Key Points from Mark Boswell's Lecture on CEN Exam Preparation

Introduction

• Mark Boswell from Boswell Emergency Medical Education provides 10 essential items to focus on for the CEN exam.
• Emphasizes respecting proprietary exam content; the tips are based on publicly available information and common experiences.

10 Essential Topics for CEN Exam

1. Rule of Nines

• Critical for burn patients.
• Suggestion: Draw a stickman during the test to remember different zones for burn percentage calculations.
• Likely to encounter a burn-related question.

2. STEMI Patterns

• Recognize different STEMI patterns: Inferior, septal, anterior, lateral.
• Practice with a 4x3 EKG grid to familiarize with lead names and infarct patterns.
• Expect at least one question on this topic.

3. Organophosphates

• Remember either "MUDDLES" or "SLUDGE" for organophosphate toxidrome symptoms.
• Symptoms involve fluids from various orifices; important symptoms include meiosis, urination, diarrhea, lacrimation, excitation, and salivation.

4. Placenta Previa vs. Placental Abruption

• Differentiate based on pain:
  • Placenta Previa: Painless or low-grade pain.
  • Placental Abruption: Significant pain; prioritize fetus as it may be in distress.

5. Measles vs. Chickenpox

• Differentiate by:
  • Starting point: Measles (face), Chickenpox (trunk).
  • Appearance: Measles are similar, Chickenpox in various stages.
  • Run together: Measles runs together, Chickenpox does not.

6. Torsion vs. Epididymitis

• Differentiate by time of onset:
  • Torsion: Sudden onset, ischemic pain, within 4-6 hours.
  • Epididymitis: Gradual onset, infection over a couple of days.

7. Priorities of Care (ABCs)

• Always revert to ABCs unless there’s massive external hemorrhage.
• Know when to put circulation first; TNCC emphasizes hemorrhage interventions first if necessary.

8. Nursing Process

• Remember the process: Assess, Plan, Intervene, Evaluate.
• The test follows this traditional nursing process.

9. Medication Dosages

• Generally, the test avoids specific dosages due to variability.
• Standard pediatric dosing: Epinephrine is 0.01 mg/kg.

10. Pediatric Fluid Resuscitation

• Standard: 20 ccs per kilogram.
• Focus on resuscitation, not maintenance fluids in the ER context.

Conclusion

• These 10 topics are frequently seen on the CEN exam.
• Study and understand these to potentially secure extra points.
• Additional resources and study sessions available on Mark's website: www.passthecen.com
• Encourages reaching out with feedback on the exam experience.