Has anyone taken the CEN examination?

GilaRRT · Jul 22, 2007

The CEN is very straight forward. You need to be very good at taking tests. Do at least 150 questions a day for a few weeks. Research every question that you answer incorrectly. Turn your self into a master of test taking. Be sure you can easily pick out exactly what the question asks. When I took the CEN, I finished it in 65 minutes.

The material covered is your run of the mill emergency nursing knowledge. You can expect questions on advanced airway devices and some of the new material. Check my thread on the CEN revisions.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 22, 2007

Rita,

Moved your thread to the Emergency Nursing Forum for the most responses.

I took the CEN exam without any ER nursing experience and passed. It's really not that bad. It's not a cheap test, but if you're a current ER nurse and you're studying for it, I wouldn't sweat things too much.

JessicRN · Jul 27, 2007

I have taken it twice and passed both. You are lucky they decreased the number of questions. It used to be 250 so now it is a snap.

It is also on computer now before it was on paper only. And before you had only 8 years before you had to retake the test now you have an option to take the test or do the CEU's,which as an ED nurse you get any ways if you do ACLS BLS TNCC PALS,and ENPC.

As for the question I liked them, they were pretty straight forward. Not like the NCLEX where you literally had to put yourself in "the NCLEX WORLD" in order to answer the question (you know when there are tons of nurses around and all the help and all the time you need). You have to know your stuff though.

Larry77, RN · Jul 29, 2007

It's my understanding that the CEU's only work for the 4 year renewal and you do have to retest every 8 years...

GilaRRT · Jul 29, 2007

You also have the option of taking an internet based exam for recertification.

music · Aug 2, 2007

I recently took the exam after missing it by 7 points the first time. The first time, I rushed through the questions. I have many years of ED experience so I thought it would be easy. The test taking was what got me. I was too quick to answer rather than reading thoroughly to see what they were getting at. Some of them are tricky. You have to think it through.

The second time, I got the CEN review book. I ordered it from the ENA site. This book has a CD with two practice exams. This gives you the feel for the exam and times you. You can see how long it takes you so you learn to pace yourself right.

I also practiced it by looking up all answers I wasn't sure of in my Mosby's Emergency Nursing Reference Book. I did the practice exams in the CEN Review book and this is very helpful as it gives you the answers so you are sure you have the correct info.

I set aside time every day to go over the tests for at least one month before taking the exam. This way, it was all fresh and taking the test itself felt normal. I was in the right flow of it all.

If you have been working in the ER, many of the questions will bring to mind patients you have seen and cared for. Take your time, think about the question and always remember your priorities. Just as in ACLS, ATCN, TNCC, BLS, the basics always apply first. Airway, breathing, circulation. Think, Think, Think.

You will know immediately after you finish. The person in charge of the testing area will print out your results right there.

Don't wait until the last minute. If you aren't good at test taking the constant daily review will set you in the right mode.

Good luck!

JessicRN · Aug 3, 2007

You also have the option of taking an internet based exam for recertification.

Believe me that is so much easier. I used to have to travel 3 hours away just to take the test. Now it is from home I love it. Before the test was computerized there was only one place to take in in my area and it was 3 hours away. With computerized test the testing station is at the H&R Block literally 5 minutes away.

Rita_RN_BSN · Aug 6, 2007

Thank you Mr. or Ms.? music...I have the Mosby's book (which I'm almost finished with) & have pre-ordered the new 2007 CEN review book from ENA on amazon. I scheduled my test today! I take it September 27... That's my downfall too, on tests...reading through the questions too fast:uhoh3:...I know you need a 75% to pass, but how many questions can you get wrong then? because aren't some questions test pilot questions like NCLEX was? I like statistics & would like to know how many wrong/correct I need...

Thanks again!!!

GilaRRT · Aug 6, 2007

The magic number is 109 correct answers out of 150 questions. The test does have 25 pilot questions that are not graded; however, you will be unable to tell a pilot question from the actual scored questions.