I am finished with the Assc. program, with the exception of completing the CPNE, which I have Frustratingly taken twice now, has anyone else "breezed" through the program, like myself, only now to be "hitting a brickwall" with the CPNE? Oh, and so you dont think I am of average intelligence and drive, a little background. I have been an EMT/Paramedic for approx. 18 years, 7 of those as a Paid Fire Fighter/Paramedic in a 911 system ( one of the best in Texas )(My medical director said my pt. care is "some of the best hes seen") , "Top" of my class in EMT program, "A" average in Paramedic Program, In Top "5" of my Fire Academy, extensive E/R experience (including level 2 trauma centers). Most of my academic endevours have come easy to me, its the CPNE's focus on trivial issues, that have tripped me up and frustrated me so.
I am just beginning Excelsior and from what I have read about the CPNE really has me wondering if they are this tough why are all these BONs questioning Excelsior? Texas being the latest. I find it ridiculous on some of the things that they can fail you for, but what can you do?!?
Yes...I got my lovely "Texas Letter" I plan on writing senators, congressman...Whomever I have to. Put too much time into this now to throw it away...and I want others to be given this same opportunity to complete this program. If it happens will be grandfathered in? Have to do extra clinical hours? I know we will definitely have a dead line...Which I need to work on any way. Good Luck to all in Texas! Traci
Yes...I got my lovely "Texas Letter" I plan on writing senators, congressman...Whomever I have to. Put too much time into this now to throw it away...and I want others to be given this same opportunity to complete this program. If it happens will be grandfathered in? Have to do extra clinical hours? I know we will definitely have a dead line...Which I need to work on any way. Good Luck to all in Texas! Traci
Specializes in Med/surg, Geriatrics, Home Health, LTC.
I didnt get a letter. Do you have 2 be enrolled 2 get one? I just started and hope that I didnt just waste $300+ for nothing! I plan to be done with all exams by Oct 2009.
If you already started kick it into high gear and get those tests done asap just in case they pass a bill saying that you have until such and such a date to get done. You have to remember that unless you can take a cancellation date you may have 7-9 months waiting time for the CPNE depending on what test site you choose. It can be done. I took a concept test every 3 weeks not that I had to but I wanted to keep the momentum going and get it over with.
Trust me, I enrolled but kept putting off starting the exams for way tooooo long saying I was too busy. I really was busy but if I knew then what I know now even being busy I could have done it. I knew the only way to get through it was as soon I walked in the door from taking a test I would get online and register for the next one. I get so bored studying and it is easy to get side tracked with other things esp. with little ones at home so I knew I had to come up with a system that kept my in high mode and forced me to study. With the CPNE in my sites now I am in that mind frame again and when I don't feel like in the mood to study anymore in a day then I check out the boards here and EPN so even if I am not studying I am still doing something r/t CPNE. Good luck and you can't think about the what if's and what about tomorrow but instead think that I still have today and what should I be doing today to get me closer to that goal.
What I want to know is do they check if you do it everytime or when you do it once you get checked off for that skill and cannot be failed after that.
The short answer is that you get checked off every time and if you miss one time, you fail. Ex: You ID your pt upon entering the room as part of your 20 min. check. The pt has a med due thirty mins later. You must ID your pt again before giving the med.
Use the EPN on the Excelsior website to read about other students' experiences with the CPNE. You will get tons of insight and the boards are monitored by nursing faculty, so you have reasonable assurance that the info given there is correct.
Raggedy Ann
756 Posts
Yes...I got my lovely "Texas Letter" I plan on writing senators, congressman...Whomever I have to. Put too much time into this now to throw it away...and I want others to be given this same opportunity to complete this program. If it happens will be grandfathered in? Have to do extra clinical hours? I know we will definitely have a dead line...Which I need to work on any way. Good Luck to all in Texas! Traci