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Discussion

CEN 2016!

I created this thread to have an inclusive up to date CEN review thread for people planning to take the CEN in the next year. I have been in the ER for almost a year and I think that is enough time to start studying. I got some resources from my educator at work.

So far, the materials I have are the CEN review manual from the ENA which is basically practice tests and some stuff from Jeff Solheim's review which appears to be content in notes form. I also have a book called the Quick Reference to Critical Care which I have been using since I was a pretty new nurse. It has a lot of great information. I have also downloaded the most recent test blueprint.

Which materials did you use/are you using to study from? How important do you think it is to have the latest edition of study materials?

Thanks in advance!

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    • Featured Replies

    So I'm very excited to announce that I took my CEN exam today and passed it with 131/150!

    I bought several books but found that only a few were actual useful and/or pertained to the exam. The 2 books that I would buy if I was doing this over again are Sheehy's Emergency Manual by the ENA and the bluish/purplish book by the ENA with 5 practice exams/rationales (they give you a code for 2 online ones too). I used the CEN lectures by Mark Boswell on youtube to supplement this and found that it really helped me single out what was really important to learn. I hope this really helps anyone else out there!

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    So I'm very excited to announce that I took my CEN exam today and passed it with 131/150!

    I bought several books but found that only a few were actual useful and/or pertained to the exam. The 2 books that I would buy if I was doing this over again are Sheehy's Emergency Manual by the ENA and the bluish/purplish book by the ENA with 5 practice exams/rationales (they give you a code for 2 online ones too). I used the CEN lectures by Mark Boswell on youtube to supplement this and found that it really helped me single out what was really important to learn. I hope this really helps anyone else out there!

    Congratulations!! 🤗What an accomplishment! I agree that the ENA book is helpful! I did all of the review test in it prior to successfully passing my CEN in November.

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    I'm planning on taking it at the end of summer. I have the Sheehy's book, Pass CEN book and the purple ENA practice book. I am currently in a ER skill course through my hospital which is 3 weeks long and I just took TNCC so I think I should have enough fresh knowledge in my head to pass. I've been in the ER for just over a year and was in cardiac stepdown for 2 years before that (incl. post open heart), so I'm hoping some experience will help.

    Does anyone rate the 2 day review class as worthwhile? I'm usually a self studier but I don't know if this would condense and bring it all together before sitting for the test?

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    Following since right now I'm studying for CEN as well.

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    1year experience as PEDS ER. Got my CPEN within 6months of working. Now trying to work on my CEN without adult ER experience.

    Tips? Currently have the 6th edition Emergency nursing core curriculum by ENA. Will also get the CEN review (tests questions) by ENA.

    Anything else good for resource?

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    Tips? Currently have the 6th edition Emergency nursing core curriculum by ENA. Will also get the CEN review (tests questions) by ENA.

    Anything else good for resource?

    As others have indicated, Sheehy's is good.

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    Tagging for future reference, I am planning on taking the CEN next year. Still in my first year as nurse but others' posts in this thread are encouraging.

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    I decided to do get my CEN as of last month, so I signed up for a CEN test date 4 weeks out giving me only 4 weeks to study!! I've been working in the ED as a new grad RN with only 11 months experience (BTW my Nurse Educator advised that I not take the CEN until I get at least 2 years experience). My only study materials were the online MedEd modules by Jeff Solheim (Well worth the money) and the CEN review manual 4th edition practice questions from ENA. I really liked the CEN review manual because of the 5 practice exams and 2 online exams (with the code in the book). These were my practice exam scores:

    Practice Exam 1: 70.6%

    Practice Exam 2: 71.3%

    Practice Exam 3: 72%

    Practice Exam 4: 74%

    Practice Exam 5: 66%

    Practice Exam 6 (online): 70.4%

    Practice Exam 7 (online): 74.3%

    I took the CEN exam yesterday, and I didn't think it was as difficult as the practice exams. I felt like the questions were shorter and more straight forward and not as tricky. Anyways... I passed and scored an 85% !!!

    Anyways, my main message is to not have anyone discourage you from taking this exam.

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    • Moderator
    Anyways, my main message is to not have anyone discourage you from taking this exam.

    Great job!!! I took/passed the exam when I had been a nurse for 10 months, and the night before my exam, someone on this site sent me a PM and told me I was crazy to try, I'd never pass, I was too new, blah blah blah. I ended up answering 137 correct out of the 150 scored. HA.

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    • Author
    I decided to do get my CEN as of last month, so I signed up for a CEN test date 4 weeks out giving me only 4 weeks to study!! I've been working in the ED as a new grad RN with only 11 months experience (BTW my Nurse Educator advised that I not take the CEN until I get at least 2 years experience). My only study materials were the online MedEd modules by Jeff Solheim (Well worth the money) and the CEN review manual 4th edition practice questions from ENA. I really liked the CEN review manual because of the 5 practice exams and 2 online exams (with the code in the book). These were my practice exam scores:

    Practice Exam 1: 70.6%

    Practice Exam 2: 71.3%

    Practice Exam 3: 72%

    Practice Exam 4: 74%

    Practice Exam 5: 66%

    Practice Exam 6 (online): 70.4%

    Practice Exam 7 (online): 74.3%

    I took the CEN exam yesterday, and I didn't think it was as difficult as the practice exams. I felt like the questions were shorter and more straight forward and not as tricky. Anyways... I passed and scored an 85% !!!

    Anyways, my main message is to not have anyone discourage you from taking this exam.

    Thanks for posting your scores. This helps me a lot.

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    • Author

    Hey everyone! Just wanted to share the great news that I PASSED the CEN exam today!!!!

    If anyone has any specific questions, please post them here!

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