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The following is what I did to prepare for the CPNE. Some tips and tricks I learned along the way that may help. I’ve also included a timeline of how I prepared. Disclosure: I am a professional procrastinator, I did spend a lot more time preparing for this than I originally thought I would but it is probably no where near the amount of time that I’d advise someone else to take. I am lucky to have a photographic memory and an ability to retain a lot of information, it has served me well in school my entire life but I will warn anyone else attempting this, do NOT underestimate the amount of preparation needed. You know your own strengths/weaknesses by now, make sure you plan accordingly for this exam, it would be an EXPENSIVE mistake to show up unprepared…

I basically spent 1 month studying in increments. I unfortunately procrastinated as I figured I would but I work well under pressure. I took small bites not really sure what to do or study and solidified my understanding of this finally at the workshop 2 weeks prior to my date. I really started hammering down the last week before I left. I spent my time at the airport and hotel cramming (this works for me) since it was truly the first opportunity I had away from ANY distractions (kids, work, phone calls, business, etc). 

March 3: Last PCS, finished 3 for 3 no revisions.

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If you haven’t printed out the study guide yet, yes you SHOULD print it out. Yes it is expensive because it’s 8 million pages long, so avoid placed like Kinkos & Office Max because they charge about a buck a page. Head over to www.BestValueCopy.com, they are the cheapest place around (I checked everywhere!) and have a handful of options you can pick in addition to printing if you want (add a cover, get it drilled with 3 holes for a binder, have them bind it for you, etc). Also Google some coupon codes for them and you can end up getting the thing for around $25 shipped.

Practice, practice, practice! Keep inventory along the way of what areas you need more help with. DO THE PRACTICE PCS’s from Excelsior, this is the only way to get feedback on whether you are doing things right or not. Clearly I recommend signing up for Sheri’s workshop so you can continue to practice and get feedback. If I could do things differently, I’d have practiced mock PCS’s at home a LOT more than I did, I just didn’t have the time or energy to get people together to help me with this aspect. We had SOOO much going on at the time that it just didn’t happen and this is the area I was most concerned with since I hadn’t done direct patient care in over 3 years. Sheri’s videos were crucial because of this, there is no way I would’ve known what to do in the room without these videos. I also would have had NO clue what to really study, how to organize things and practice succinctly without attending the live workshop. To me this is critical, I will advocate spending the money on a workshop to ANYONE.

Show up and execute!! Cram at the last minute if that works for you. I brought ALL of my supplies with me, checked a bag just to do so. I brought my study guide, books, laptop, everything! Some people need to relax and forget about things prior to testing, if that’s you, then do it.

Remember one step at a time. Take a little bit at a time, write out a schedule for your practice so you can see where you need to be to make sure you’re getting it all in in time. As my Dad always says, “make a plan, and work your plan”. 

This is part of my post series on Excelsior College’s ADN nursing program and the CPNE experience. See all related posts over here.