how much experience prior to CEN?

Specialties Emergency

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I want to take the CEN, but want to take it when it is most useful. I also know it's better to have more experience to pass it. Is it better to wait till >2 years before taking it, or is 1 year experience enough?

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
I want to take the CEN, but want to take it when it is most useful. I also know it's better to have more experience to pass it. Is it better to wait till >2 years before taking it, or is 1 year experience enough?

amzyRN~

According to the Board of Certification for Emergency Nurses (2017), "BCEN recommends you have 2 years' experience in the ED; however, it is not required". Check out CEN – BCEN for additional information.

I believe I took the CEN right at the 2 year mark. By then you have had a variety of clinical experiences and can focus more on the content that you don't get exposed to much at your facility (maybe OB, ENT etc...).

Go for it when the time is right!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I was an RN for 9 or 10 months when I took and passed the CEN. I had been a paramedic for 6 years already by that time, and there is some overlap in subject matter. I had also completed an awesome ED nursing fellowship at our system's Level 1, and it used ENA orientation modules that were great prep as well. I had people telling me there was no way I could pass it so soon. Ha. I kicked that exam in the butt! :D

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I had been a nurse for approximately 3 years when I took the CEN. However, I was a paramedic for 8 years also. As someone previously mentioned, there is some overlapping in the content. I used the ENA study materials, and the online test prep from BCEN; I found both to be particularly helpful. Take it when the time feels right for you, and when you feel adequately prepared.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I took it after about 1.5 years or so of ED experience.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will wait till I have 2 years. I only have about 10 months ED experience now. I haven't done a whole lot of critical care yet, but have been getting more experience recently.

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Specializes in ED.

I took it after 3 years exp. Maybe I could have passed it after 2 yrs but the studying was more interesting and comprehension much deeper after 3 yrs when I had really experienced (almost!) at least one type of everything you see in the ER....

Goos luck!

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