Excelsior Graduates: Advice Needed

[Maddie]

I am fast approaching the dreaded CPNE exam. What was it like for you? Where did you take it? What was the toughest part? (I have been an LPN for 11 years in a hospital setting.) Thanks for any advice.

[hsieh]

i passed my 2nd time at racine (1st also at racine). hardest part is staying focused due to nerves. it's not a hard test - don't make it hard. go in with the attitude of i'm going to work hard. pretend you're at work and you want to show off for your boss. stay focused on "working hard" and i mean "hard". if you fail try again. when i failed the first time i thought there is no way i can pass this. then after feeling sorry for myself i tried again. i reccomend dr. phil mcgraw's cd book "life strategies". i think it will mentally prepare you to pass. good luck. and you WILL pass - even if eventually.

[Ricu]

Hi there,

I went to USNY-Regent's College which later became Excelsior University. The advice to find a book or CD that teaches self confidence or stress reduction strategies is really good. As others have said, the CPNE should really be thought of as being at work. The exam tests basic skills, nothing complex, but we all stess out and make things harder than they really are. That and not the nursing care is the reason that so many fail the CPNE. It was my experience that the instructors were very supportive and did everything in their power to help. The time allowed to complete each patient care situation as well as the lab is more than adequate, so don't feel rushed. Keep track of when any meds are due but relax about the rest but do work at an efficient pace. When I was sure I completed all required tasks according to the care plan and checked that everything was completely documented, I declared myself finished. I was early each time but that was fine because everything was done and I passed. It's kind of nice to know right away so nothing hangs over your head and you can see the end of the tunnel. I really enjoyed the extra time to go outside and get some fresh air. I remember it was a beautiful fall in upstate New York.

I'm in your corner. Good luck

R

PS: All the same recommendations apply to the NCLEX too, when you're ready to take that.

[hsieh]

you need to practice the labs over and over and over...... because the time flies when you're there. my second time there i didn't have to repeat any patient care situations. my instructors where very supportive and wanted me to pass. my clinical associate was near 70 years (juding by the age of her kids) and she ran marathons and jogged on the beach daily with her grand kids. what an inspiration. don't talk or gossip with your fellow students. a good question to ask before you get there is "what if my patient is covered in BM? do i get the CNA's to help clean them up?" even if you're not assigned cleaning not cleaning a soiled patient is considered physical jeopardy. or "what if i have a child patient who won't deep breath for me when i ask?" which happened to me. it's easy i'm not trying to make it hard but by asking the what if questions for each critical element (no matter how stupid they sound) you become more "agile" with the critical elements. remember if you don't know something you can ask the nurse. and remember you have to do things the excelsior way not the way you do it at work or your old school.

[cougarnurse]

Good luck, and let us know how it goes, ok?


'Cat'

[Ricu]

I remember having to do a bath and total linen change on a bedridden patient who had drains in. There weren't CNAs available so I asked the instructor to help. It is allowed and they are happy to help but you have to give specific instructions about the help you need and how the instructor "asistant" is to carry it out. I had a pediatric patient who was teenaged and very compliant so there was no issue in my case but a child can only be expected to do age appropriate behavior. Your patient will be selected carefully and your care plan will be designed with the patient's ability to participate in mind.

For those surprise situations, try to slow down a little, keep breathing and use common sense. Remember that volatile or unstable patients aren't going to be test subjects. Your patient's history, current illness, physical and mental status, and so on will be on the data sheet that you will be given before you see him so there will be no guesswork there. If the patient has been incontinent all over the place, there likely has been a change in condition so assess carefully. Be supportive and take the necessary steps to clean him up. If by your assessment, you determine you need help to get that done, get help. If you found that the patient is able to participate, let him but make absolutely sure he remains safe. From the beginning, you will be made aware of what assistance is available so if you need it, don't hesitate to use it even if it's the instructor. Finally, document every detail clearly.

As has been said before in this thread, knowing the critical elements in that CPNE book inside out is your ticket to success. Practicing what you are allowed to do at work as much as possible helps too. I was not able to do many nursing tasks in my prior position but I did recruit a good friend who was also a clinical nurse specialist to help me prepare. I cannot tell you how valuable that tutoring was for me so I highly recommend that you hook up with someone who can do that for you. Choose an excellent role model who does it by the book.

R

[Maddie]

WoW! Thank you all so much! Your advice & support has been invaluable! I will let you know how it goes.

[cougarnurse]

Thanks, Maddie!

[jen4t25]

Hi. Maddie. I signed up for the (college network) Excelsior 3 years ago & the books are collecting dust. Anyway, I was told not to go to a major city hospital like Albany which is I think the only hosp in NY. You need to find one on Ohio or Kentucky some place like that. Plan the weekend to go to some low populated hospital in a nice country/farm town. They told me that they are MUCH nicer & slower paced. I don't know from experience but I can see what they mean. I live in the Bronx & I would not like to do it in any hospital around here, thats for sure. Just something to think about.

[Ricu]

Albany is a fairly good sized city and there are a few hospitals to test in, each around 300-400 beds. I went to St. peters. There is another smaller facility in Schenectedy which is about fifteen minutes north of Albany but there are many testing sites throughout the states. A comment about the Excelsior program. It can be intimidating therefore, not for everyone. The student has to be very self motivated.

R