CEN requirements?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

[color=#28201d]at the time of application and examination bcen certifications require:

[color=#28201d]- a current, unrestricted rn license
[color=#28201d]
- or a nursing certificate that is equivalent to a registered nurse in the united states or its territories.

[color=#28201d]cpen specific

[color=#28201d]- cpen candidates [color=#28201d]are also required to have practiced at least 1,000* hours in pediatric emergency nursing practice in the past 24 months.
[color=#28201d]* the 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency practice may be obtained through practice in any urgent or emergent care setting and may include providing direct care, health care facilitation, education and advocacy for patients and families.

eligibility recommendation

two years of experience in related sub specialty.

stipulations

any restriction, suspension, probation, or any order arising from a nursing license authority that limits a nurse’s ability to function and perform related tasks will disqualify a candidate to sit for the examination unless the candidate is a qualified individual with a disability who can function and perform all related tasks with or without reasonable accommodation. these candidates must submit in writing, to the bcen office, evidence of disability along with an application and documentation materials in order for consideration of eligibility.
a current stipulation or action against a candidate’s nursing license, but the candidate is permitted to perform all functions and related tasks, the candidate may be eligible to take the examination. these candidates must submit an official letter from the nursing license authority along with an application and documentation materials to the bcen office verifying that there are no limitations on their ability to perform all related nursing functions.

welcome to bcen i hope this helps....

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

THANK YOU! DUH! You'd think I could read right? LMAO! Just goes to show what reading something with one cup of coffee only does to you! Thank you! LMAO! I think I glanced over the recommendation part.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

I bought a CEN review book when I took an Emergency Nursing class in school, because my instructors said they pulled test questions from CEN questions. Trust me, you'd be better off getting ED experience before tackling the CEN. Many questions cannot be answered unless you have ED experience.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

thank you! duh! you'd think i could read right? lmao! just goes to show what reading something with one cup of coffee only does to you! thank you! lmao! i think i glanced over the recommendation part.

that's ok! :lol2: i knew you didn't see it... with no experience it will be a tough test. the test is meant for nurses who are practicing in the ed field and want to show their ecpertise. it can be done but it will be tough.

i'd go more for acls amd enpc maybe the tncc check out the ena website..courses & education

enpc

ena developed the emergency nursing pediatric course (enpc) to improve the care of the pediatric patient by increasing the knowledge, skill and confidence of the emergency nurse. this two day course provides core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients in the emergency care setting. enpc is the only pediatric emergency nursing course written by pediatric nurse experts.

tncc

ena developed and implemented the trauma nursing core course (tncc) for national and international dissemination as a means of identifying a standardized body of trauma nursing knowledge. the tncc (provider) is a two day course designed to provide the learner with cognitive knowledge and psychomotor skills. the purpose of tncc is to present core-level knowledge, refine skills and build a firm foundation in trauma nursing.

good luck!

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

that is awesome information! thank you! i will look into that! the instructors rationale was that we are at the height of our studying mode when we pass nclex, so continue that studying mode and get the certifications that will help us get our jobs, but these other courses wont exactly hurt me either when getting a job, so ti's worth it to add those to the list! thank you again!

that's ok! i knew you didn't see it... with no experience it will be a tough test. the test is meant for nurses who are practicing in the ed field and want to show their ecpertise. it can be done but it will be tough.
i'd go more for acls amd enpc maybe the tncc check out the ena website..courses & education
enpc
ena developed the emergency nursing pediatric course (enpc) to improve the care of the pediatric patient by increasing the knowledge, skill and confidence of the emergency nurse. this two day course provides core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients in the emergency care setting. enpc is the only pediatric emergency nursing course written by pediatric nurse experts.
tncc
ena developed and implemented the trauma nursing core course (tncc) for national and international dissemination as a means of identifying a standardized body of trauma nursing knowledge. the tncc (provider) is a two day course designed to provide the learner with cognitive knowledge and psychomotor skills. the purpose of tncc is to present core-level knowledge, refine skills and build a firm foundation in trauma nursing.
good luck!

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

OOOHHHH! Exciting! I just looked and in August and Sept there are courses near me! Thank you!

brainkandy87 · Jul 8, 2012

Almost sounds like your instructor is wanting to make some money by setting up a CEN review, lol.

I wouldn't suggest anyone take the CEN with less than a year of emergency experience. It doesn't necessarily need to be as a nurse, either. I work with an RN who graduated around the same time I did and started in the ER at the same time I did, however she had years of experience as a flight medic in Detroit. She passed the CEN exam her first try a few weeks back.

It's definitely possible for a new grad with no experience to pass the CEN simply by studying, but IMO, a new grad is a new grad. If I'm an ER director and looking at a batch of people to interview, I might be impressed that the new grad with no ER experience has gotten his CEN, but know what else I'm thinking? He's a new grad with zero real life experience in the ER. You'll still have quite a tough time going up against RN's without the CEN badge but with years of ER experience.

I always end up sounding cynical. I really don't mean to.

WRNCEN · Jul 8, 2012

Having my CEN and being an emergency nurse since obtaining my BSN, I do not suggest attempting the CEN. Having no ER experience, being a new grad, and having your CEN will only tell a manager that you have the ability to prioritize and critically think effectively. The cert should be taken after having some nursing experience. As suggested before I would focus on obtaining your ACLS or PALS, TNCC. As a graduate nurse or newly registered nurse you will be overwhelmed with a multitude of learning experiences, invest more time in establishing a nursing base and then work on higher certifications.

Delete_Me_Please · Jul 9, 2012

Unlike others here, I would encourage you to take it, provided that failure would not totally discourage you from ever taking it again. There is no substitute for seeing the type of questions and the format of them. Go for it... Buy the test prep books, study for it, and then take it BEFORE you develop all the bad habits of emergency nursing that make people look at CEN review books and say, "pfft.. Nobody does it THAT way," believing that their experience is right and the book is wrong.

If nothing else, you'll learn a great deal in the process and will be better served to pull your own weight as an ED nurse once you get a job.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2012

Unlike others here, I would encourage you to take it, provided that failure would not totally discourage you from ever taking it again. There is no substitute for seeing the type of questions and the format of them. Go for it... Buy the test prep books, study for it, and then take it BEFORE you develop all the bad habits of emergency nursing that make people look at CEN review books and say, "pfft.. Nobody does it THAT way," believing that their experience is right and the book is wrong.
If nothing else, you'll learn a great deal in the process and will be better served to pull your own weight as an ED nurse once you get a job.

That's kinda what I was thinking. For now the VA will pay for testing and continued education for me, so it's not as if I am throwing over $200 down the toilet...and at least I'd have the knowledge and experience under my belt.

I was also wondering, how true to life is the CEN? With ATI and I've heard the NCLEX, the right answer is not always what you really do on the floor...Id be a bit afraid that having the habits would make you choose the wrong answer.