Cen

Trauma Columnist · Oct 22, 2008

Hi there....I did the CEN exam in 1998 with two years level one ER experience and it was easy - much is dependent on your experience. I did study a little and used the CEN review books recommended on the ENA website.

Good luck - you can do it!

GilaRRT · Oct 22, 2008

Check out the CEN threads.

mwboswell · Oct 22, 2008

Congrats to bjaeram for considering the CEN.

I am a HUGE supporter, educator and CEN course writer who feels EVERY ED nurse should strive for this....

The stress and anxiety are NORMAL!

This is a NATURAL response to something "unknown" and "new", and one that requires a bit of a monetary committment and study time committment too.

I have traveled through the Eastern Seaboard teaching CEN review courses and to the best of my knowledge, my former students have a pretty high pass rate.

First and foremost, know this, the passing score is ONLY 73%!!! That's a "C", most anyone can get a "C". And nationally, the pass rate is approx 80%. Of course taking a review course only HELPS! too!.

If you consider taking the next step and actually starting to prepare for the exam, I would be happy to help/advise you if you needed it, feel free to email me.

good luck!

-Mark

Boswell Emergency Medical

Education Technology

Owner, Author, Director

GilaRRT · Oct 22, 2008

Per the BCEN, the average pass rate is in the 70 percentile. So, simply looking at stats, you have a good chance.

MN BigJ · Oct 23, 2008

If you have TNCC, ENPC, PALS, ACLS, you should be ok. Anxiety is normal but I bet you know more than you think you do.

loricatus · Oct 23, 2008

I took the CEN exam and passed first try with less than one year ER experience. I also had fellow coworkers that tried to discourage me from taking it; so, I went into the test telling myself that I would probably fail, but it would be a good practice run. Well, I had absolutely no anxiety and barely opened a book before the test.

After passing and getting a nice differential added to my pay, the very same staff who tried to discourage me, were looking into taking it themselves.

My advise is to follow your instincts and don't listen to what others at work say. They are just discouraging you because of their own fears. Go to the ENA's website (as another poster suggested) and get the books, especially the one that has the practice tests. If you are not a solitary learner, then take a review class.

Worst that can happen is you fail and go into the test a second time knowing what to expect. Look at the test as a practice session to avoid the anxiety.

GilaRRT · Oct 23, 2008

Yeah, like many concepts people have stories about high failure rates and how impossibly hard these exams are to pass. Part misunderstanding, part certification erotica, and part bloviation. It all equates to Bravo Sierra. Most people with some experience and a good understanding of the typical ER courses will pass this exam.

I find people who discourage others are in fact insecure and imtimidated by anybody who is successful. Most people should be happy and supportive of your decision to obtain certification.

Edit: Love the name.

mwboswell · Oct 23, 2008

I got my stats during a phone call to the BCEN in June....

When did you get yours?

Who did you speak to?

Per the BCEN, the average pass rate is in the 70 percentile. So, simply looking at stats, you have a good chance.

mwboswell · Oct 23, 2008

I find it interesting that people who might discourage you from taking it - haven't taken it themselves!!....

How can you advise someone to do/not do something, of which the reccomender (sp?) has no knowledge????

If I had known it was only 73% to pass, I would have taken it MANY years earlier than I did!

mwboswell · Oct 23, 2008

These are all good starting points, AND definitely the material one should review prior to the exam, however, there is much more that is 'fair game' content than what comes from them.

Cardiovascular = 21 questions

Respiratory = 18 questions

Neurological = 15 questions

General Medical = 15 questions

Orthopedic = 13 questions

Shock = 11 questions

OB/GYN = 10 questions

Substance abuse/tox = 10 questions

Patient care management = 9 questions

GI/abdominal = 9 questions

Professional issue = 7 questions

Maxillofacial/Ocular = 6 questions

Psychological/mental health = 6 questions

When I do my 2-day exam review class, (and in our course book), I spend a proportionate amount of time on these subject areas. For example, I spend about 3 times the classroom time on Respiratory as I do on Psych.

-Mark Boswell

Owner, Author, Director

Boswell Emergency Medical

Education Technology

If you have TNCC, ENPC, PALS, ACLS, you should be ok. Anxiety is normal but I bet you know more than you think you do.

bjaeram · Oct 23, 2008

Thank you everyone. These are much more positive responses then I received at work. I'm starting to wonder what is wrong with my workplace. I work in a large level 2 trauma center but only two nurses have CEN's. One is very smart. She was our states ENA President last year and teaches all the classes, ect. The other is an older nurse that also does flight. She actually told me she would never take it again and it was so stressful, ect. She is kind of a high anxiety person though. I asked to borrow her books and she said she burnt them!

I think I'm going to go for it. Thank you for the breakdown of questions on the test. I have been in the ER for 7 years and have ENPC, PALS, TNCC, and ACLS. So I guess I have a decent amount of experience but their is just so much to know and some days I still feel dumb.

I got a ENA review book from the library but it is from 2001. Do you think that is okay or should I bite the bullet and get a newer one?

Thank you so much for all your encouragement and suggestions!