Studying for CEN

Specialties Emergency

Published

I am an ED RN with about a year of experience (first job). I am a good test-taker and pretty academically inclined so I would like to start studying for the CEN. I plan to use Sheehy's, Mark Boswell and the ENA study guide.

Before I spend $60 on the ENA study guide, I was wondering if anyone has used it recently? I noticed it was published in 2009 and I heard the test was just changed in July. I just wanted to make sure it was still relevant before I purchased it.

Any other good resource recommendations would also be appreciated! Thanks.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

I went to one of Jeff Solheim's classes to review before taking the exam. Have you done your TNCC and ENPC yet?

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Specializes in ER.
I went to one of Jeff Solheim's classes to review before taking the exam. Have you done your TNCC and ENPC yet?

If you haven't taken those classes or ACLS, PALS, etc. for some reason take them close to when you test. I took my PALS renewal on a Friday and took my CEN on the following Monday. I knew my pediatric algorithms backward and forward.

I'm uncertain as to how useful the ENA study guide is, as I did't use it.

I would also check out the following thread:

https://allnurses.com/emergency-nursing/cen-2016-1023524.html

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You will be fine, just watch all Boswell videos on youtube, they are amazing. What a nice guy for posting them all for free for others to use. I can tell you for fact there is no free comprehensive CCRN review material. I think Boswell has the best overview of the test

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Specializes in emergency/ED.

I just passed my CEN on July 26th.

I used the MED-ED Jeff Solheim's CEN review (worth the $170 since they'll pay you back your money if you fail) and the CEN review book (the one published in 2009). I passed with flying colors.

I have 2.5 years of ER nursing experience and 6 years of paramedic.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I found that the CEN is mostly ABCD and scope of practice. Yes you need to know some of the more obscure stuff like not allowing pts with Leforte fractures to use straws when drinking, etc. However, ENA knows that we work so closely with physicians that we sometimes hang a bolus or perform some other testing and get the order afterwards. They can trip you up with that on the tests.

If you have airway, breathing, circulation, disability and know scope of practice (get vs, notify provider, place IVs) then you have got most of the test passed already.

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I passed in January of this year using Boswell's videos, ENA book, & Sheehy's for clarification/boning up on what I scored poorly on. Good luck!

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