conway13

Hi! I was reaching out to see if anyone has any recommendations on how to study for the CPAN exam?!? There is not a ton of info out there and I would love to connect with some people who have taken the exam! Later down the road I will probably try the CAPA exam as well. My background is in the CVICU (3 years- I have my CCRN if anyone has taken that exam and the CPAN!) and now I am in PreOp/ Phase I and Phase II (1 year- but I have the hours to test!). Thanks for your help ?

Good luck!! Let us know how you do! I’m looking into taking mine too and would love to know what you found helpful for study materials! ?

Hey! I went into CVICU (adults) as a new grad. I completely felt like this. I think it is normal! All my coworkers said it is reassuring to hear that new people on the floor feel like this. People who come in and automatically think they know what they are doing are scary to the seasoned nurses! However, it sounds like this preceptor maybe Isn’t the best match? But perhaps talking with her directly (telling her how you feel in a professional manner) or speaking with your management team in discussing trying a new pairing could be of benefit. It is your time to learn! ICU is scary, but so rewarding! You can do it! Hang in there. It takes time to get more comfortable. Just know that you’re coworkers are always there when things go wrong. You are NEVER alone in the ICU! Don’t be afraid to ask for help, ask tons of questions, be open to criticism! It’s so hard at first, but you won’t regret it! Lastly, remember there is a patient lying in that bed, try not to be overwhelmed by all the machines and drips. Zone in on your patient, see what they need! As time goes you will feel better. I wanted to cry going into work!! Sometimes wanted to throw up!! Just know you can do it. You are there for a reason ?

I went straight into the ICU as a new grad. Honestly, it's challenging! But ANY nursing job straight out of nursing school is going to be challenging. I'd say if your hard working, open to learning and can cope with stress well, you'd be fine! It's a lot of self growth and wanting to learn for the betterment of your patients. I think a well structured residency program and a unit with good dynamics is helpful (ask them about this stuff in your interviews!!)! If you start in the ICU and feel like it's not a good fit, then you can always move to a different unit. That is what is so wonderful about nursing, you have so many options! Our hospital helped people get jobs in other units, for if it just wasn't a good match and that isn't anything to be ashamed of. I personally feel like life is too short, so go out there and do what you want! I also completely understand the value of having experience before the ICU because when I get floated to med-surg floors in the hospital, its an entirely different ball game! But, that being said, people have lots of opinions on what you should do before going into ICU, or if it's okay to go straight into ICU. I just tell myself there are like hundreds of routes to Fred Meyer but if you're meant to get there, it doesn't really matter what route you take! You'll still end up at Freddy's! I guess thats my input!

I bought Nicole Kupchik's online review course. It was great, you an go at your own pace and she puts practice questions in the lectures to break them up. I found it super helpful! After the review course, I had already bought her book (It's called Ace the CCRN, You can do it!, Practice Review questions with rationales). I took all three of those and read the rationale for everything I got right and wrong. I took three practice tests on the Pass CCRN online question bank. My work has this for everyone to use. I took the AACN self assessment exam. You can buy this for $50. It's 60 questions and when you are finished it will send you your scores and a breakdown of them in each section, so like what you get after you pass the CCRN. The format is exactly like the CCRN so it was nice to know how to navigate the system! Lastly, I had the pocketbook prep CCRN app on my phone. Did it here and there when I was bored. I studied for six days, took one day off and then took the exam! I thought the initial content review was helpful for both the test and just my nursing practice in general, but practice questions helped me the most. Espeically cause when you are reading the rationale you learn lots ?

Hey! I just wanted to start a thread because there is so little info out there on how to study for the CCRN exam! I took it today and passed but tried to find information about how people studied, what they studied and how long they studied for! Everything I found was super outdated or didn’t have any info on it! So hopefully this can be helpful for others ?

Thanks for your advice, I am not interested in going for a "missional vacation".

Hey everyone!! I was posting to hopefully seek some information about mission trips! I want to go on a trip with a few of my nursing friends abroad to volunteer. Does anyone know of any organizations? Or has anyone gone on one? I would love to hear what organization you went through and about your experience! I've looked into one called Faith in Practice that goes to Guatemala that looks interesting! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it :)

Hey! I have been working now for seven months, going on five months of being by myself. I think your feelings are totally normal. I too work on a cardiac unit, its a mixed ICU and step-down. I mostly have step-down patients, or "very light" ICU until I gain more experience to take care of sicker patients. I feel like one day I feel okay and the next I feel like I know nothing. Just today I was thinking about how I feel like I need to work on critical thinking quickly when a patient is going south. Personally, I think you're having these emotions because you deeply care about what you're doing. I think its a good thing to question your practice and know what you need to work on because it will make you a stronger nurse. I would say just keep asking questions and absorbing everything you can. I too got really interested in the OR and told myself to give it a year before I changed. I feel like now I know I am where I am supposed to be. Cardiac may not be your thing and that's okay too, I think time will help you figure that out. If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you!

Thanks, I'll check it out! I was hoping to find an MSN path forum, if you find any let me know! :)

Hi Everyone! I recently got accepted to Capella University's online Flexpath program for Nursing Leadership and Administration. I was hoping other people out there have gone through the program and/or are currently going through it and would be willing to share some information with me?! I was hoping to find out if you all like the program, how many classes you typically complete in the 12 week period? Do you find it doable or very rigorous? Thanks for any input! :)

I figured it wouldn't be for awhile! Thank you!!! Seems like a good guess!

Hi Guys!! I applied to the CTICU and the Step down Med-Surg floors! I just finished my senior capstone in a MSICU where I floated to the CVICU, ED and with the RRT! Good luck to everyone :) Anybody have any idea how long until we will hear about interviews?