1 more week

Ok, one more week and then my CPNE!! Yeah!!! Few butterflies(which will multiply next week) but for the most part I am excited.

Any last tips would be great!! Anything you think I should go over this last week of studying?

THANKS in advance!:icon_hug:

Best of luck during this exciting and stressful moment in your life.

[NC Girl BSN]

Just know your mneumonics inside out. Know the steps to the labs like the back of your hand. Do ONLY whats on the kardex. Take a deep breath and think about your every move. Oh yeah, Please ID every patient when you get in the room. Remember that YOU can PASS!!! You have studied and prepared. Best wishes to you!.

:loveya:good luck! i cant wait for my day to come. while i wait for my day to come i will pray for all of you and your success! keep us posted!!

[2CareerRN]

Good Luck!!!! Stay focused in the moment and use your grid...this is the advice I have read from students who have passed the CPNE...wash those hands, wear gloves when in doubt and ID the patient before you do any AOCs in implementation phase and right before any medications are given...This is your test!!! You can do this!!!!

Rock this thing...

[Pixie.RN, MSN, RN, EMT-P]

Ok, one more week and then my CPNE!! Yeah!!! Few butterflies(which will multiply next week) but for the most part I am excited.

I felt the same way before mine! I was just so darn excited to be going, and to get it done. I was waiting to be nervous, but you know what? It never really happened. I actually had a pretty good time at my CPNE, all things considered. Of course, that two hours of pacing the halls and rubbing my heels raw on my cute little white Keds between my failed PCS and my final passed PCS wasn't a party, but I survived it because I told myself I could do it, I *WOULD* do it, no other option! :)

I am so excited for you to go get that GN! I can't wait to hear about your success. This week, you study whatever you want! LOL. Some people will tell you NOT to study at this point, but .... that's not how I roll, personally. I study up to the last second, seriously. Always have. That is where my comfort level is, and that's okay.

I passed on my 2nd attempt on May 10th. I was even more nervous this time because of the $$$ involved and I did fail my 1st PCS because I mumbled when looking at id band of pt. My bad. I passed it this time because I simplified everything, or distilled would be a better term. I brought a few textbooks with me but this is the system I used:

On large index cards I wrote the mneumonics on one side with the first letter highlighted in pink. on the back of the card I jotted down a few things that I needed to remember ex; ADDUCT/ABDUCT OR BILATERAL, stuff like that.

For every AOC, I used an index card, one side was 2 complete careplans with DX, r/t AEB, Goal, Interventions, and why they were successful. On the back, I wrote the nurses note or documentation. Wrote this stuff out a lot of times until it was in my muscle memory and kept reading them right up until I got out of my car at the hospital.

The labs are just as advertised except for the wound. In the real world wound care is a little different, but you will not be in the real world, just do it their way. Good luck and post any last minute questions.

[Raggedy Ann]

Good Luck to you B. I will send calming thoughts, positive vibes, and powerful prayers your way. You have worked so hard! Go show them you know your role and bring back the oscar. It is yours to claim. Best Wishes, Traci

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Good luck! Double check your MARs. That's my best advice. That and don't eat a bunch of Fiber One bars. These are tips from my personal experience.

[bjbabs24]

Thank you to everyone who responded. I will take all of your advice wholeheartedly!! It is all that is on my brain right now and I am so much like Lisa, I just want to get there and do this! This whole process can only be understood from people who have been through this. What a roller coaster ride of emotions! I was burnt out about a month ago, didn't even want to touch my labs but then I got sick for about a week, sickest I have been in years so it was a forced break then. I think mentally and physically I needed it. After I felt better started back studying and practicing like I did in the beginning. Now I am in a good place with many thanks to you guys.

I was thinking of sewing a pocket on the side of my pants? Do you think that is necessary or just put paperwork down where the CE approves. I know I will be too hot to wear a jacket so I plan on only wearing scrubs.

Also, how much did you guys gel when it came time to write down on your 20min. check/vitals? Were you ocd about it?

Thanks as always!!

p.s. note taken-avoid the fiber one bars:imbar

I put down paper towel and laid my paperwork on that. I didn't use a grid it only confused me, you must be very careful about getting everything done on the documentation part they will look closley to make sure you covered all critical elements, in sims lab you must know your steps, control your nerves I had to do this thing twice I couldn't have done it again best of luck Leo2

BJBABS,

You are doing CPNE this weekend, yes? If you have access to a computer at the hotel, let us know how you are doing. We are wishing you all the best, you can DO IT!!!

[bjbabs24]

Hey Maura it is next weekend on the 5th. I am leaving on thursday, I need to take two flights to get there from WA so pretty much an all day travel thing. Thank you so much for the best wishes. I won't have a computer on me but if I get access I will let you know otherwise I will get back late on Monday so I will post the good news that tues.

You guys are awesome and I have learned so much from all of you. I remember when I first started studying it seemed like so much to tackle and get through esp. the 500+ pages of the study guide but having you all to bounce questions off of has helped tremendously and hearing about the experiences gives tackles part of the what ifs.

THANKS!!!!!!!

[Raggedy Ann]

We will be rooting for ya!!!! Traci

How long have you prepared?

[bjbabs24]

Thanks Traci,

I started in December when I applied. At the beginning I mostly spent my time reading the study guide, reading old journals and old questions on EPN, reading anything I could get my hands onto on allnurses esp. the paper by Ivan and Lisa(what a nice summary) and watching Redden on http://cpnex.blogspot.com/2008/06/iv-push-lab.html for labs and watch Rob's dvd for the pcs portion. I swear all I did was read for two months and then I put a lab together on my living room table. Once I was comfortable with that then my next step was care plans sent to Dr. A for review and finally putting it all together with practice pcs on my daughter.

I didn't take a cancellation date because I didn't want to rush the process and soak in any info. I could get my hands on. I felt like after each step I got one of those ah ha moments and the main thing was to forget my work nurse way of doing things and take on the EC way of doing things. I had to change my care plan thinking, documentation according to critical elements etc...

I feel like I have become OCD over this but I think that is just part of it and once you get a date you see a light at the end of the tunnel:)

[NC Girl BSN]

Hope things went well for you this weekend. Not hearing from you sounds like a good sign!!!!!!!

[Raggedy Ann]

Hope things went well for you this weekend. Not hearing from you sounds like a good sign!!!!!!!

She is taking her CPNE on June 5,6, and 7. Traci

[NC Girl BSN]

Has anyone heard any news????