[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by GilaRN

Check out these links for additional information:


http://allnurses.com/forums/f18/revi...nt-237763.html

http://allnurses.com/forums/f18/cen-exam-260068.html

This is the book I used for review prior to taking the CEN. I did one test at a time and studied any incorrect answers. I created my own test of incorrect answers. I did every test until I scored 100% on every exam. In addition, two online tests are offered that mirror the CEN in content and time allowed for the exam:

http://books.google.com/books?id=pnU...mbnail#PPP1,M1

Wow!! Thanks SOOO much for the great information! Excellent advice!!

[GilaRN]

Not a problem. Good luck with the CEN, my wife is currently in the same boat.

[vampireslayer]

Sounds like we have a lot of review sites & materials to choose from. My problem is I get overwhelmed when I have too many choices! Even in a restaurant, I can't stand it when I get a menu that's pages and pages and pages! Just give me a few things to choose from, please!

Anyway, I am PRN and we get NO incentive to get our CEN, other than "personal satisfaction". Ok fine. My hospital offers full time employees reimbursement for the test fee, but not for me. But even so, I am so happy with the flexibility of PRN, working only when I want, picking up 1/2 shifts or 3/4 shifts whenever I want to, that I wouldn't trade it for a full-time position anyway.

CENs at my hospital are fairly rare I think. Maybe 10% of our ER nurses? I'm just guessing, it might be even lower, but not common, I know that.

VS

[92mxmom]

Ok guys! My boss wants me to commit by Monday to take the exam by June 30. If I do that, it will be paid for by a special education grant. The hospital will still reimburse me if I don't gt it done in time, but it comes from a different budget. I didn't mention the incentive in my earlier post, but we do get $1 more per hour for certification. I'm not 100% sure I'll be ready, but I'm going to research the cost of study materials in more detail this weekend and I think I may go for it!

I spoke with a co-worker who just re-certified and she said she used the ENA review book and the Mosby review book. She felt they were both good and they both come with CD-ROMS with practice tests.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by 92mxmom

Ok guys! My boss wants me to commit by Monday to take the exam by June 30. If I do that, it will be paid for by a special education grant. The hospital will still reimburse me if I don't gt it done in time, but it comes from a different budget. I didn't mention the incentive in my earlier post, but we do get $1 more per hour for certification. I'm not 100% sure I'll be ready, but I'm going to research the cost of study materials in more detail this weekend and I think I may go for it!

I spoke with a co-worker who just re-certified and she said she used the ENA review book and the Mosby review book. She felt they were both good and they both come with CD-ROMS with practice tests.

Wow!! That is really great! There is no doubt you could do it by then!! There are many of us who are looking at that time frame to do the exam!! I sent for the ENA's review book, but have yet to receive it! I'm glad the word out there is that it is a good one!! I'll join you and commit to doing the exam by June 30th, it that's what you decide!! Why not, it is something to shoot for and certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by vampireslayer

Sounds like we have a lot of review sites & materials to choose from. My problem is I get overwhelmed when I have too many choices! Even in a restaurant, I can't stand it when I get a menu that's pages and pages and pages! Just give me a few things to choose from, please!

Anyway, I am PRN and we get NO incentive to get our CEN, other than "personal satisfaction". Ok fine. My hospital offers full time employees reimbursement for the test fee, but not for me. But even so, I am so happy with the flexibility of PRN, working only when I want, picking up 1/2 shifts or 3/4 shifts whenever I want to, that I wouldn't trade it for a full-time position anyway.

CENs at my hospital are fairly rare I think. Maybe 10% of our ER nurses? I'm just guessing, it might be even lower, but not common, I know that.

VS

I TOTALLY understand the way you feel about too many options! So far that ENA review book keeps showing up as a good option. The Mosby, as well, but I haven't been able to find it. No doubt any review course will give you what you need. It is nice though to get lots of opinions of those who have been there and go with the most beneficial. I am not going to get everthing that is recommended...because I know myself and I would go from one to another and get myself lost! hehe

[olddog1]

Congrats to all even thinking of taking the CEN. Even if it's only for "personal satisfaction" sometimes that's all you get in this profession. I took a review course offered by ENA and don't think I would have done so well without it. It really helped to focus where my knowledge deficits were. There are so many areas that ED nurses need to be proficient in, it helped me to have someone say, focus on this. Good luck to all.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by olddog1

Congrats to all even thinking of taking the CEN. Even if it's only for "personal satisfaction" sometimes that's all you get in this profession. I took a review course offered by ENA and don't think I would have done so well without it. It really helped to focus where my knowledge deficits were. There are so many areas that ED nurses need to be proficient in, it helped me to have someone say, focus on this. Good luck to all.

Thanks for the advice!! How long ago did you get your certification? You are right about there being so many more areas in the ED that needs some knowledge and competence, certainly more than the ICU, even if there is some overlap. Please hang out with us on this thread if you want, your advice and encouragement would be very much appreciated and welcome!!

[deeDawntee]

I would love to get to know a little more about each of you who are going to be an ongoing part of this support group. What kind of an ER, how large of a hospital, is a teaching hospital, how long have you been a nurse, what shift do you work....anything else would be welcome... Even if you have already accomplished the CEN and would like to be part of the ongoing conversation, that would be soooo awesome...

I will write a little about myself, but just got home from my 12 hour night shift, so the bed is calling my name!!! see you all on the flip side!!!

[92mxmom]

About me...

I have been an RN for 6 years. I have worked FT in a plastic surgery ambulatory surgery center/private practice since then. I actually started there as a medical assistant 11 years ago. RNs there work in the OR, Pre-op, PACU and office settings.

I started in the ED PRN 5.5 years ago only 5 months out of nursing school. We are a 22 bed ED in a small hospital (210 beds I think). We have 6 monitored beds, 9 regular beds and 7 fast-track beds, and of course hallway beds prn. We are not a trauma level ED. The other 2 hospitals near us are quite large in comparison with their ED's having 40+ beds. My favorite spot to work is triage!

I completed my RN-BSN in 12/05 and plan to start my FNP program this May, part-time, distance ed. I think I would like to practice in the ED but eventually I'd like to teach.

I am married to the best husband ever who is a paramedic/firefighter (whom I am trying to convince to go to nursing school). We have a 9 year old and are very newly pregnant! Can I possiby have any more going on??????

I want to do the CEN mostly for personal satisfaction and to learn more about the types of patients we don't normally see. But another $1 is good too!

Ok, who's next?