My mnemonics

ok here you go :) these are the select few I took into battle <3

Knock                                                                         
Enter
Wash
Introduce
Id patient             

Side rails as ordered
Call bell
Anything else I can get you?
Bed in lowest position
Slipper socks

Hydration status
Iv rate
Palpate iv site with gloves on
Pump settings
Inspect iv tubing
Check feeding tube and site
Oral fluids explained
Double check and declare
Record

Mobility status
Abnormalities
Devices
Ambulate
Transfer
Offload
Position
*must do one of the last four


Assessments

Neuro                                 Resp.                               Abd.                          
Loc                                     O2 sat                             Privacy
Observe pupils                  Position                          Pee
Grasp hands                      Assess lungs rrap          Pain
Inspect fontanel                 Instruct to breath
                                              slow and deep              Position                      
Check planter flexion
against resistance               Record                            Look  
Stimuli noxious                                                          Listen
Symmetry                                                                   Feel

PNVA                               Skin
Pulses                                 Two
Motor                                 Areas
Sensation                           Color
Temp                                 Temp   
Cap refill                           Integrity
                                          Moisture
                                           Edema         
                                           Record



MGMTS

pain                                                       oxygen                                                    wound
Pain scale                                              Skin                                                      Wound location
Assess location and duration              O2 sats or cap refill                             Observe drainage
Intensity and quality                           Activity tolerance                                 Unique supplies
Nsaid/narcs                                           Position to facilitate respiration         Need clean/sterile?
Massage                                                                                                               Dressing change
Guided imagery                                                                                                  Eval, pt, tolerance
Must reassess pain                                                                                              Document     
Temp. apply hot or cold


comfort                                         respiratory
Assess comfort                               Breathing pattern
3 interventions                               rhythm/rate
Reposition                                      Explain equipment
Dental hygiene                               Assess lungs rrap
Cold/heat if ordered                     Tell pt to breath deep and slow
Hygiene                                           Hear 4 spots
Arrange linens                               Eval sp02 is assigned 
Nsaids/narcs                                    Emesis basin
Comfort rub                                C And DB x3
Environmental adjustment            Suction          
Reasses                                              Incentive spirometer
                                                           Evaluate lungs immediately after hygiene
                                                           R ecord

musculoskeletal
Mobility
Abnormalities
Pain with movement
Hot or cold apply
Apply/adjust devices
Traction
Rom



There you go guys....these are the exact mnemonics I used throughout my cpne. They worked for me, may not work for everyone but they are here for you to read and you can take them and change em up if you want to. Happy Studying!!
xoxoxox
T

"Believe you can, And you will "

Hotel and Hospital

I tested at Albany Med. Feb 7, 8, 9. The site was wonderful!!! it is a huge hospital. A level one trauma center. There were at least 4 flys each hour after 5pm. my cup of tea :) We stayed at The Hilton Garden Inn on the 5th floor I had a great view of the hospital entrance and a fantastic view of the helipad which myself and my 3yr old daughter ate up :P  The hotel was great beds were super comfy....pool was small but the hot tub was great. there is a starbucks and small sports bar with great wings and food. not to badly priced. we got our room for 98/night on hotels.com The hospital is directly across the street there is a bridge over to the hospital from the hotel so you do not have to walk outside.  There is a cvs and a Panera right in walking distance also.  I had two adult patients Saturday and a pediatric patient sunday. the census was high at the hospital.  I don't know when you guys test but here is a little advice use it if you choose.........think of the season you test, I tested in the winter...I assumed a lot of falls etc. so I studied post op fracture patients and ended up getting that as my first patient. I had a vascular patient for number 2 and I had an 11year old with sickle cell anemia in sickle cell crisis.  RESEARCH THE AREA YOU TEST. THE ETHNICITIES. IF ITS SNOWING, RAINS ALOT..MAJOR HIGHWAYS ETC.  IT WILL HELP YOU!!!!! :) my next post will be on mneumonics............. maybe sometime this evening maybe tomorrow.

<3
T

" Before You Act, Listen.
Before You React, Think.
Before You Spend, Earn.
Before You Criticize, Wait
Before You Pray, Forgive.
BEFORE YOU QUIT, TRY"
~Ernest Hemingway

My crazy beautiful adventure called the CPNE

Where do I start..........let me start with what I thought the cpne was before I dug in and started studying.  I thought the cpne exam was a three day clinical that would be similar to my LPN clinical. Report in the am to the floor with a preceptor, get report from primary and take care of your patient for eight hours, and report off done with day one. New patient day two and three. Get the thumbs up that you are clinically competent from your preceptor and your good to go!!! YEAH RIGHT, Boy was I wrong. I applied for my cpne in july and received a test day two months later. Excelsior sent me the package with the study guide cd. 580 stinking pages.....little did I know at this point that would be my best friend all 580 pages of information.  Let me get a little off track for a minute. I finished fcca at 36weeks pregnant. I went into labor the morning the final was due, made my ob stop the labor( I could have delivered, my son is a moose born july 19th at 10lbs) because the only thing I was delivering was that final. So if I can do this you can. Anyway. after Jackson was born I didn't really do anything with school but wait for a date. when I got that date, I printed to study guide out and put it in a binder, I have to be organized that's just how I am and its harder for my 3yr old daughter to mess up the papers that way. So I got my date in September ish, oct. nov, went by and December is when I started exploring everything. I found the conquer the beast fb page and then found others from there apples to apples cpne tips and tricks etc. I joined them all I took in as much information as my brain would hold.  I registered for the excelsior three day workshop. went to the workshop and met some amazing people. can I just ass that their workshops are taught by instructors who deal with cpne all the time. one of mine was a ca and ce. So that's front line info right there for you. As with any fb page or any personal site you find opinions that go in both favors. My mindset is this and agree with me if you want or disagree, this is an excelsior test.....why not do it the excelsior way? they know first hand what they want and they do not hide that fact at all. I have to give them credit, anything I needed information wise was always provided. now I cant speak for anyone else but this is my personal experience.  During the workshop we had hands on experience with each lab station, and were provided tips and tricks by the instructors as to better our techniques. I should have started my blog with this info for you guys but its my first blog EVER lol so forgive me. My experience prior to cpne is an lpn. I have been an lpn for four years. I live in nj and I work at two sub acute rehab facilities. In nj lpns are not allowed to give iv push meds. that being said I spent a majority of my time practicing at that station.  We also ran through pcs scenarios and how to write a care plan correctly. I can honestly say and I will never ever forget this info, prob the best info taken from this workshop was use your kardex as a map. pretend it is a sidewalk...stay on the sidewalk do not play in the road or you will get hit by a bus.  All of your answers are directly in front of you with your kardex.....you just need to know how to use it.   this will be another blog later.  All in all workshop was great.  next step more organization. I bought a pack or ten of those little post it notes, took all the suggested nandas from the SG and tabbed my mosbys 4th edition so I didn't have to waste time searching the book. Then I tabbed up the study guide into phases and then into aocs and selected areas of care. I really cant tell you how important it is to be organized. And that I takes some money to get some money.  Invest in the mosbys 4th edition its 50 bucks at barnes in noble to me 50 bucks is cheaper than taking cpne over again. you might even be able to get one on amazon for less. But if you think your going to be cheap and get by without your crazy, and will fail miserably. Don't think im a b*tch im just not sugar coating anything, if you don't like it navigate your mouse to the little x on the top right hand corner and click away. Eventually you will have to navigate your study guide, and you will use all of the information provided. some people got by without it but its just easier when you know it.  I will write another blog about the SG later too if you want.  as the days wer flying by I found myself writing mneumonics in a small journal I bought every day maybe twice a day. if you don't know these critical elements your done, end of story. no lazy way around it you have to do the work to get results.  I have a busy life I work ft, have a wonderful husband, and two beautiful children who need my attention. I didn't have 8 hrs a day to dedicate to studying so you need to choose what you are going to sacrifice in order to win your ultimate prize, that pass letter and picture in front of the site you chose. I sacrificed sleep, work shifts, time with family at functions etc. but it all pays off in the end I promise.  I had mentioned earlier that I joined a few facebook groupd related to the cpne.  DO IT. because what you need most during this time is support. I have made so many new friends through this.  You need to find people testing the same weekend as you are and connect with them, lean on each other they are the only ones who know how you feel at the time. exchange numbers...txt...video chat....email. IT WORKS TRUST ME. And also we are here to help also, we meaning the passers, the ones who were in your shoes before they conquered the beast! DONT ASK FOR TIPS TO MAKE IT EASIER CUZ YOUR LAZY! Ask for information to reduce your stress level, ask why we did what we did when we did it, don't take advantage of your lifeline!!!!!  Im ending this blog here now I will write more in the next few days, I can probably write a novel. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will try to answer them the best that I can. I will leave you with this. YOU WILL NEVER FEEL SO GREAT AND SO HORRIBLE AT THE SAME TIME IN YOUR LIFE!!! you will know exactly what I mean when it is your time to shine :P and then I want you to message me and say holy cow Tiff you were 110% accurate.
Thanks for reading everyone!! much love and happy studying.
"Everything you do is based on the choices you make.
It's not your parents, past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather,
an argument, or your age that is to blame. YOU and ONLY YOU
are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period."