Well, I thought this thread might stick around a bit longer if the title was more obvious. So, I am posting my cpne experience here instead of "Anticoag nurse passed the cpne"... I'll start with general tips from my experience: I also have a very long journal recollection type thing (4 typed pages of my pcs experiences and a long 2 page recall of my sim labs). I really think they are too lengthy to post here, so if you would like, pm me and I will email them and please feel free to keep and pass on to others in the future.
CPNE Tips
Arrive at the location the day before and practice driving or bussing or getting yourself to the hospital.
Bring music that 1) pumps you up, 2) relaxes you and makes you happy. I did not bring music and really wished I had. It would have added to my feeling of having some sort of choices and autonomy, and would have helped distract me.
If you are traveling 3 time zones away like I did, consider practicing a week in advance getting up at "0230". I traveled from west to east coast and the time zone thing really messed me up badly. I was already a frazzled mess, let alone lack of sleep!
Bring bath salts and a tea-light candle to relax by.
Bring a small item that reminds you of home.
Come with a loved one. I thought I would be fine on my own but I was a wreck. It really would have helped having my husband along to hold me, coach me, and be around to listen to and distract me.
Trust your mnemonics. Do not stray from your grid. Keep your grid in viewable distance the entire time. I failed one pcs because I had no-where to set my grid but the windowsill and didn't look at it during respiratory management. I missed a critical element (coughing) I knew in my head (had a nagging feeling), but would have caught it if my grid were in sight! Check critical elements off as you complete them.
Do the implementation phase in phases. Leave the room for 15-20 minutes at least once to catch up on planning, thinking and documenting as you go.
Document on your grid as you go along and transfer to your pcs recording form later. Group patient care activities, and remember assessments and managements don't all have to be linear. Do bits and pieces as opportunities present.
Feed the patient questions that relate to your nursing dx. Example: for impaired comfort, ask the patient if they are stiff, sore or feeling grimy, etc. For impaired physical mobility, ask if they feel off balance when they walk or stand, or weakness, etc. Get them to tell you what nursing dx is appropriate to them.
Doing vitals twice is not necessary when you use machines for bp or spo2 or temp. This is according to my ce's.
Don't spend a lot of time in the planning phase. Just pick some sort of reasonable nursing dx and interventions quickly. You will have limited knowledge of the patient and you will probably have to revise any nursing dx and interventions anyway. Do your thing in implementation and then allow what you've already done to direct you in choosing a priority dx and interventions during the evaluation phase.
When you have a question about anything, ask the ce. The worst they can do is say they cannot answer the question or, maybe give you a partial answer that guides you in the right direction.
Be attuned to your ce's body language. They may inadvertently cue you into things you are missing!
If during implementation, the ce interrupts and asks, "have you completed the critical elements for blah blah assessment/management?” immediately say, "no, I would like to review my papers.” then, think madly and try to figure out why they asked you that. If they ask this, it may mean you are about to fail and you may have a chance to correct your mistake if you can figure out what you missed. They will not ask you this question if you are doing everything correctly.
During evaluation and documentation, check your grid against your pcs recording form at least 3 times before turning in. Make yourself a system for marking off your grid as you go and then as you document. One student my weekend failed a pcs for not documenting pain of 0, even though the ce and the student both knew she assessed the patient's pain at least 5 times during implementation. If it is not documented, it wasn't done.
Mark a line on the cup the patient is using if there is liquid in it, at the beginning of the implementation phase. This will help you accurately measure intake later.
Bring the mar into the room with you to document when you give meds. Saves time.
Keep a whole bunch of gloves in your pocket. Glove whenever you have doubt (touching washcloth, foley bag tubing, tray, etc.) even if you wouldn't in real life. Be sure to remove gloves if contaminated before touching something else in room, such as the curtain or bathroom doorknob, or your pen.
In planning phase, don't spend too much time with the kardex or the chart. You will learn so much more directly from the patient and it will save you time. You can always look something up later if needed. You don't need to know everything about the patient.
Smile at your ce, they really want you to succeed if you have any business succeeding.
DreamNurse2b....I think my date was due to a cancelation. I applied back in September, so who knows.
me, too...they offered me jan, but had to decline (we're in the middle of moving, starting a new job, etc) my date is at the end of feb. am going to Syracuse, too.
i would get the skills kit if i were you. it comes with a little book where it gives instructions on what to do, what not to do during the lab, what you should do if this/that happened.
i got the same set of papers as you where it tells you about what they offer in order to prepare you better for the real thing, but you don't have to do any of that.
hi dudes! i think i will close this thread to new posts to keep it on topic from here on. that doesn't mean the offer for cpne files is closed. i will still be checking my personal messages when i get round to it... weekly... biweekly :) and will still be emailing out the chunk o' files. here's one more explaination as to how to request them from me... best luck and keep up the awesome progress!!!
originally posted by anticoagulationurse
attention anyone wanting the files
just a reply, to the recent requests being posted here. i really don't check on the postings to this thread very often and therefore will not be aware of your request if you post it here. the best way to request the files is to pm me and include your personal email address. it's againt the rules to post your email address here, and besides it might be months before i see it.
i am still sending the files out, but nowadays only do so once a week, occasionally more often, just so you know...
how to pm (private message) me:
click on my name top left corner of each posting. choose the second option, "send a private message to ..." the rest should be self explanatory.
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
:bowingpur
hi dudes! i think i will close this thread to new posts to keep it on topic from here on. that doesn't mean the offer for cpne files is closed. i will still be checking my personal messages when i get round to it... weekly... biweekly :) and will still be emailing out the chunk o' files. here's one more explaination as to how to request them from me... best luck and keep up the awesome progress!!!
originally posted by anticoagulationurse
attention anyone wanting the files
just a reply, to the recent requests being posted here. i really don't check on the postings to this thread very often and therefore will not be aware of your request if you post it here. the best way to request the files is to pm me and include your personal email address. it's againt the rules to post your email address here, and besides it might be months before i see it.
i am still sending the files out, but nowadays only do so once a week, occasionally more often, just so you know...
how to pm (private message) me:
click on my name top left corner of each posting. choose the second option, "send a private message to ..." the rest should be self explanatory.
Can you please send me the info that you have. I will greatly appreciate it.Thanks.
Due to the responses I've been getting for more information, I decided to also assemble a generic email I can send to anyone who wants all my files I collected in preparation for the CPNE. Some are my own, most are from other students. I really don't know authorship on any of them, just stuff that kind EC students sent me that I found very helpful, that I'm willing to pass along. Please don't think about sueing me for copyright infringement as I really don't know who the authors are!!! I'm just trying to help out here.
It includes 22 file attachments (.wps, .doc, .txt, .pdf formats), as well as some useful web links and Grid ideas. Just a whole bunch of stuff! So, if you want my files and the files of others, PM me your email address and I'll send along.
My testing date will be February 29 to March 2, 2008. I will be testing in Plano, TX.
I've purchased the lab-station practice kit (very handy) and though I have bought and borrowed everyone else's flash cards, I find that my own based off of the CPNE study guide are just the ones I like best.
I'd like to know, however, if the CEs prefer whether you introduce them to the patient or not. I've heard that when you enter the room, wash your hands and introduce yourself, to pretend that the CE does not even exist. Any words on that?
The CA or CE should have already been in the patient's room to talk with the patient and get their permission to serve as a CPNE patient, so it's probably not necessary to re-introduce them.
mattnsnj
2 Posts
DreamNurse2b....I think my date was due to a cancelation. I applied back in September, so who knows.