ALL CPNE POSTS CAN BE FOUND HERE

Dear fellow Excelsior nursing friends from afar,

I have put together these posts and information to help anyone going through this journey in hopes that something anything here may help someone out there. I was lucky to have the support and encouragement from previous students who paid it forward and I hope to offer the same to you. I’ve added a section to my blog for CPNE-ers in an effort to try to share this info that I would’ve died to have myself while I felt so completely lonely and lost during this program.

My CPNE test date was 3-1-2013 at Meriter Hospital in Madison Wisconsin. I tested under the 19th edition of the study guide.

Where to start?? 

If you’re new here, start with the Preparation post. If you want to know about what the weekend is actually like start with the various hospital days. If you’re near your test date read up on all the documentation/careplan posts to help fine tune. It’s a lot of info, so bookmark it and come visit again.

NO, I DO NOT GET PAID or compensated in any form for these posts. You can be sure that I have no hidden agenda just here to help.

A brief history of how I got here.

I graduated as an LPN in 2007 and tried to move right into the RN bridge program with my local college but long story short the school was a mess, lost accreditation, etc. I went on to work in pediatrics while concurrently running a company with my husband and started my own biz around the same time on a whim. I worked in various nursing capacities, had both of my Dudes, and intended to finish my degree at some point. Life got busy and I ultimately realized that my pre-req credits would be expiring soon (meaning re-taking 2 years worth of A&P, micro, etc) and made the choice quickly to finish up my degree. I shied away from a traditional nursing program since it would mean full time hours and daycare expenses and chose Excelsior College instead.

Upon admission I made it my goal to finish the program as fast as humanely possible. I signed up for all 8 theory exams right away, bought some study notes, skipped the textbooks and passed all exams in just over 6 weeks. Then I enrolled in both sections of the FCCA simultaneously only to get stuck with the full 8 week computer version. The moment I passed them I submitted my CPNE application the next day. I received my testing date about a month later (beginning of December) for March 1.

To prepare, I fumbled around with the study guide and supplies at home. Still lost, I ultimately signed up for Sheri Taylor’s workshop 2 weeks prior to my test date and attempted to keep studying in the meantime. I finished reading the 500 page study guide about a week before the workshop. It wasn’t until after the workshop that I finally got my head around what I was doing and came home to study for my final 2 weeks. I submitted careplans and practiced labs for my final week and jetted off to Wisconsin.

At the CPNE I went 3 for 4 in labs (had to repeat the dreaded wound), passed #4 the next day, went 3 for 3 on PCS’s, flew home and started writing this for all of you before I forgot details.

ALL CPNE POSTS CAN BE FOUND HERE