Hey everyone.... I have been hiding away studying for the last month or so... getting lonely (I'm not too good at the complete-isolation thing).
I am a new grad... I moved to Miami for nursing school, finished, passed NCLEX and realized that Miami has one of the worst job markets (especially for new grads) around. Anyway, I would move, but my wife is in nursing school now... till at least December. So, I figured, while applying for every job within a 1-2 hour drive I should learn as much as possible.
I took ACLS, PALS early this month.
I joined ENA and signed up for TNCC and CEN and have been studying for them this month.
I worked as an EMT and ER Tech before moving to Miami, for 2 years. So, I found a lot of the info from that and these four certs to overlap. I have my TNCC class this Thursday & Friday and then my CEN exam the following Monday.
I have been doing using Jeff Solheim review from Med-Ed (and they are awesome). It was affordable at $125.
I have watched all of them two times, and have listened to some (while at gym or running or driving) an additional time. I have taken 3 of the 7 tests that are in the book I bought from ENA. I have read most of the TNCC book. I have also read about half of an EKG book.
So far my average score is 76%, not bad considering I took the first one before any studying... if I drop that my last two were 81% and 78%, so I can't complain, but I would like to break 90% on at least one of them. I know TNCC will help me acheive that goal. My current subjects in need of further study are: Medical, Neuro and Psych.
I know that most TNCC/CEN takers have been nurses for a while (recommendations are 6 months and 2 years respectively), but I figured it wouldn't hurt to do it, I will be more marketable, and it will show my dedication to ER nursing and initiative.... and most importantly it was fun and I learned a lot. If I had a job offer come up I would pounce on it, but in the mean time, I will keep applying and studying.
I am looking forward to testing my knowledge... I know there is a big difference between book knowledge and practical application and I am happy I have the EMT and ER Tech experience for that reason, but I can't wait to improve on my "nursing" skills soon too.
Anyway... I just had to take a study break, and I figured this would be the perfect forum... thanks... off to read about EKGs and review some of my practice tests, before the wife gets back from clinicals (I have to help her study for a pharm test)
I just had celebratory sushi with my wife...mmmmm.
I bought the ENA Test Book that had 5 (150 question) practice tests + 2 (175 question) practice tests included. I took all 5 written tests and one of the online tests. I took 4 of the 5 written tests 2 times and the one online test two times also.
Here is my score breakdown:
Test 1 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (68.6%) Take 2 (93.3%)
Test 2 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (81.3%) Take 2 (Did Not Take 2nd time)
Test 3 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (78%) Take 2 (97.3%)
Test 4 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (70.7%) Take 2 (98.7%)
Test 5 (Written 150Q) - Take 1 (68.6%) Take 2 (97.3%)
Test 6 (Online 175Q) - Take 1 (73.7%) Take 2 (100%)
Test 7 (Online 175Q) - Not Taken
So, I put together a little spreadsheet... I'm a nerd.
Take 1 Average = 73.5
Take 2 Average = 97.3
Take 1 & 2 Average = 85.4 rounded to nearest whole number = 85
I got an 84.7 rounded to nearest whole number = 85
So, although there's no statistical meaning... that's a cool coincidence...
In a more subjective sense, I found the actual test "felt" easier. There was a bit of redundancy in some Q&A sets that made some answers easier based on other answers. Cross-referencing made answering easier.
I do work better under pressure though, so if test anxiety makes you do better, you'll likely get similar results, if not.... then make sure to avoid the caffeine before, take a breathe and smile... nothing but good will come out of this process of learning.
I did some serious reviewing of all my incorrect answers and ones i was not 100% sure of. So, that means about 50-60 questions per test. Just because you guess right on a practice test, doesn't help, so while taking them mark the ones you are not 100% sure of and review them too. If you have the time review all the questions (the rationales are cool, I'm a very inquisitive person and always ask questions), but if not, as was my case, don't review the ones you didn't mark or get wrong... this way you follow the 80-20 principle and get the most out of your time in terms of increasing your score on Friday.
Good luck... I have to go cook... my wife promised her clinical group food... so I gotta go cook it before we go running.
iRiDiuS, RN, CEN
Thanks for the info! I'm taking my last 150 question test tonight, then studying a little more and taking the 2nd 175 practice exam tomorrow. I took the first exam today and got 76%, the highest of my 150 practices with the rationales has been 85% so far. Of course, it changes you thinking looking at the rationales. I've gone over my Core Curriculum and my Sheehy's, so that's helped. There's SO MUCH you can know...hard to decide what's important. I'm to the point now that I'm focussing my studying on the 4-5 largest testing areas.
I see a drink in my future after this test...wonder how early I can order a Long Island Ice Tea???
Everyone at my house is pretty happy, too...I might act like a regular person again.
To anyone reading this, wondering what/how to study, I would highly recommend the ENA Core Curriculum and the ENA practice exams. I had the lippincott practice exams, but they definitely were not pointing me in the right direction. Much better results with the ENA exams. I took the initial practice exam the BCEN offers, identified my weak areas, reviewed relevant areas in the Core Curriculum, then did the online practice exams from ENA (you get 7 total for $61). After each exam, I reviewed the rationales for the right and wrong answers, then studied those sections some more in the Core Curriculum. I also had a Sheehy's Manual of Emergency Nursing, but really found all the answers in the Core. These resources really focussed my studying on the things I would be seeing on the exam.
Did you guys feel that the Solheim series helped you prepare for the exam? And which format did you purchase- the onine, the DVD or audio CD? I am considering making a purchase but am not sure whether I want to get the audio CD or video. I'm leaning on audio, just because its cheaper but would like to hear what worked for you guys.
Specializes in ER, Trauma, ICU/CCU/NICU, EMS, Transport.
Question to Iridius and Luna;
Did you guys feel that the Solheim series helped you prepare for the exam? And which format did you purchase- the onine, the DVD or audio CD? I am considering making a purchase but am not sure whether I want to get the audio CD or video. I'm leaning on audio, just because its cheaper but would like to hear what worked for you guys.
Thanks!!!
Solheim's stuff has a lot of inaccuracies and unnecessary information.
I've taken his seminar twice - (I am already certified), but I wanted to see what he was teaching and compare it to the exam blueprint. It is lacking in several aspects.
As well, he doesn't write his own stuff (he hasn't practiced at the bedside for sometime now) - he has a "staff" of people write his stuff.
My favorite quote from his class is...."you'll see this on the test, because no one really knows what it is - so they like to ask you those kinds of questions".....???
I enjoyed Solheim's material, and felt that it helped me prepare for the CEN. I can't point to one piece of material as "the one thing" that ultimately did it for me, because I used several resources. But above all, I think my online ENA modules during my fellowship were the best, and they used content from Sheehy's.
I used Solheim's audio (borrowed the CDs from a coworker) because I have a substantial commute, so that was really convenient.
Hi iridius...where did you find the info on the TNCC courses available in Miami? I will be graduating in a month and ER nursing is my passion so I also want the upper hand when it comes to applying. I know they recommend some experience to take the course but I'm confident that I can learn it. I'm already signed up for my ACLS cert in August and then want to do the TNCC after that. Don't think I'll be staying in Miami but still, the more you know hte better.
1st don't get too stressed if, as a new grad, you don't get an ER position in Miami. If you have connections you may, but otherwise, just apply to any and all jobs, that's what worked for me. I'm working in Lauderdale though, because nothing worked out in Miami, but it's great and ironically a shorter commute than a lot of the Miami hospitals (traffic and 95 express lane). I'm not in ER, but in an RCU (Respiratory Care Unit).
The TNCC, ENPC and CATN classes info can be found on the ENA website. I did TNCC at Memorial (Hollywood), ENPC at Sarasota General (Sarasota) and CATN at Broward General (Ft. Lauderdale). I did ACLS, PALS and a Telemetry course through Nursing Unlimited (Miami Gardens) and NRP in St. Petersburg.
Since, you may not stay in Miami I can't say anything about where you may go, I know a lot of places do take new grads so good luck.
You have to wait till your an RN to get the CE credit for TNCC although you can take it before if that does'nt matter to you.
I would recommend ACLS (you are signed up) and PALS before TNCC, also NRP... but there are few dates in each city, so take what you can when you can. I was an EMT and that helped a lot with TNCC.
Hey everyone.... I have been hiding away studying for the last month or so... getting lonely (I'm not too good at the complete-isolation thing).
I am a new grad... I moved to Miami for nursing school, finished, passed NCLEX and realized that Miami has one of the worst job markets (especially for new grads) around. Anyway, I would move, but my wife is in nursing school now... till at least December. So, I figured, while applying for every job within a 1-2 hour drive I should learn as much as possible.
I took ACLS, PALS early this month.
I joined ENA and signed up for TNCC and CEN and have been studying for them this month.
I worked as an EMT and ER Tech before moving to Miami, for 2 years. So, I found a lot of the info from that and these four certs to overlap. I have my TNCC class this Thursday & Friday and then my CEN exam the following Monday.
I have been doing using Jeff Solheim review from Med-Ed (and they are awesome). It was affordable at $125.
I have watched all of them two times, and have listened to some (while at gym or running or driving) an additional time. I have taken 3 of the 7 tests that are in the book I bought from ENA. I have read most of the TNCC book. I have also read about half of an EKG book.
So far my average score is 76%, not bad considering I took the first one before any studying... if I drop that my last two were 81% and 78%, so I can't complain, but I would like to break 90% on at least one of them. I know TNCC will help me acheive that goal. My current subjects in need of further study are: Medical, Neuro and Psych.
I know that most TNCC/CEN takers have been nurses for a while (recommendations are 6 months and 2 years respectively), but I figured it wouldn't hurt to do it, I will be more marketable, and it will show my dedication to ER nursing and initiative.... and most importantly it was fun and I learned a lot. If I had a job offer come up I would pounce on it, but in the mean time, I will keep applying and studying.
I am looking forward to testing my knowledge... I know there is a big difference between book knowledge and practical application and I am happy I have the EMT and ER Tech experience for that reason, but I can't wait to improve on my "nursing" skills soon too.
Anyway... I just had to take a study break, and I figured this would be the perfect forum... thanks... off to read about EKGs and review some of my practice tests, before the wife gets back from clinicals (I have to help her study for a pharm test)
I am new graduate as well. Just got certification for ACLS. Considering doing PALS and TNCC soon. $$$$$ is the only issue but I am sure it will make me more marketable as well. Where should I look for the TNCC book?
I am working in ER and is on sick leave going to years. Before I return to work this year I want to enroll in the TNCC course. I am looking for a practice test book . Can some one help me!! thanks
this one shouldn't be much worse lol
F.E.R.N., BSN, RN
64 Posts
Thanks for the info! I'm taking my last 150 question test tonight, then studying a little more and taking the 2nd 175 practice exam tomorrow. I took the first exam today and got 76%, the highest of my 150 practices with the rationales has been 85% so far. Of course, it changes you thinking looking at the rationales. I've gone over my Core Curriculum and my Sheehy's, so that's helped. There's SO MUCH you can know...hard to decide what's important. I'm to the point now that I'm focussing my studying on the 4-5 largest testing areas.
I see a drink in my future after this test...wonder how early I can order a Long Island Ice Tea???