The CPEN (Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse) credential is awarded by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) to registered nurses who demonstrate advanced competency in pediatric emergency care. Earning the CPEN signals to employers, colleagues, and patients that you have the knowledge and skills to care for critically ill and injured children in the emergency department.
This free printable PDF gives you exam-style practice questions across all CPEN content domains. Download it, print it, and study on your own schedule — on breaks, during commutes, or anywhere away from a screen.
Before sitting the CPEN exam, candidates must meet all of the following criteria:
The CPEN exam consists of 175 questions: 150 scored items and 25 unscored pilot items. You have 3 hours to complete the exam. Questions are multiple-choice and test clinical decision-making across all pediatric emergency content areas.
Respiratory Emergencies — Pediatric respiratory assessment is foundational. You must distinguish between respiratory distress, respiratory failure, and respiratory arrest, and apply BLS/PALS algorithms correctly. High-yield conditions include bronchiolitis, asthma (status asthmaticus management), croup (racemic epinephrine, dexamethasone dosing), epiglottitis (do not agitate the child, prepare for immediate airway), and foreign body aspiration (Heimlich vs. back blows based on age).
Cardiovascular Emergencies — Pediatric cardiac arrest management, recognition of congenital heart defects presenting in the ED (duct-dependent lesions, cyanotic vs. acyanotic defects), SVT management in children (vagal maneuvers, adenosine weight-based dosing), and shock recognition and management across all four types: septic, hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and distributive.
Neurological Emergencies — Febrile seizures vs. epileptic seizures, status epilepticus protocol (benzodiazepine first-line, second-line levetiracetam or fosphenytoin), bacterial meningitis recognition and empiric antibiotic initiation, and head trauma assessment — pediatric GCS scoring, pupil assessment, ICP management (positioning, osmotherapy, neurosurgery thresholds).
Trauma — The Pediatric Trauma Score, the ABC approach to pediatric trauma, and solid organ injuries in blunt abdominal trauma (splenic and liver lacerations — non-operative management criteria). Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is a major CPEN topic: fracture patterns suspicious for abuse (posterior rib fractures, metaphyseal corner fractures, spiral fractures in non-ambulatory children), retinal hemorrhages, and bruising in unusual locations.
Medical Emergencies — Diabetic emergencies with DKA management in children (fluid replacement rate, insulin infusion timing, cerebral edema risk), electrolyte disturbances (hyponatremia, hyperkalemia), anaphylaxis (weight-based epinephrine dosing, IM vs. IV route), and the PALS sepsis pathway (early IV/IO access, fluid resuscitation, vasopressors).
Toxicology — Common pediatric ingestions tested include acetaminophen (N-acetylcysteine protocol), iron (deferoxamine), caustic ingestions (no induced emesis, early endoscopy), and button battery ingestion — this is a true emergency; batteries lodged in the esophagus can cause perforation within 2 hours and must be removed immediately.
Psychosocial and Family-Centered Care — Pain assessment tools by developmental stage (FLACC, Wong-Baker FACES, numerical scales), family presence during resuscitation, therapeutic communication with children and caregivers, and discharge teaching for common conditions.
Print the PDF and work through each question without looking at the answers first. After completing a full set, review every explanation — including the questions you answered correctly. Understanding the reasoning behind each answer builds pattern recognition you'll rely on during the real exam.
Pay particular attention to weight-based pediatric dosing questions and non-accidental trauma recognition. These are areas where test-takers commonly lose points due to vague recall. Write out drug doses and trauma patterns by hand — the act of writing reinforces retention far better than passive reading.
CPEN questions are written to test your ability to prioritize and act quickly. The exam favors scenarios where the correct action is immediate rather than delayed. Key clinical principles to internalize:
Printed PDFs are ideal for deep study, but timed online practice tests prepare you for the real test-day experience — screen-based questions, clock pressure, and immediate scoring. Use both together for the most complete preparation.
Visit our CPEN practice test page for full-length interactive exams with detailed answer explanations and progress tracking, all available free with no registration required.
Most successful CPEN candidates report spending 60–80 hours on structured preparation. Combining printed PDF review with timed online sessions covers both the deep-recall and the timed-decision skills the exam demands.