Okay so I've been putting this off for two years and I finally submitted my application for the CEN. Testing date is June 28th and I'm honestly a little panicked. I work nights in a Level II trauma center so I feel like I have the clinical experience, but translating that into passing a standardized exam is a whole different beast. Cardiology and toxicology are my weakest areas — I can manage a real patient fine but the recall-style questions trip me up.
I picked up a BCEN practice test through a prep site and the first full-length attempt humbled me fast. Scored a 68% and the passing benchmark is around 75%, so I have some ground to cover. Has anyone used a structured study guide to fill in the gaps, or is it better to just drill questions until it clicks? I've seen mixed opinions on whether to read cover-to-cover or go straight to practice exams.
Any exam tips from people who've recently passed would be genuinely appreciated. Especially curious how long people studied and whether weak-area focus or full-content review worked better for you.