Practice Test GeeksStudy Forums

Finally passed my CNE after two attempts — here's what actually worked

by Hannah K. 24 views3 replies
H
Hannah K.OP
May 27, 2026

So I've been a school nurse for almost six years and kept putting off getting certified because honestly the whole thing felt overwhelming. I finally sat for the CNE last spring and failed by like 8 points, which was crushing. Took me a few months to regroup and try again this past February — passed with a 78, which isn't flashy but I'll take it.

The biggest difference the second time was actually using a structured CNE study guide instead of just reviewing my notes and hoping for the best. I also worked through a CNE practice test every weekend for about six weeks leading up to the exam. Seeing the question format repeatedly helped way more than rereading content. Biggest weak spots for me were IEPs, chronic condition management, and the legal/ethical stuff around documentation.

Anyone else out there studying for this right now? Happy to share what resources I used or talk through the rough spots. The exam tips I wish someone had given me before my first attempt could've saved me a whole year of stress.

M
Marcus T.
May 28, 2026
Congrats!! I failed my first attempt too so I completely understand that gut-punch feeling. What really turned things around for me was focusing on the NASN framework — a lot of questions are written around those standards and once I started thinking in that structure the answers made more sense. Also timed practice sets were huge. I'd been studying without a clock and then totally froze on test day.
M
Megan P.
May 28, 2026
Can I ask how many questions you felt genuinely unsure about? I'm scheduled for next month and I keep second-guessing everything during practice. Like I'll narrow it down to two answers and then talk myself out of the right one. Is that something that gets better with more practice tests or is it more of a test-taking strategy thing? Genuinely asking because I'm doing the same prep routine but my confidence is shot.
J
Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
The legal and ethical content tripped me up too. Pro tip: when in doubt, pick the answer that protects student privacy and follows the chain of command. That heuristic saved me on at least 4 or 5 questions I was unsure about.

Join the Discussion

Sign in or register to reply with your account, or reply as a guest below.

Related Discussions

← Back to Forum