TNCC in 2 days!!! CEN in 6 Days!!!

[iridius]

Hey everyone.... I have been hiding away studying for the last month or so... getting lonely (I'm not too good at the complete-isolation thing).

I am a new grad... I moved to Miami for nursing school, finished, passed NCLEX and realized that Miami has one of the worst job markets (especially for new grads) around. Anyway, I would move, but my wife is in nursing school now... till at least December. So, I figured, while applying for every job within a 1-2 hour drive I should learn as much as possible.

I took ACLS, PALS early this month.

I joined ENA and signed up for TNCC and CEN and have been studying for them this month.

I worked as an EMT and ER Tech before moving to Miami, for 2 years. So, I found a lot of the info from that and these four certs to overlap. I have my TNCC class this Thursday & Friday and then my CEN exam the following Monday.

I have been doing using Jeff Solheim review from Med-Ed (and they are awesome). It was affordable at $125.

I have watched all of them two times, and have listened to some (while at gym or running or driving) an additional time. I have taken 3 of the 7 tests that are in the book I bought from ENA. I have read most of the TNCC book. I have also read about half of an EKG book.

So far my average score is 76%, not bad considering I took the first one before any studying... if I drop that my last two were 81% and 78%, so I can't complain, but I would like to break 90% on at least one of them. I know TNCC will help me acheive that goal. My current subjects in need of further study are: Medical, Neuro and Psych.

I know that most TNCC/CEN takers have been nurses for a while (recommendations are 6 months and 2 years respectively), but I figured it wouldn't hurt to do it, I will be more marketable, and it will show my dedication to ER nursing and initiative.... and most importantly it was fun and I learned a lot. If I had a job offer come up I would pounce on it, but in the mean time, I will keep applying and studying.

I am looking forward to testing my knowledge... I know there is a big difference between book knowledge and practical application and I am happy I have the EMT and ER Tech experience for that reason, but I can't wait to improve on my "nursing" skills soon too.

Anyway... I just had to take a study break, and I figured this would be the perfect forum... thanks... off to read about EKGs and review some of my practice tests, before the wife gets back from clinicals (I have to help her study for a pharm test)

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I haven't, but if it's an ENA product, then I imagine they're comparable.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I actually bought CEN flashcards - there are about a million of them - very detailed!!!! I have been studying, intermittently, but need to mail off the app and find a testing site. I'm moving to a new state in two weeks, so I'll pursue the CEN testing once some of the stress of relocating fades.... Did I read that a 73 is considered passing???? Yikes. I was thinking it was more around the mid 80's....

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Yep, it's "approximately 73%" according to the ENA site: FAQs

-- I think you have to have 109 correct out of 150, if I remember correctly ... yep, the post-test printout says, "The passing score is 109 correct answers," -- I just looked at my score sheet. There are also another 25 "experimental" unscored questions on the exam for a total of 175 questions.

[alem-tsahai]

iridius,

how'd you do on the CEN? I'm impressed with your proactive-ness. You got a lot of stuff done in such a short amount of time!

[iridius]

Hey, sorry, I was gone for a couple of weeks... in-laws came in to town from Belarus and I was playing tour-guide, translator, and all-around-great-son-in-law for two weeks.

I rescheduled the CEN, and have it tommorrow! Yikes!

I am excited, it's gonna be a challenge, but I will pass and get on with my job search and studies.

I signed up for NALS/NPR for next week and ENPC for the week after that, but they're on the West Coast so I got's to get to driving a bit, I'll check out some hospitals over there, maybe some more jobs.

I am a little nervous, I can't lie, but I have watched the videos all two times, done all the tests (6 of 7, I'm saving one for tonight) and redid three of them. (94, 97 and 100)

Today I will review and redo the other 3, and take the last one, then... well it'll be pretty late then... so I'll hit the sack.

My average for the 6 tests is 74 (75 if I drop the first pre-study baseline test).... talk about cutting it close.... but I have a few things going for me...

I always do better on the real test....

I don't have anything to lose... and a lot to gain.

I can't (and don't want to) reschedule again...

I have all day to learn a little more...

The studying I did for it has been worth it either way...

I got a 7-hour energy drink for tommorrow... and that alone will give me at least 5 points :-)

Oh well, wish me luck... I'll let you know the outcome regardless... I mean... when I pass... ;-)

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Good luck!! :)

[JStyles1]

good luck. let us know

[iridius]

Thanks, I am now, done studying, reviewed all day... retook two tests, reviewed all mistakes from two tests... my brain has had enough... time to crash... gonna watch some cartoons, go to bed and get up early and get myself an 80+ on that test... have a great night.

[iridius]

127/150 = 85%

I passed!!!!!!!

I am so psyched... I get the day off now before studying for NALS/NPR and ENPC next week and the following.... Then I have CATN in June and maybe CTRN/CFRN or paramedic challenge. However, now I hope to find a job...

I have some skills/experience, some certs, I speak 4 languages and have a degree in comp sci too (so I can fix ur patients and that stupid computer). What i don't have Is connections (except at my old hospital back in NJ) but I'm sure I will find something soon, I just got a nice confidence boost.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Woo hoooo!!! Great job. :) I didn't think the CEN was nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, but I also credit that to lots of study and 6+ years of paramedic experience, as well as a few years in the ED as a tech before I became an ED RN. I took the CEN after I'd been an RN for about 10 months.

Enjoy your day!! :)

[F.E.R.N., BSN, RN]

127/150 = 85%

I passed!!!!!!!

Awesome! I'm studying right now to take it Friday and I will dance in the parking lot if I get an 85%!

Did you say you had taken the ENA practice tests? If so, how do you think they compared?

Enjoy you're day off from studying!

[iridius]

I just had celebratory sushi with my wife...mmmmm.

I bought the ENA Test Book that had 5 (150 question) practice tests + 2 (175 question) practice tests included. I took all 5 written tests and one of the online tests. I took 4 of the 5 written tests 2 times and the one online test two times also.

Here is my score breakdown:

Test 1 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (68.6%) Take 2 (93.3%)

Test 2 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (81.3%) Take 2 (Did Not Take 2nd time)

Test 3 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (78%) Take 2 (97.3%)

Test 4 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (70.7%) Take 2 (98.7%)

Test 5 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (68.6%) Take 2 (97.3%)

Test 6 (Online 175Q) - Take 1 (73.7%) Take 2 (100%)

Test 7 (Online 175Q) - Not Taken

So, I put together a little spreadsheet... I'm a nerd.

Take 1 Average = 73.5

Take 2 Average = 97.3

Take 1 & 2 Average = 85.4 rounded to nearest whole number = 85

I got an 84.7 rounded to nearest whole number = 85

So, although there's no statistical meaning... that's a cool coincidence...

In a more subjective sense, I found the actual test "felt" easier. There was a bit of redundancy in some Q&A sets that made some answers easier based on other answers. Cross-referencing made answering easier.

I do work better under pressure though, so if test anxiety makes you do better, you'll likely get similar results, if not.... then make sure to avoid the caffeine before, take a breathe and smile... nothing but good will come out of this process of learning.

I did some serious reviewing of all my incorrect answers and ones i was not 100% sure of. So, that means about 50-60 questions per test. Just because you guess right on a practice test, doesn't help, so while taking them mark the ones you are not 100% sure of and review them too. If you have the time review all the questions (the rationales are cool, I'm a very inquisitive person and always ask questions), but if not, as was my case, don't review the ones you didn't mark or get wrong... this way you follow the 80-20 principle and get the most out of your time in terms of increasing your score on Friday.

Good luck... I have to go cook... my wife promised her clinical group food... so I gotta go cook it before we go running.

iRiDiuS, RN, CEN