am 50. This is very hard on me & my family.This process has actually aged me. I have 2 boys under 16. Everyone suffers when I am away . Haven't decided my next move. Any advise from others?

t-lo · Feb 7, 2012

50 years old is not that old...granted the synapses don't fire as quick but

I had a 70 year old pass clinicals 2 yeas ago and EC has many students your age (my age) doing this.

I want you to think about something...and this is not meant to be mean.....

How much would your family and you suffer if...

you had to go to the hopsital for clinical 2-3 times a week for 2-3 semesters Plus study?

This would be the traditional college ASN Program

The EC clinical is 3 days plus study.

As for the paper work...what kind of mistakes?

omission of critical elements in your charting

or

missing something on the fluid management page

or

incorrect care plans?

Do you use a grid?

Can you be more specific so we can help you and offer suggestions?

t-lo

Soozul · Feb 7, 2012

Yes & thank U so much! I did use a grid. I know critical elements well, have mneumonics memorized.I took a workshop last year & learned that. My mistakes were 1. used "assess pain on a 0-10 numeric pain scale" for an intervention on acute pain. They said I couldn't do that. I now know that was in the 18th study guide revision book- somehow eluded me. 2. I charted "Auscultated bowel sounds X all 4 quadrants." Fail. I omitted positive. Which years ago I have written many times. I was taught to chart simply for the clinical. Didn't occur to me to be more descriptive. My technique in rooms is always good.Labs do well. It's the charting 2 times now that has cost me. I focused primarily on studying that for the test but.... I appreciate anyone of U responding. I will probably try 1 last time, I am just so very down right now. It has only been 2 days ago. I had a 5 hour drive home & had to tell my family I failed again. It's almost devasting. Thanks all.

t-lo · Feb 7, 2012

soozul

it is true not being successful at the ec cpne ™ is devastating. it’s like a death and we have to grieve and go through the process before we can move on. i give you credit for coming here just 2 days after your attempt to post

ok let’s see what you have here…. hummm assessments as interventions…yes that is a big no…no for the 18^th edition of clinical.

as an fyi ec is throwing out “maintain” interventions too…. so lose those

then you charted your mnemonic instead of the results when it came to auscultate bowel sounds x 4 quadrants….that’s an honest mistake…costly but honest.

here’s a suggestion….when you chart put whatever mnemonic you are using above or next to the narrative aoc heading. then methodically use your grid with the results and chart those results 1 letter at a time. and each time you chart the results of 1 letter, cross a letter of on your grid and over the mnemonic written next to the narrative heading for that aoc. do not cross off a letter if you didn’t chart it! this is the method i teach my students and i hope it will help you to be organized and methodical to your success!

hugs

t-lo

Soozul · Feb 7, 2012

This is a new idea I can use. I copied your response. I'm adding, it is so nice to get ideas from someone who doesn't even know me.Of course, I am still emotional & would hug anyone who gave my situation a care. Thanks!

t-lo · Feb 7, 2012

I am glad I can help...and hugs back at you....(squeezing)

Mudwoman · Feb 12, 2012

I was 54---nearly 55 when I took and passed CPNE. I am now going to be 59 this year and doing EC and working hard to pass was the best thing I ever did for myself and my family. Doors of opportunity have been opened for me that would not have been if I had not perservered. You have to know that I first tried to do this back in 1994 and 1995. Gave up. Then tried again in 2002. Gave up. My husband just MADE me do what I needed to do this time and determination and belief that I could enabled me to pass with no repeats.

The BEST money I spent for the CPNE was doing the online documentation class and the care plan class. I am convinced that if I had not taken these 2 classes online, I would not have passed the paperwork part. So, now that you know the other stuff so well, you are on the home stretch! You just have to work on the paperwork portion. You have already come so far. You passed all the other stuff. You just need to tweak what you need to study. You are doing another site. Go for it again. Take the online documentation/careplans and you will shine next time.

The reward will be great. You are almost there. Don't give up. You CAN do this!!!!!!!

Soozul · Feb 17, 2012

Thanks everyone. I have already applied for the 3rd/final test, pd. on card. Am reading ,thinking on what some of you have said.

camartinez · May 13, 2012

hello, I am in SA awaiting CPNE date, can you give me some advise.

sunrock · May 13, 2012

How can I help p

Soozul · May 19, 2012

I have a test date but haven't committed yet. Took 3 months & a week to hear, FYI. Advise for U? I have failed twice, I don't have any secrets to pass. I'm just going to prepare the best I can, under my circumstances, pray & hope I pass this time. I thought I would pass last time, felt very prepared but didn't. It is very hard & very stressful. I've read on here in past some think it is easy---I STRONGLY disagree. Hardest thing I ever did! .I have noticed old school nurses like myself don't do as well as the younger ones.Sometimes it's something I just didn't know to include/ study for. Just getting there is stressful, considering I drive down to GA., 6 lane traffic, big city. I'm from the country, don't like the city or do things there. I dread the WHOLE p rocess. However, the day's coming & by then I will be ready!