A 75-year-old man has a history of several episodes of transient right-sided arm and hand weakness lasting an hour or two but with full recovery. He is diabetic and hypertensive and is taking medication for both conditions. This time the episode does not resolve and he is taken to the emergency department some 2 hours after the onset of symptoms. He is awake and able to answer questions and give a medical history. His chest is clear and no bruits are heard over the carotids. There is drift of the right arm on examination and his speech is slightly garbled. His blood pressure is 160/95 mm Hg and his pulse is irregular at 80 beats per minute. A CT of the brain reveals a small left-sided occlusion in a branch of the middle cerebral arterial circulation without hemorrhage. What should be the next step in his management?

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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