Anyone else studying for CCRN exam?

Specialties CCU

Published

  1. I have or would like to get my CCRN certification: (you may select more than one)

    • 851
      Yes
    • 17
      No
    • 365
      If yes: I get some kind of financial reward or incentive to achieve and maintain certification.
    • 331
      If yes: There is no financial reward or incentive at my institution for CCRN certification.
    • 360
      If yes: I have or can have CCRN on my name badge or there is other forms of acknowledgement.
    • 291
      If yes: I find the certification has empowered my practice and would encourage others to pursue it.
    • 13
      If yes: It really hasn't been worth the work and I would discourage others from pursuing it.
    • 5
      If no: I don't have the certification and feel no need or have had negative experiences.
    • 53
      If no: I would like to pursue it, but have had difficulty getting motivated.
    • 12
      I am undecided.

379 members have participated

Is there anyone else out there who is currently studying for the CCRN exam and would like to start a thread as perhaps a study and support group? I have just applied for the exam and have not yet set a date, but about in 3 months is when I will be taking it. I would love to be in communication with others in the same boat! I hope there is at least one other nurse out there! Thanks!

deeDawntee

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Sounds like I"m going to have to pick up the Pass CCRN CD.........are they computer tests that grade you?

how many are there?

hows it work?

Hey Burnt!!

The Pass CCRN by Robin Donohoe Dennison comes with a CD. It is $50.14 on Amazon.com. The book is a really good reference. On the CD, you can choose to test one area at a time and it will grade that area for you. It does offer rationales for each response. Or you can test on preset exams or mix up the test how you would like on different areas. I have the 2nd edition and have some difficulty with the disc giving me an error message, where I lose my test and have to start over. It is a bit frustrating. I have a hunch they have worked out whatever kinks were in my earlier version. I have heard that it is very helpful and that these questions are more difficult than the CCRN itself, so it is quite a good way to judge one's progress. I was told not to use the book as study material, but as a reference to look up areas you don't understand, as it is way too much material than we are expected to know on the test. Hope that helps!!

Oh, I believe there are about 492 questions all total on my version, don't know about the current edition.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I have doubts whether a hospitalist could pass this test without studying ;) I think maybe even a cardiologist couldn't pass it with no study.:uhoh3:

I am doing much better with my Pass CCRN questions. I have every body system to an 80% or more, with the exception of cardiac and multi-system which I will work on full time tomorrow. Multi-system (different shock states), won't be much of a problem. I love shock patients. Cardiac will be most of my day. My best system is hematological/immunology.....if that was a large percent of the test I would feel warm and fuzzy.

My test is either at 1:00 or 1:30, (I forget) PST. I will be full of glucose and caffeine (noticed in nursing school this combo could boost my test percentages by about 5%). Since I work nights, either time offered (9 Am or 1:00 PM) is not really in my prime time. That is a distinct disadvantage for us night-shifters. I have been on vacation since 7/3 though and am on a modified day shift schedule! I force myself to sleep before 2:30 AM, sleep about 6 hours, then take a nap around 5-6 PM. Probably more info than you ever wanted to know!

I will be sure to post on Wednesday after the big test. I am a good test taker and am sort of looking forward to the experience. If I fail, it still was a good learning experience and I will just take it again when I feel ready.

Thanks for all your support!

Way to go!! You are going to do fine. I like how that poster who has her CCRN said she didn't memorize but used the studying to sharpen her analytic skills (paraphrased), I really like that, because that is how it feels to me, that I am not sitting trying to memorize material, but the time studying is reinforcing or reorganizing my brain cells or something like that....Do you know what I'm trying to say? I don't want to memorize stuff that I will forget in a week or two, this is about overall competence and commitment...anyway...

Keep on plugging away!!!

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Specializes in LPN school.
I don't want to memorize stuff that I will forget in a week or two, this is about overall competence and commitment...

exactly right :up:

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Hey Burnt!!

The Pass CCRN by Robin Donohoe Dennison comes with a CD. It is $50.14 on Amazon.com. The book is a really good reference. On the CD, you can choose to test one area at a time and it will grade that area for you. It does offer rationales for each response. Or you can test on preset exams or mix up the test how you would like on different areas. I have the 2nd edition and have some difficulty with the disc giving me an error message, where I lose my test and have to start over. It is a bit frustrating. I have a hunch they have worked out whatever kinks were in my earlier version.

I have the second edition also, but haven't had a problem with it. All of the materials I have were bought on Ebay. The hardest one to find was Dr. Laura's tapes. I posted it to Ebay want it now and it showed up in a couple of weeks. I think I saved at least half of what all these DVDs and software cost retail.

As Dr. Laura would say

Hominous Homimonopia

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

:welcome:In response to your request for info about our monthly meetings: we have a very active (and vocal) group of nurses. As with most of us, we appeal to our inner hunger (ha, ha) and hold our meetings at a restaurant - we invite a different physician to have dinner with us and make a little presentation on something new or interesting (their choice) within their given field..... IT WORKS !! We avoid summer months but meet between 8 or 9 times a year and we have a wonderful foundation with these physicians.

I don't know what it is about food but we do love to get together!!! Hmmmmm!

Best of luck!!

0 Votes
Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
:welcome:In response to your request for info about our monthly meetings: we have a very active (and vocal) group of nurses. As with most of us, we appeal to our inner hunger (ha, ha) and hold our meetings at a restaurant - we invite a different physician to have dinner with us and make a little presentation on something new or interesting (their choice) within their given field..... IT WORKS !! We avoid summer months but meet between 8 or 9 times a year and we have a wonderful foundation with these physicians.

I don't know what it is about food but we do love to get together!!! Hmmmmm!

Best of luck!!

What a truly excellent idea!! What group of nurses doesn't like food? I really want to know if there are any??!! hehe Thanks for the response. I will see what I can dig up at my hospital. Sounds like a lot of fun!! By the way, who pays for the meal??

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Hey ElizabethJ, Maybe this is a little off topic, but not really since this thread is about supporting each other through the CCRN exam, I wanted to ask you how your migraines are? I meant to ask earlier. Did you go to your neurologist? I get those blasted things too, so I can empathize with you. Haven't heard from you in a couple of days, hope you are doing allright!!

:barf01:(none of this, I hope)

0 Votes
Specializes in LPN school.

We have a really low census in our unit, so I was trying to learn how to read xrays last night.......I found this AWESOME site!

check it out

Doesn't have much to do with the CCRN, but hey, it's interesting

0 Votes
Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Hi,

I have been lurking here for some time. I just finished reading this thread. I have to say........you people are amazing! I am so excited to find you.

I have been a teacher for the past 23 years, and before that, worked at a big hospital for 5 years as an aide. I worked in CCU, ER, plus many other depts.

(Back then, we could do a lot more)

Anyway, I found the accelerated BSN program just a few months ago, and jumped for it immediately. I only had to complete 5 pre-req's. I have pharmacology and nutrition right now. Finished pathophysiology and another A&P. Loved it all!

I will be applying next month. I am assuming I'll get in, although it's very competitive - 48 people out of approx. 350 apps.

I would like to work in CCU in a big teaching hospital. I noticed that some of you went right into acute care upon graduation. How did you do that?

Here is my other question: how do you all feel about 2nd career nurses?

I love the kids, I love teaching, but nursing is SO calling me. For years and years. I'm not too old, I have a lot of energy, and I have been inspired by the wonderful nurses who have cared for 3 of my close family members over the past 2 years. All angels.

Is anyone else in this situation? Thanks for reading this!! You guys are fabulous - what a great conversation.

Regards, SusanKathleen

0 Votes
Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
We have a really low census in our unit, so I was trying to learn how to read xrays last night.......I found this AWESOME site!

check it out

Doesn't have much to do with the CCRN, but hey, it's interesting

Very very cool!! I hate when the Docs pull up chest xrays and I don't know what they are seeing, (except if it is all white it is bad, the extent of my knowledge!!) Thank you!!!

0 Votes
Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Hi,

I have been lurking here for some time. I just finished reading this thread. I have to say........you people are amazing! I am so excited to find you.

I have been a teacher for the past 23 years, and before that, worked at a big hospital for 5 years as an aide. I worked in CCU, ER, plus many other depts.

(Back then, we could do a lot more)

Anyway, I found the accelerated BSN program just a few months ago, and jumped for it immediately. I only had to complete 5 pre-req's. I have pharmacology and nutrition right now. Finished pathophysiology and another A&P. Loved it all!

I will be applying next month. I am assuming I'll get in, although it's very competitive - 48 people out of approx. 350 apps.

I would like to work in CCU in a big teaching hospital. I noticed that some of you went right into acute care upon graduation. How did you do that?

Here is my other question: how do you all feel about 2nd career nurses?

I love the kids, I love teaching, but nursing is SO calling me. For years and years. I'm not too old, I have a lot of energy, and I have been inspired by the wonderful nurses who have cared for 3 of my close family members over the past 2 years. All angels.

Is anyone else in this situation? Thanks for reading this!! You guys are fabulous - what a great conversation.

Regards, SusanKathleen

Thanks for the kind words about the people on this thread!!!! I think you will find great people on this entire website. Some of your questions may be better addressed by other people on other threads since not all of us have the experiences you are asking about. Thanks again for the kind words. Keep exploring the forums and discussions, people have conversations about everything you have asked about. Hey, but you are welcome here too, but you may not find what you are looking for!! ;)

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

GOOD LUCK HOOZDOO!!!! On your CCRN today!!! You are gonna do great!!!! Let us know how it went. My thoughts are with you!!!!

:yeah::yeah::yelclap::yelclap::chuckle:chuckle

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