Passed the CEN today

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Specializes in ER/PICU/Amb. Care.

Well I did it. Passed the CEN this morning. I must say to all those considering taking it..take it. You can pass it. Yes, I studied, yes they ask you ACLS, PALS stuff and yes you can pass. To tell you the truth, the test was about half as hard as what I anticipated it to be. If you have worked in an ER for a year, buy one or two of the famous review books, study for a couple of months regularly you will pass. Some of the questions were so simple I had to reread the question to make sure that I was understanding it correctly (leg wound bleeding...what is first RN intervention...direct pressure..this is Nursing 101 stuff) There were complicated questions don't get me wrong, some I really had to work through but overall a very manageable exam. I finished in 80 of the 180 minutes and passed by a wide margin. I don't say these things to blow my own horn only to emphasize to those who maybe considering taking the exam, don' fear it, it's very doable. Besides, your ER nurses, your job is to save lives daily. You are the very finest of the nursing specialities, the best. How bad can one exam be compared to that? Good luck to all who intend to take it and I hope I have convinced a few that the big bad CEN isn't so bad afterall. Now start studying and go pass.

Warmest Regards,

Don

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Specializes in ICU/ER/PACU.

Congrats man!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

Congradualtions !!!!!

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Specializes in ER/PICU/Amb. Care.

Thank you for your congratulations, really. As we all may at sometime, I doubted my ability to pass this exam for reasons I myself am unsure of. The purpose of posting, I hope, is to encourage all to take the plunge and take this exam It has a stigma that is undeserved. Empower yourselves as you do your pts. Please. Thank you once more for your replies.

Don

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Thank you, DON!!! What review book did you use??? Did you pay for and take a review course? If so, which one? I plan to take my exam next year (by the fall).

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

Thanks! I'm studying now, just took the ENA online review course, but want to get a book to review at my leisure. As asked by MBARN08, any recommendations on books?

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, ICU/CCU/NICU, EMS, Transport.

Congratulations on passing!

I also passed mine today (12/11/09)....it wasn't my first time - this was my renewal.

I know you can renew by CEUs, but as my "side business" is travelling and teaching CEN review courses and publishing CEN review books - I wanted to take it (AGAIN), to see what's on the test these days.

I feel it benefits my students that I make sure we cover said material during our review courses or that I include it in my book I wrote.

I'm not embarassed to say I aced with 143/150 questions!

Like the other poster said, some were simple and some were WAYYYYY simple, but there was about 1/4-1/5 that you had to stop and think on!

I hope everybody who is eligible to take it, strongly considers it in their career.

The amount of pride and self-confidence boost is AWESOME!

If I can be of any help to anyone, drop me a note., I love to help/mentor folks!

-Boswell

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Congrats!! You are saying exactly what I tell my ED coworkers -- study a little, then go take this exam! It's definitely not a terrible test if you've worked in an ED for a while.

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Specializes in ER/PICU/Amb. Care.

Lippincott is great as well as Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio. Dont buy more than 2 books and review courses are not needed. You are your review course. STUDY. Just use those 2 books. Study about 30-45 min x 5d q wk for 2m and you'll be fine. Everytime you learn something new, write it on an index card and review those. The test is very clinically based, meaning not rich on nursing theory. If you've worked in an ER 1+ years and study as I stated above, you'll be fine. As I stated earlier, don't predict this exam to be a monster like I did, repeat after me: its very manageable, Its very passable, its not so bad. You passed your NCLEX this is just a test like that one.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I studied off and on but almost all of my answers came from my experience not a review book or class...It's a great way to make yourself more marketable and show that you are knowledgeable in your profession...the NCLEX does not prove you are an ED nurse :-)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, ER.

Congrats on passing!!! :yeah:Thanks for encouraging the rest of us thinking about taking this exam down the road...I hope to take it in 2010.

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Specializes in ER/PICU/Amb. Care.

Great! I found once I set the date (3 months down the road) it really motivated me to study, don't forget to join the ENA first. It will not only lower your cost of the exam but also affiliate you with a professional organization.

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