Please share your CPNE info.....

Betty_SPN_KS, LPN · Feb 28, 2004

I haven't experienced it myself (I'm not even in the program yet) but I read on a study group post that the examiner at Plano enjoys failing EC students and takes pride in failing them. So I plan to avoid that one.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Feb 28, 2004

Went to Milwaukee here. Found the examiners to be very fair minded, encouraging, and got the sense that they really were rooting for you !

There was "one" I was not too crazy about, but the rest were VERY supportive.

LadyBugLass · Apr 10, 2004

See the network54 forum on the CPNE exam and read all the posts for about the last year....Plano is AWFUL. One of the posters on that site went to a workshop with my best friend (who failed TWICE in Texas.) His name is Corey; he lives in Dallas, flew to WI, and PASSED on his first try. His story is on that site. I flunked once in Plano, and will not go back. My buddy went to Atlanta, she passed and said it was a COMPLETELY different experience. Between Jennifer and I going to Plano on 3 DIFFERENT weekends, we have not seen ANYONE pass....hardly the 67% they advertise, huh? I am going to Atlanta in May, but have seen lots of good things about WI on the web. JUST PAY EXTRA AND AVOID PLANO LIKE DEATH ITSELF, unless you are into pain and have an extra $1300.00 to give away.

CindyJRN · Apr 10, 2004

Where did you do CPNE?
Would you go back and do it again there?
What is your background?
Did you pass?
If not, do you honestly feel it was a reflection of your preparation or was the staff "out to get" you?

Any offerings are welcome. Thanks in advance!

I graduated from Excelsior in 2000 (The last of the Regents Named class). I had a wonderful experience at Grady Memorial Hospital for my CPNE. The testing site at Dallas was closed in 2000 for revamping (rumored high fail rate.) Grady is a very large hospital in downtown Atlanta. Many people prefer the "suburban" hospitals at Atlanta. Grady is one of the original CPNE sites. I graduated LPN school in 1988 and had worked nursing homes and skilled nursing. Even though I graduated and passed the same NCLEX as other RNs, I initially thought people would judge me for not going the traditional route. I was wrong though, and have worked in a hospital since 2000. My coworkers actually admire my determination and ability to learn on my own. By the way, I am now in a Distance online RN to BSN program with plans to get my MSN!

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Apr 24, 2004

There are a few of us who still pop in here and there. :)

Where did you do CPNE? Madison

Would you go back and do it again there? In a heartbeat

What is your background?LPN for almost 6 years before taking CPNE. Worked in neuro. clinic for 1 1/2 years and psych. tx facility for the rest of the time.

Did you pass?YEAH BABY!

If not, do you honestly feel it was a reflection of your preparation or was the staff "out to get" you?I felt that the staff was completely by the book, but if they saw that we knew what we were doing, they'd give us a little "nudge" now and then to help us out. For instance, my last patient was very unwilling to cooperate and I had a heck of a time, not to mention I was assigned quite a load of Areas of Care to perform on that pt. in such a short period of time. I had 5 min. left and was in the middle of a complete bed bath and still had charting to do. I told the CE that my time was almost up and that I was not going to be able to finish the bath and chart within 5 min. She looked at her watch, said "ok, head off to chart, you have 5 minutes. I'll clean up here." I couldn't believe it! My pencil flew like lightning. 5 min. passed.... then 10..... no CE. I kept going until I checked and rechecked my charting, then I found her. She was reading a book and just looked up at me, smiled, and said "finished?" So to end this loooooong schpeil I started on (sorry 'bout that) I think that sometimes they know when you know what you're doing and they'll cut you a break if they see fit.

Plano has had a bad reputation since the day I started the program many moons ago, and Dallas did too before they discontinued that site. Columbus had a bad rep. a while ago, but I think it has improved. The places I've seen that get iffy review from students are Long Beach and Atlanta. Phoenix is supposed to be wonderful, as are the 3 WI sites. I have never ever heard a bad thing about any of them. I had 2 friends go to Racine and both loved it. I had a couple go to Madison and they both loved it too. On my weekend, there were 6 or 7 of us (gosh I don't remember now!!) and 2 of us passed. The people who didn't pass, failed for legit reasons.

Go to the yahoo boards and do a search for "CPNE experience" or whatever, and even go back to posts from last year. You can get a lot of info by doing that. That's how I researched the sites to see which one I'd go to.

Good luck!