A 1-year-old child is brought to the emergency department in a comatose state. His parents state that he fell from a swing and hit his head. There is bruising of the scalp as well as retinal hemorrhages. There are additional bruised areas of the arms and legs and what appears to be a healed rib fracture on chest x-ray. An MRI indicates a subdural hematoma in the parietal portion of the brain. A pediatric neurosurgeon is asked to consult. What is the appropriate course of action for the emergency department nurse now?

What does a CEN do? A Certified Emergency Nurse treats patients while they face a life-threatening crisis.  According to the BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing), which sponsors the certification exam for emergency nurses, the emergency nurse certification process helps patient care by: Establishing a level of knowledge, competency, requirements, and achievements Measuring the attainment of a defined body of knowledge needed to function at the current level of competence Encouraging participation in continuing education Promoting professional development and career... Show more

What does a CEN do?
A Certified Emergency Nurse treats patients while they face a life-threatening crisis.  According to the BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing), which sponsors the certification exam for emergency nurses, the emergency nurse certification process helps patient care by:

Establishing a level of knowledge, competency, requirements, and achievements
Measuring the attainment of a defined body of knowledge needed to function at the current level of competence
Encouraging participation in continuing education
Promoting professional development and career advancement
Providing employers, patients, and peers a mechanism to recognize knowledgeable professionals
Promoting self confidence for emergency nursing practitioners
 .
The CEN exam is composed of 175 multiple choice questions and you are given three hours to complete the exam.
There are twelve areas tested on the CEN exam:
- Cardiovascular 
- Respiratory 
- Medical Emergencies and Infections 
- Neurological
- Orthopedics and Wounds 
- Gastrointestinal 
- Genitourinary, Gynecological and Obstetrical 
- Environment and Toxicology 
- Professional issues 
- Shock 
- Maxillofacial and Ocular 
– Psychosocial

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