Cen

UtErRnEmt · Nov 7, 2006

i took my cen in '05 and personally i thought the practice tests were harder than the real thing (other than the stress factor).

when i took it i was working in a teaching hospital. i tried to get a new tag with cen or rnc on it and was told that they don't recognize it. no pay raise either. in fact the only other cen's were some of the flight nurses.

i just started working prn at a small community hospital and at least they put cen on my badge. sad that a teaching hospital doesn't

RN2MSNasap · Nov 8, 2006

Hi

first off CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! wooo hooo good for you....i just posted something tonight about the exam...would you say the test was more focused on one subject area or was it all over the place???

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2006

Hi NY37, and thanks!

Honestly, I found the test ALL over the place - didn't focus on any one thing that I recall. Best I can describe is the questions were bizarre. I found the practice questions worded better and made more sense (easier?) than the test. Go figure.

I guess everyone has a slightly different experience. I can say though, that I felt the same way I felt back when I took the NCLEX - that I'd failed outright LOL.

Good luck on your test!

wverrn · Nov 11, 2006

Hello Everyone,

Wish me luck I am taking this test Monday. Oh the horror. I will follow up with a post of my experience also. I am just burned from studies. I am more stressed with this than I was with the NCLEX. Took the $30.00 test from the ENA and it recommended more study !!! Oh WELL...Of course I made stupid mistakes on that exam that I will not repeat on Monday.

Wish me luck...:

Vicki

MeryMellen · Nov 13, 2006

Congrats! :)

I'm a recent grad and a new ER nurse. A few people I work with have taken the CEN exam, I was wondering what's a good period of time to work as an ER nurse before taking the exam? I certainly don't want to take it in the next year or anything, but I was just looking for suggestions for when I should start thinking about taking it! Thanks!

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2006

Passed NCLEX 04/2003

Passed CEN 09/2003

I think it just depends on your background, I had 10+ years as a medic. But, if you are new to clinical practice - I think that you may need a couple of years ED experience. Also courses in ACLS, PALS, TNCC and ENPC as prep work!

I think that the ENA publishes a Fundamentals and it is a great practice and test prep reference.

GOOD Luck!

vlbkat · Nov 15, 2006

OK I needed 109 to pass Got 97. It was everywhere. All over the place. I am a little disappointed but I knew how I had done before I finished. I concentrated too much on IV calculations and formulas and not one on this test. I just don't get the 25 questions on this exam that are not even counted. Oh well I will break for the holidays and possibly try again in the spring. Gotta wait 3 months anyhow...And oh the expense of it all...

Congratulations to all that have passed this exam...You deserve a BIG hoorah!!!

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2006

vlbkat! I'm so sorry you were so close!! To quote Laura Gasparis VonFrolio "a lot of smart people fail this test... then again, a lot of stupid people pass it...". (NOT to say that those that passed it here are stupid of course - but c'mon, you've all seen it LOL).

It's a miserable test - take it again and I'm betting you'll do fine!

Victoriakem · Nov 16, 2006

OK I needed 109 to pass Got 97. It was everywhere. All over the place. I am a little disappointed but I knew how I had done before I finished. I concentrated too much on IV calculations and formulas and not one on this test. I just don't get the 25 questions on this exam that are not even counted. Oh well I will break for the holidays and possibly try again in the spring. Gotta wait 3 months anyhow...And oh the expense of it all...
Congratulations to all that have passed this exam...You deserve a BIG hoorah!!!

The same thing happened to me, so close but didn't pass. I am trying to gear myself up to take it again but then I'd have to rejoin ENA & it's all so expensive. I felt like I was hit on the head with a ball bat after that horrible test!:trout:

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Nov 20, 2006

Several nurses from my er took the test last week and none of them passed it.. worse yet they all preped for at least a month prior to testing. I was listening to some of the questions they remembered and it reminded me of my NCLEX exam but on steroids.

For those of you who passed, what was the most helpful study guide??

jojotoo, RN · Nov 22, 2006

Several nurses from my er took the test last week and none of them passed it.. worse yet they all preped for at least a month prior to testing. I was listening to some of the questions they remembered and it reminded me of my NCLEX exam but on steroids.
For those of you who passed, what was the most helpful study guide??

Did my 8yr recert 11/20. Test was definitely harder than last time, but I passed. Lippincott Q&A Certification Review for Emergency Nursing was pretty good. But a LOT of the questions you just can't study for. You only know the answers from having experience and being a seasoned ER RN.

grammyr · Nov 23, 2006

I took the test in 05 and luckily passed with 109. For me, the test was much harder than NCLEX and I studied every day for about 4 months. I work in a rural facility so I don't have the exposure. But when something bad comes in, boy does it come flying in.