CEN Exam Preparation
CEN Preparation and Resources
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) provides a list of suggested references to assist candidates in preparing for the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) exam. These resources include core emergency nursing textbooks, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based practice references covering essential topics such as trauma care, cardiovascular emergencies, toxicology, and disaster preparedness.
BoardCerts incorporates these recommended materials along with the BCEN exam blueprint to develop question banks that are accurate, relevant, and aligned with the key competencies required for emergency nursing practice.
Key Concepts on CEN Exam
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
CEN Blueprint and Focus Areas
| Area of Focus | Subtopics | Number of Questions | Percent of Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
Cardiovascular Emergencies | Acute coronary syndrome, Aneurysm and dissection, Cardiopulmonary arrest, Dysrhythmias, Endocarditis, Heart failure, Hypertension, Pericardial tamponade, Pericarditis, Peripheral vascular disease, Thromboembolic disease (e.g., deep vein thrombosis [DVT]), Cardiovascular trauma, Cardiogenic shock and obstructive shock | 19 | 13% |
Respiratory Emergencies | Aspiration, Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Infections, Inhalation injuries, Obstruction, Pleural effusion, Pneumothorax, Noncardiac pulmonary edema, Pulmonary embolus, Respiratory distress syndrome, Respiratory trauma, Pulmonary hypertension | 18 | 12% |
Neurological Emergencies | Neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome), Headache (e.g., temporal arteritis, migraine), Increased intracranial pressure (ICP), Meningitis, Seizure disorders, Stroke, Transient ischemic attack (TIA), Head and spinal cord trauma, Neurogenic shock | 18 | 12% |
Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynecology, and Obstetrical | Gastrointestinal: Acute abdomen, Appendicitis, Peritonitis, Bowel perforation, Cyclic vomiting syndrome, Bleeding, Cholecystitis, Cirrhosis, Diverticulitis, Esophageal varices, Foreign bodies, Hepatitis, Intussusception, Obstructions, Pancreatitis, Gastrointestinal trauma. Genitourinary: Genitourinary infections, Priapism, Renal calculi, Testicular torsion, Genitourinary trauma, Urinary retention. Gynecology: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, Gynecological infections, Ovarian disorders (e.g., cyst, torsion, rupture), Sexual assault and battery, Gynecological trauma. Obstetrical: Abruptio placenta, Ectopic pregnancy, Emergent delivery, Hemorrhage (e.g., postpartum bleeding), Hyperemesis gravidarum, Neonatal resuscitation, Placenta previa, Postpartum infection, Preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome, Preterm labor, Threatened/spontaneous abortion, Obstetric trauma | 18 | 12% |
Mental Health Emergencies | Aggressive and violent behavior, Anxiety disorders (e.g., PTSD, anxiety, panic attack), Mood disorders (e.g., bipolar, depression), Homicidal and suicidal ideation, Thought disorders (e.g., psychosis, schizophrenia), Situational crisis (e.g., terminal diagnosis, job loss, relationship issues, unexpected death), Intentional overdose and ingestions | 11 | 7% |
Medical Emergencies | Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, Hematologic disorders, Electrolyte and fluid imbalance, Endocrine disorders, Immunocompromise (e.g., HIV/AIDS, oncology/chemotherapy, transplant patient), Renal failure, Sepsis, Hypovolemic and distributive shock, Substance use and abuse (e.g., alcohol and drug interactions, side effects, unintentional overdose), Withdrawal syndrome | 14 | 9% |
Musculoskeletal and Wound Emergencies | Musculoskeletal: Amputation, Compartment syndrome, Ligament tendon injuries (e.g., sprains, strains, ruptures), Fractures (e.g., open, closed, fat embolus), Dislocations, Inflammatory conditions (e.g., costochondritis), Osteomyelitis. Wound: Avulsions and degloving injuries, Wound infections, Injection injuries (e.g., grease gun, paint gun), Lacerations, Penetrating injuries (e.g., guns, nail guns), Wound bleeding (e.g., uncontrolled external hemorrhage) | 13 | 9% |
Maxillofacial and Ocular Emergencies | Maxillofacial: Abscess (e.g., peritonsillar, dental), Epistaxis, Facial nerve disorders (e.g., Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia), Maxillofacial infections (e.g., Ludwig's angina, otitis, sinusitis, mastoiditis), Acute vestibular dysfunction (e.g., labyrinthitis, Ménière's disease), Maxillofacial trauma. Ocular: Abrasions, Burns, Foreign bodies, Increased intraocular pressure, Ocular infections (e.g., conjunctivitis, iritis), Retinal artery occlusion, Retinal detachment, Ocular trauma (e.g., hyphema, laceration, globe rupture), Ulcerations and keratitis | 11 | 7% |
Environment and Toxicology Emergencies, and Communicable Diseases | Environment: Burns, Chemical exposure (e.g., organophosphates, cleaning agents), Electrical injuries, Envenomation emergencies, Submersion injury, Temperature-related emergencies, Animal bites (e.g., rabies, infection). Toxicology: Acids and alkalis, Carbon monoxide, Cyanide. Communicable Diseases: C. Difficile, Vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., measles, mumps, pertussis, chicken pox, diphtheria), Influenza, Multi-drug resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA, VRE), Tuberculosis, Hemorrhagic fevers | 14 | 9% |
Professional Issues | Nurse: Ethical dilemmas, Evidence-based practice, Lifelong learning, Impaired nurse and drug diversion, Workplace violence, Stress management (e.g., burnout, compassion fatigue, PTSD), Just Culture. Patient: Discharge planning, End-of-life and Palliative Care (e.g., organ and tissue donation, advance directives, care withholding, family presence), Forensic evidence collection, Pain management and procedural sedation, Patient safety, Patient satisfaction, Transfer and stabilization, Transitions of care, Cultural considerations (e.g., interpretive services, privacy, decision making), Abuse and neglect, Human trafficking, Gender equity (e.g., inclusion, gender transition). System: Delegation of tasks to assistive personnel, Disaster management, Mass casualty, Federal regulations (e.g., HIPAA, EMTALA), Patient consent for treatment, Performance and process improvement, Risk management, Symptom surveillance (e.g., mandatory reporting of diseases, symptom clusters). Triage | 14 | 9% |
CEN Resources
The BoardCerts CEN question bank is meticulously designed to align with the official exam blueprint, ensuring that candidates focus on the most essential topics for success.
In addition, the exam candidate handbook lists the following resources as additional possible material to support preparation:
- AACN Procedure Manual for High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care, Elsevier Saunders
- AACN Core Curriculum for High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care Nursing, Elsevier Saunders
- AACN Core Curriculum for Pediatric High Acuity, Progressive, and Critical Care Nursing, Springer Publishing Company
- Advanced Burn Life Support Course Provider Manual, American Burn Association
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Manual, American Heart Association
- Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses Student Manual, Society for Trauma Nurses
- Advanced Trauma Life Support Student Course Manual, American College of Surgeons
- Core Curriculum for Pediatric Emergency Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association
- Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management, Elsevier Mosby
- Emergency Nursing Core Curriculum, Elsevier Saunders
- Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course Provider Manual, Emergency Nurses Association
- Emergency Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, Emergency Nurses Association
- Lippincott Nursing Procedures, Wolters Kluwer
- Marino’s The Little Intensive Care Unit Book, Wolters Kluwer
- Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference, Elsevier Mosby
- Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, Elsevier Mosby
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Manual, American Heart Association
- Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, Elsevier Saunders
- Sheehy’s Emergency Nursing: Principles and Practice, Elsevier Mosby
