Your Guide to CPEN

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Your Guide to CPEN Certification

• Get Recognition. Get Ahead.

2
Why Certify?

• Nurses seek certification for different reasons
• Professional development
• Career advancement
• Patient outcomes
• Public accountability

3
Your Benefits

• Recognition from colleagues
• Personal accomplishment
• Increased confidence in clinical skills
• Increased job satisfaction
• An edge on career advancement

4
Professional Benefits

• Special recognition
• Peers
• Nurses Week, Certified Nurses Day
• Patients/families
• Credential on name badges
• Opt-in to BCEN Registry for public listing

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Professional Benefits

• Potential for career/financial rewards
• Bonuses
• Salary differential
• Send proof of your credential to your current
  employer, or to potential employers, using BCENs
  online Publish Credential service

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Professional Benefits

• Proof of professional growth
• Meets a national standard for specialized
  knowledge
• Certified RNs quality indicator for Magnet
• CPENs are Category N for Magnet application
• Nurses who are nationally certified carry a body
  of knowledge that directly impacts patient
  outcomes. Patient outcomes are a large part of
  advancing on the clinical ladder.
• - Debbie White, MSN, MSA, RN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC
• Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
• Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO
• From State of Nursing Salaries 2011

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Patient Benefits

• Increases consumer confidence
• Promotes accountability
• Increases awareness of nursing certification

Nearly 8 out of 10 people surveyed in 2002 were
aware that nurses could be certified in a
specialty areain fact, more aware of nurse
certification than teacher or physician
certification. Harris Interactive, Inc.
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Survey. November 2002.
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What is the CPEN Exam?

• Exam developed jointly by PNCB and BCEN
• Tests knowledge and skills of RNs who provide
  urgent and emergent nursing care to pediatric
  patients
• Experience-based
• Not limited to peds-only or ED-only RNs
• Content reviewed and updated, if needed, every 4
  to 5 years

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Who is BCEN?

• Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
• Established in 1979
• Largest certification board for emergency nursing
  professionals
• Develops robust certification exams fostering
  empowered nurses across the emergency spectrum,
  who contribute noticeably to patient care,
  safety, and outcomes

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Who is PNCB?

• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
• Established in 1975 by the American Academy of
  Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of
  Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
• Largest certification board for nursing
  professionals who care for pediatric populations
• Strengthening care for children is at the heart
  of everything PNCB does

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CPEN Exam Eligibility

• Recommended
• 2 years of full-time practice in pediatric
  emergency nursing care
• Direct care, health care facilitation, education,
  and advocacy for pediatric emergency patients and
  their families
• Required
• 1,000 hours in pediatric emergency nursing
  practice as an RN in the past 24 months
• A current, active, unrestricted RN license in the
  U.S. or Canada

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Eligibility Examples

• Full-time employment as an emergency nurse in a
  pediatric emergency setting for 6 months, or
• Full-time employment as an emergency nurse in a
  mixed-age emergency setting for 2 years with a
  population of approximately 20 pediatric
  patients, or
• Part-time employment as an emergency nurse in a
  pediatric emergency setting, for example, 20
  hours per week for 1 year, or
• Any other combination of practice involving
  direct care, health care facilitation, education,
  and advocacy for pediatric patients and their
  families for a total of 1,000 hours in the past
  24 months.

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Eligibility FAQs

• Q Do I need a BSN to take the exam?
• A No. You can hold a diploma, associates
  degree, bachelors, or masters degree in
  nursing.
• Q If I have 1,000 hours of experience before I
  reach the 24-month point, do I have to wait to
  apply?
• A No. This timeframe just makes sure the
  experience is recent.
• Q What counts for clinical practice hours?
• A Providing direct care, health care
  facilitation, education, and advocacy for
  patients and families.

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Preparation Resources
1
Exam Content Outline
2
CPEN Reference List
3
CPEN Exam Prep
4
Test-taking Strategies Modules
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CPEN Content Outline

• Consists of six major content areas
• Lists percentage of questions in each subject
  matter area
• Access the detailed content outline here

1. Triage process
2. Assessment
3. Technical skills
4. Medical conditions
5. Surgical/Trauma emergencies/Procedural sedation
6. Special considerations
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CPEN Exam

• 175 multiple-choice questions
• Tests your ability to apply knowledge and think
  critically
• Goal is to determine one best answer among
  choices
• For current pass rates, visit the BCEN website or
  the PNCB website.

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Reference List

• A list of respected texts
• Consider using one textbook with which youre
  familiar
• Not inclusive of all resources that could be used
• Access the reference list here

What texts are available where you work? Are
funds available to create a study library?
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CPEN Prep Exam

• Optional online practice test developed by BCEN
  and PNCB
• 50 questions
• Shows how questions are presented
• Includes the rationale for answers
• Score report can show weak areas and help you
  focus your studies

Not a study or review course. See the prep exam
webpage for current pricing.
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Test-taking Strategies Module

• Optional online learning activity developed by
  PNCB
• Exam preparation tips
• Strategies for answering multiple-choice exam
  questions
• Techniques to manage test anxiety

Not a study or review course. See PNCBs website
for current pricing.
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Preparation FAQs

• Q Do I have to take a review course?
• A No, BCEN and PNCB do not require that you
  take a review course. We cant endorse a review
  course, but BCEN lists classes as a courtesy
  here.
• Q Does PNCB or BCEN offer a review book or
  course?
• A No. Doing so would be a conflict of interest,
  especially if a candidate failed the exam after
  paying for a PNCB or BCEN review.
• Q Can BCEN or PNCB recommend the best text?
• A We cant endorse specific texts or review
  courses, but we recommend using one pediatric
  emergency nursing textbook with which youre
  familiar.

Tip! Know colleagues who recently passed? Ask
what texts or other resources they found most
helpful.
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Steps in Applying Testing
1
Apply Online with AMP
2
Schedule Exam with AMP
3
Take the Exam at AMP
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How do I apply?

• Allow 15 minutes to complete the online
  application. Have your RN license info handy.
• Go to the Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP)
  website.
• Click Candidates.
• Select category, program, and exam.
• Enter requested information.
• Basic info about you
• RN licensure
• Education and employment
• Pay the exam fee.

Tip! You will need to take your exam within 90
days of applying. Be sure youre ready to
schedule your test within that timeframe when you
submit the application.
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Eligibility Notification

• This is your green light to schedule your exam!
• You can set your exam date, time, and location at
  the time of application or
• Schedule your test after AMP notifies you by
  email and postcard that your application is
  approved
• Check your spam/junk folder for this important
  email.
• Important timing information
• You receive a 90-day testing window soon after
  applying
• You must schedule your test date and sit for the
  exam during that timeframe.

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Scheduling Your Exam

• Soon after eligibility notification, visit
  Applied Measurement Professionals online to
  schedule your testing day and time.
• Changing or cancelling test dates is managed by
  AMP.
• A 90-day extension is available from AMP for a
  fee.

Tip! Even before you apply, find the closest
testing center to you at AMPs website.
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Test Administration

• You will test at a proctored AMP Testing Center.
• More than 200 locations across the U.S.
• 3 hours testing time
• 175 multiple-choice questions
• Youll be offered a tutorial on using the
  computer.
• Pass/fail status received before leaving the
  center (official mailed results within 3 weeks)

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What to Expect

• Watch a 5-minute video about scheduling and
• testing with Applied Measurement Professionals
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vdYUFF-Sux28

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Test Administration Tips

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
• Bring the 2 required, unexpired IDs matching your
  name on your application.
• Download your Candidate Handbook for explanations
  of all policies, including what can and cannot be
  brought in with you.
• You are allowed to take breaks, but they count as
  part of your testing time.

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Testing FAQs

• Q Is the CPEN exam like the NCLEX?
• A While there are similarities (e.g., testing
  on a computer in a secure, proctored
  environment), there are also differences.
• The CPEN exam asks only multiple-choice
  questions, while NCLEX contains alternate item
  formats (fill in the blanks, hot spot items,
  etc.). With the CPEN exam, you can also return
  to questions and change an answer before final
  submission.
• The CPEN exam does not use adaptive testing,
  which can vary the number of questions a
  candidate sees, and ends when competence is
  determined. The CPEN exam does not end until 3
  hours are up, or unless you submit answers
  before that time limit.

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More Testing FAQs

• Q Is there a penalty for incorrect answers?
• A No, so it is better to answer every item
  rather than skip any items.
• Q How is the exam scored?
• A The number of questions that must be answered
  correctly to pass is decided by a
  psychometrician and an expert panel of CPENs.
  Each question is evaluated for difficulty. Each
  test form is analyzed for the passing cut point.
  Your ability to pass the examination depends on
  the knowledge and skill you display, not on the
  performance of other candidates.

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After the Exam

• Candidates who pass
• Receive pass packet by mail in 3 weeks
• Celebrate your achievement!
• Wear your lapel pin
• Frame your certificate
• Let your leadership know
• Use BCENs online Publish Credential service
• Opt-in to BCENs online Public Registry
• Ask CPEN to be added to your name badge
• Get familiar with the recertification process
• Candidates who are unsuccessful
• Score report mailed in 2-3 weeks
• Reduced fee to retest
• 90-day waiting period to retest

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Celebrate Recognize!

• Visit the PNCB or BCEN websites for
• T-shirts
• Badge appliques
• Plaques
• Download a sample press release
• Print out a Wall of Distinction poster

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Maintaining Certification

• All certification boards require a renewal
  process.
• CPEN recertification documents that youre
  keeping practice and knowledge current.
• CPENs recertify every 4 years.
• The testing company (AMP) will contact you with
  reminders.
• Learn what counts for your recertification here.

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Questions?

• Visit our websites or contact us for assistance
• AMP
• online.goamp.com
• 888-519-9901
• BCEN
• www.BCENcertifications.org
• 877-302-BCEN
• PNCB
• www.pncb-cpen.org
• 888-641-2767

?
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Free Resources

• Unit meetings?
• Skills fairs?
• Certified Nurses Day or Nurses Week events?
• Order free materials here

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Thank you! BCEN and PNCB thank you for the
difference you make for children in your ED. We
wish you much success in your future professional
development!