JustNursn

I saw a FB post on one of CPNE sites. Probably best to call Excelsior to confirm.

For all excelsior exams I used the practice exams..worth every penny. Studied about a month for each LS exam and used SG101 and passed all 3 first time.

Based on what I've seen on the excelsior boards it's almost a 6-8mth waiting list for CPNE. Some members advised me (based on a different question) that it would be about a year left once eligible for CPNE and it's looking like a pretty accurate estimate. Like the previous poster said do not under estimate the CPNE. I'm in the process of studying for it and its huge.

As soon as I get a start date I will let them know

My status with them is currently per diem so that wouldn't change. I would need to be taken off my regularly scheduled clients.

Is two weeks notice sufficient? I will be getting a new job also per diem. I would like to stay with the agency to do fill-ins when I can so I hope they don't lie to the client families.

I don't like the communication book and unless it's really important don't write in it. The agency should have guidelines to its use but they don't. The longer you stay in PDN the more you learn what battles to fight ie: nurses doing things incorrectly, the communication book, etc.. Unfortunately not much is done by the agency so I keep my head down and do my job to the best of my ability.

I don't report to the agency. People I work with inadvertently report themselves by writing their mistakes in the communication book or telling the parents directly (who then tell the agency).

For me it's why they aren't done correctly. My agency has a pretty decent training program. And if you don't know that's ok just ask for help/training...pretending you know when you don't is endangering the patient. I agree the agency does nothing when they are made aware of these situations...even when it's the parents complaining.

YES YES YES YES!!!!! It's crazy!!! The best is when they document the mistake in the communication book and it with 'LOL'!

I PM'd you studentmom

I'll be applying to NY locations so I'd like to go 1-2 mths before so not sure exactly cause I don't have a date. Working on the documentation and hoping to apply next week. Where are you in the process?

Me too! I'm also considering Sherri's online workshop to use in the interim.

I know it's been discussed a million times but I really don't understand why nurses who are on a vent/trach/gt case can't do: Vent circuit change Know how to respond to alarms Change trach ties How to give a bolus feed Check availability of a med Read a MAR I've been doing this for 5 yrs now and have seen some crazy things. If you don't know, don't ask, pretend you know - you putting the client at risk as well as your license. While I know the response will be the agency just wants warm bodies...I get that and agree to a certain extent. We as nurses need to take responsibility!!! At the end of the day it's our license and the agency isn't going to protect you if something goes wrong. You need to advocate for yourself. Example: I've been doing peds for a long time...trach/vent/gt...agency asked if I would cover at a camp-no orientation. NO was my answer. While I know I have the ability I've never worked in that environment or with that population. I would ask for orientation but based on my schedule there's no time based on the needs. Do I need to the money? YES...but the possible outcomes don't out weigh the benefits. Just my opinion cause I'm tired of hearing/reading the excuses 'it wasn't done cause I don't know how to do it. I didn't ask for help. I'll just do what I do know and ignore what it says in the MAR. The agency put me here.' Take responsibility for yourself!

Do either of you plan on using a 3rd party workshop to help study?