irish_rainbow

Also, look at your report on what you scored below competence on from your last exam. Mine was management so I studied heavily on how to manage diseases that were discussed in the NAPNAP review course.

Hi there, I am also a NICU nurse with no PICU experience. I know that PNCB has 3-4 different exams, so you might see some different content. However, PNCB does a review of PNP job roles and tasks every 3-4 years and they update their content and questions based on that. So I say all that to say... I highly encourage you to look at the current acute care test blueprint. It will list the 4 main areas (assessment, diagnosis, management, and professional practice), as well as a rank order of the body systems. I used this plus the NAPNAP acute care review course to guide my studying. It really is possible to pass if you schedule out time to focus on the content, use the test blueprint, and follow along with the NAPNAP review course. They are offering a virtual live review course in September, so if you do better with synchronous learning that might be a better option for you. Best of luck... you can do it! -E

So it's 8 years later and I'm finally responding back to this post. I took the CPNP-AC twice in 2014 and made 396 both times (400 needed to pass). I was totally down on myself, decided that I wasn't smart enough to be an APRN, and moved on with my life. I got my DNP, my CNE, and my PED-BC certifications in the meantime. Jump forward to after a 2 year whirlwind pandemic, loss of very much loved family members, and a want to not leave things un-finished... and here we are 8 years later. I actually took the CPNP-AC last Wednesday and passed!! I'm waiting on the "final" results email. After 8 years of not practicing or studying as an APRN/student, I was really terrified of this experience. However, I wanted to share what I did in case anyone reading this is feeling nervous or discouraged. I bought the self-paced NAPNAP acute care review course. I worked through the lectures over 7 weeks, placing specific study times on my calendar to block out the time. I followed my study plan fairly well, but also gave myself grace when unexpected things got in the way. I also bought the two 75-question exams and the one 50 question drill quiz from PNCB on acute care. These were super helpful for pre and post... I took them before I started studying to gauge where I was, a few times in between to help me with important content, and then after I was done studying before I took the actual exam. I also printed and used the CPNP-AC exam blueprint (that is an absolute must!). Lastly, I bought Nelson's Pediatrics and used that to dive deeper into content that I didn't understand or needed fairly in-depth refreshment on. I honestly thought I'd never be an APRN... so I guess the moral of my story is to never give up on your dreams. ?

Hi satisfiedwithURcare, I passed my CNE on the first attempt. I ended up scheduling it for June 8th which was the week before my first DNP class started. I did the online Billings review, NLN's Certified Nurse Educator Review: The Official National League for Nursing Guide, Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) Review Manual: Second Edition, and Theory And Research For Academic Nurse Educators: Application To Practice. I studied, did review questions, or watched the online review in some capacity almost every day for that whole month leading up to the exam. I ended up passing in the above average range, so my studying paid off greatly. I would recommend studying and taking the test during a break you might have between programs. I was really glad that I studied when I had the time because the day before my CNE exam, the university that I really wanted to obtain employment with called and offered me a full time faculty position with tenure and promotion. It might have affected me a little bit, but because I had studied so much I was able to focus on the test the next day. Honestly, I recommend finding a break somewhere to study/take the exam because if you try to give your time to too many things at once it will make everything more difficult. I hope this helps!

I got my eligibility to schedule my CNE today and have until August 10th to take it. My issue is the timeline for trying to study. I start my DNP program on June 13th and that class lasts until August 7th. Then I get a week long break before the next class starts on August 15th. I have three options for scheduling the exam and am not sure which one is best: 1) Schedule exam prior to DNP starting, but have 4 weeks to study 2) Schedule exam after DNP class is over, have 12 weeks to study, but study while in school and change my work schedule up to accommodate the testing date to sit for exam before August 10th 3) Schedule exam during DNP program at any time prior to August 10th and study while in school I have lots of study resources and have begun reading/taking practice tests. I'm doing an online review course given by Diane Billings. I plan to put all my time into studying for this test for the next 4 weeks while I don't have anything school related going on. I've taken 3 certification/licensure tests and I only passed 1 of them on the first try. I don't think I am a good standardized test-taker even though I have a 4.0 GPA. I also have test anxiety. My background includes a Masters in Nursing with Acute Care Pediatric focus, 6 years working in the NICU, adjunct clinical faculty for a BSN program since last October, and just finishing up my post-Masters in Nursing Educator. My DNP program that I'm starting in June is Educational Leadership. What do you guys think?

I don't actually have a NP job yet, but my specialty is pediatric acute care. This means that I can only work in a pediatric hospital. There is only one in my state, so I will contribute to this because I already know the starting salary. There are no negotiations unless you have lots of experience. I just graduated in May. List your starting RN hourly wage: $18.69/hour ($22.43 with night diff) (in 2010) How many years did you work as an RN before going for NP: 2 years (4 years when I finished NP program) What your starting hourly wage as a NP was: $70,000 salary ($37.39/hour working 36 hours per week or $33.56/hour working 40 hours per week) The facility has NPs in the hospital that work both types of schedules. Whether it's a hospital: Yes What state you live in: Delta/Mid South (I am kinda weird about giving out my location).

I would have not gone to school for my Masters if it had been $100k! NO! There are people that do it, I even work with a few. It boils down to what you really want... but for me I am terrified of debt. Also, I think it's a good idea to look for public universities that have hospitals you can work at with a tuition discount. I did this and my Masters education cost me about $7k including books and fees.

Is anyone else here getting ready to take it or recently took it this year? I'm taking it next month and I'm kind of nervous! I feel that my program was really good, but I have heard from most people that it's the hardest test you will ever take. I'm using the NAPNAP Conference notes, Lange Q&A Pediatrics, and Pediatric Critical Care Review. I also purchased the $75 Acute Care Prep Exam from PNCB. I'm curious if anyone is (or just recently) in my shoes and what you felt was most helpful in preparing.

I do agree with you on that. I do realize that we want to be recognized and respected as professionals. However, I do worry that we are putting respect of nursing as a whole over the individual respect that we give each other in this process to figure out the ladder.

I agree PMFB-RN. Unfortunately, we live in a culture these days that academic status seems to make people feel more qualified. I think lots of people, especially the younger people just now getting into the workforce, seem to be under this impression that higher education means higher pay. For a lot of careers, I'm sure that is the case. But you are totally correct... having your DNP does not qualify you anymore as a practitioner than having a MSN - Who is precepting those DNP students right now? MSN APRNS. I've seen this with the RN-BSN push, as well. Lots of hospitals are trying to reach Magnet status and want that 80% BSN RN rate. Most of the people I speak with in RN-BSN programs do not feel they have learned very much to make them a better nurse. On a semi-unrelated note, I hate how politics want to pit nurses against each other. "BSN-RN's are better critical thinkers!" "Having your DNP will make you more family centered and patient focused!" No, no, no. I realize the schools and hospitals have to "sell" it to the nurses to get them to go back to school, but it's really offensive and such a put-down to nursing in general.

Yes, fmAtoZ&backagain is correct. At least in my area, as well (Arkansas), there is no pay increase for your MSN to DNP as a practitioner (teaching may be a whole different story). I have not heard of any other places paying more for a DNP. At least right now, the DNP seems to be for your own personal choice and growth. Also, will someday be the standard entry into practice, but no telling when that will actually take effect. I would not expect to make more money going from MSN to DNP.

Sorry I am a year late replying to your post. Grad school sort of stole my life for the last year! I ended up staying on nights and not taking the day weekend option position. Actually, at my hospital, they do not offer weekend option anymore. It would have been 12 hour shifts, btw. The economy in my area got really horrendous in 2010 and forced the hospitals to decrease the number of nurses on weekend option (both AM and PM shifts). Now, they only replace the weekend option slots when they absolutely have to... so just because a nurse leaves weekend option does not necessarily mean they will fill the position right away. There are no new weekend option positions being created currently. Basically, they let the weekenders suffer with low staffing until it gets so bad that someone threatens to report it as a patient safety issue. Then they will hire a couple of currently employed RNs into those weekend option positions. I think they would like to get rid of weekend option altogether and make everyone work every other weekend... but the RNs in my unit would literally revolt. I don't expect to see weekend option come back at my hospital in a really long time, if ever. :-(

I definitely think it depends on the area, the specialty, and where you plan to work. I just graduated from a pediatric acute care program and there is only one children's hospital to work here. I work weekend nights at the adult sister hospital to the children's one. I have not found a job yet as the market is saturated here and I am limited to one place to work... however starting out pay for a brand new NP at the children's hospital here will be about $15k more per year gross pay. After taxes, insurance, retirement etc etc I'm sure it won't be a whole lot more. Also, I'm single with no dependents so I'm sure that won't help my cause any tax-wise. While I do enjoy the prospect of making more money and not having to work every night or weekend, I mainly did it for the autonomy and career growth. There is not a lot of room for growth where I work as a bedside nurse. Many of the nurses have doing charge nurse, acuity nurse, and management for a while and keep those jobs until retirement. Which is great for our unit because we have people in charge that know their stuff, but not so good for RN's trying to make their way up the ladder. I think you will find most people go back to nurse practitioner school for personal reasons (growth, schedule, family life, etc)... if you do it just for the money you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Oh and also some people account for the fact that most NPs are paid salary while bedside RNs are usually paid hourly. If you end up working all the time on salary with no OT, then a veteran RN working 3 days per week probably would make more money than a brand new NP working 60-70 hours per week with no OT benefits.

Aw, thanks!! My next big, scary adventure is passing the PNCB Acute Care nurse practitioner certification exam. I take it next month and I'm twice as nervous about this because everyone says that it is extremely hard! Also, there is no book (they are working on one, but won't be out until this coming January). Gosh, I hope I am not still retaking it by then!! But if I can do this, anyone can do it!

I am replying to this a year and a half late... but just realized that I had not done so. I did pass my RNC-NIC on the first try last August!!! I also used the Watson book and Cardiac S.T.A.B.L.E. Those were wonderful resources. I also just graduated this past May with my Masters as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I don't have a job yet, but there is only one hospital to work at in Arkansas with Acute Care certification... so I am just trying to be patient. Thanks hikernurse... that Watson book was the absolute best for a refresher. EverGraceRN... did you apply to some programs and go for your PNP?