CEN study tips

amzyRN · Sep 9, 2017

There are review courses that you can sign up for and I think get CEUs. Some may even be offered by your hospital. Try an internet search and you'll probably find some. Good luck!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 9, 2017

I think the practice test from the BCEN was great â€” after I had studied, it really gave me confidence. The flavor of the real exam was very similar. I act got almost the same score on the real thing. Good luck!

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 11, 2017

Mark Boswell's videos were helpful. I also used the BCEN practice tests book.

firegirlpj · Sep 17, 2017

The CEN book from ENA is probably enough for practice. Mark Boswell has free review videos on YouTube. I didn't get through the whole book and I didn't watch any of the videos. At the last minute I purchased the 150 question practice exam from BCEN, which was helpful. Even though I didn't study as much as I should have, I still passed and I haven't even worked as a nurse yet in the ED or otherwise. Long time medic though, and that saved me for sure.

ENA's CEN Online Review on Facebook has a daily question as well.

Good luck!

Bobmo88 · Sep 20, 2017

Just took and passed CEN yesterday, I did the practice tests from the ENA study guide, used Sheehy's Emergency Nursing Manual for reference and also some ENA online modules that my employer gave me access to when I first started as a nurse 2 years ago. I felt like many of the questions I answered based on my experience but the stuff that I don't see all the time is what I had to review the most.

Saflanut · Sep 23, 2017

Mark Boswell's youtube videos are concise. BCEN hand book and the his videos were enough for me. Good luck!

CX_EDRN · Oct 2, 2017

The only thing I did was watch the Jeff Solheim modules ($150) and while they were fantastic I think I would passed without them. I would suggest you look through the CEN blueprint and focus on the stuff you don't see a lot, for me it was ocular emergencies (there's a joke in there somewhere). Good luck!

Mystiquex · Jul 6, 2018

Hi ! i am an RN for 7 yrs. I work night shift. I am taking the CEN on August, badly need help on tips ( what books to read)and strategies on taking the exam. Any help would be great! thanks!

What books would you guys recommend. Is 1 month of review enough? Or should i increase it more?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 6, 2018

Hi ! i am an RN for 7 yrs. I work night shift. I am taking the CEN on August, badly need help on tips ( what books to read)and strategies on taking the exam. Any help would be great! thanks!
What books would you guys recommend. Is 1 month of review enough? Or should i increase it more?

How many of those 7 years have been an a high-acuity, we-see-it-all ER?

Mystiquex · Jul 9, 2018

I only have 1 yr in the Er. I was in 1 yr med-surg, ICU-3yrs, CM-1YR, 2 yrs in rehab.

Guest219794 · Jul 10, 2018

Every test question and practice question in the ENA book, and every rationale- unless it was dead easy and obvious.

A live Solheim review. Helpful. And, psychologically, having paid out of pocket, good incentive to test.

And I tried some apps, free or reasonable. Sorry, can't remember which. Some included test taking strategies. ENA will onpy give technical rationales, but understanding certain strategies can help. For example, let's say you are given a question that hinges on a lab value you just don't know. Rule out the high and the low, pick one in the middle. That sort of thing.