Passed CPNE in Atlanta

[ag01medic]

First of all, Thank God for his help in getting through this test and

thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Theme songs for this weekend:

Never Again by Kelly Clarkson (cause I was never going to take this

test again)

Gravity by John Mayer (cause I messed up the IV med station)

Anyhow to the details that everyone will ask about. I tested down in

Atlanta at SRMC. It was a good site and I had no real issues there.

The CA and CEs aren't out to trip you up and were very nice. Their job

is to make sure you know your stuff, nothing more nothing less. As

retarded as you might think this test is, Excelsior has to hold

everyone to a high standard inorder to maintain a good reputation as a

non-traditional nursing school.

I arrived a day early, which I would recommend so you can get oriented

to the area and find the hospital before you actually have to be

there. It was beneficial to me. I didn't stay in any of the

recommended hotels only because I am a loyal Marriott customer :) but

it wasn't too far from the site and I had a care.

Skills Stations: This was probably the most stressful part for me.

They were just like in the video, no surprises. I failed my first

station, IM injection for a stupid mistake. I had the dummie turned

around backwards and wasn't paying attention and gave the dummie a

spinal tap as opposed to an IM injection. Other than that I would have

passed. I also failed the IV med admin cause my drop rate was off by 7

and you're only allowed +/- 5 again just a stupid mistake. Don't let

others in the room distract you cause everyone is in their testing at

different stations at the same time. Just stay focused on your station

After that I got my first patient and was off to the hotel. This is

where the anxiety started for ME personally. I tend to replay things

in my head over and over again, which is what I did. I got about 4

hours of sleep that night, but woke up the next morning with

confidence that this was MY test, MY weekend, and I was going to pass

this thing.

I did PCS' 1 and 2 before I retested my skills and passed them both

with no problems. I am not going to speak about my patients or what I

did because each person's experience is different. I will say this,

don't waste time in the planning phase trying to get the "perfect"

diagnosis. Get something that will pass the phase and then get to your

patient. I changed a diagnosis on everyone of my patients based on

what I observed when I went into the room. Remember you can change

your ND at anytime. For example, if you walk in the room and the

patient says that I am in pain 10/10 well that just gives you your

Acute Pain diagnosis right there on a platter. Keep your care plans

SIMPLE, bottom line.

Anyhow, after PCS 1/2 I had to redo those skills. All or nothing.

Passed IV med with no problems. Injection station I had SQ insulin. I

messed up drawing up NPH first instead of regular, through the syringe

away and started over. Got it right and passed. At that point I knew I

was going to be OK.

PCS 3 was a breeze and I was done by 10am. All of my AOC were simple

assessments and managements. Most of the patients were on their way

out of the hospital.

Here are my suggestions.

1.Knock out the skills the first night, so you can concentrate on your

PCS' This was a stressor for me cause I had these lingering over my

head during PCS 1/2.

2.Read the CPNE guide. Nothing during this test should be a surprise

cause its all in the book. I know its a lot of info to digest, but its

all there which brings me to my next point.

3.TAKE A WORKSHOP. There are plenty out there. I took Lynn's workshop

Clinical Prep Exam because it was convenient to where i live. Before

I took the workshop, things just weren't clicking. Lynn was able to

put it all together for me and provided some great pneumonics for each

of the areas of care. I had NO repeats for my PCS' This is the ONLY

way I could have breezed through them so

4.Figure out a way to organize your plans. I felt like I was taking an

open book test because all I did was write out all of my pneumonics

for my AOCs and then just went through them checking them off as I

went. The most comfortable part of the test for me were the PCS' I

just focused on my AOCs and the patient and got it done.

5.Get in and get out. Take all of the stuff you need like vitals

machines, etc into the room when you go in. I went in and out of the

room like twice on all of my patients. Did all of my stuff, left to

get meds, back in, then done.

6.Review your paperwork at least 3 times before turning it in. I

almost handed in my paperwork without doing the entire eval page on PCS 2.

7.Relax. I joked with my patients, made them smile and feel good,

which in turned calmed me down as well. We all (me, CE, pt) got to

laughing at one point, which took the stress down.

This test isn't hard. I know you're like yeah right! I had no trouble

with my PCS' cause I knew what I had to do. If you know your stuff and

are comfortable with your skills you can do this. Remember its your

test and your weekend, make it happen.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Big thanks to Lynn and

Bev for all of their support and help. Best of luck to those of you

who will be taking this test in the future.

Take care,

Jack

[rjt2003]

congrats! nice post...can we make it a sticky?

[PedsRN-07]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us ... I am an LPN graduate and am VERY interested in signing on with Excelsior College, and starting my first nursing class in August.. I was wondering how long did it take you to get a CPNE date after you completed your last nuring exam?? I have heard there is a waiting list of 4-9 months??! let me know if I am correct. Also how much did you pay TOTAL for the whole program including books??? Thank you very much, I hope to be in your shoes in about 1 year .....

[PedsRN-07]

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING!!!! :balloons:

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

:cheers: :cheers:

Great job!! And thanks for the info about your testing. I'm still a ways off but hopefully within a year I'll be in your shoes.

vamedic4

[ag01medic]

It took 7 months from the time I sent the app to the time I got the date. You can take a cancellation date and get in sooner, I just needed a solid date for scheduling leave well in advance.

I would have to add up all of the stuff that I paid for. The program is around 3-4k depending on how you do it. Don't use any of those programs like the College Network or Chancellor's they are WAY expensive. Buy them used if you want them.

[Jenn91c]

so, i know this is the same question i probably asked someone before, but - where do you get the video? i have heard about this video. do they send it in the package once you are accepted to take the CPNE?? and do you pay extra for the study materials on top of what you pay for the CPNE? or is it in the cost of that total? thank!!

[ag01medic]

You can buy it through the school or off eBay like I did at a reduced cost. Its not included in your CPNE fee, which adds to the cost. BUT, it gives you a pretty good idea of how the test is run. I think I actually quoted the video during one of my labs...lol

91C - from that I am guessing you're among the Hooah speaking peoples? I volunteered in the ER with the 10th CSH during my year in Baghdad. What an amazing experience.

I wish you all the best.

[NYSNOWBUNNY007]

yes what video is this id like to know myself!..lol...XoXo

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Good job, ag01medic! Thanks for the detailed post!

[Mudwoman]

Way to GO, Jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!:monkeydance: :monkeydance: :monkeydance:

[Jenn91c]

You can buy it through the school or off eBay like I did at a reduced cost. Its not included in your CPNE fee, which adds to the cost. BUT, it gives you a pretty good idea of how the test is run. I think I actually quoted the video during one of my labs...lol

91C - from that I am guessing you're among the Hooah speaking peoples? I volunteered in the ER with the 10th CSH during my year in Baghdad. What an amazing experience.

I wish you all the best.

yes thats me, i was a hooah nurse, and the 10th CSH was awesome!! my wardmaster currently SFC Figueroa was the WM in baghdad when they filmed the baghdad ER!! i went to mosul, and yeah, it was an unforgettable experience!

anyway, the video - what is it called on ebay? anything special or just the CPNE video will do ? i will check, i heard its a great help.