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.

That is remarkable!!

Specializes in CCU, MICU, SICU, TELE, MED/SURG.

Is the test the same for everyone? or is it like the NCLEX (adjusting difficulty level with every question answered)? because if it is, then the percentages in types of questions would vary, no?

I need to find out more about this test! I found the Gasparis DVD's but there is 2 kinds: 1) is $150 and the 2) is $700 and it says "institutional". What is the difference? The website did not have a customer service phone or e-mail. Right now I just want to get better at my job. I know I'm not ready for that test.

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Is the test the same for everyone? or is it like the NCLEX (adjusting difficulty level with every question answered)? because if it is, then the percentages in types of questions would vary, no?

I need to find out more about this test! I found the Gasparis DVD's but there is 2 kinds: 1) is $150 and the 2) is $700 and it says "institutional". What is the difference? The website did not have a customer service phone or e-mail. Right now I just want to get better at my job. I know I'm not ready for that test.

Hi,

I don't know if this test is like the NCLEX in like you say, adjusting difficulty etc. I know the percentages are set: Professional Caring and Ethical Practice (20% = 30 questions), Pulmonary (17% = 25 questions), CV (32% = 48 questions) Hematology/immunologic (3% = 4 questions) GI (6% = 9 questions), Multisystem (8% = 12 questions), Renal (5% = 8 questions), Neuro (5% = 8 questions), Endocrine (4%= 6 questions). Exam is computer based, 150 questions and with a 3 hour limit. 125 of those questions are actually scored. with a passing grade at about 70%, there may be a bit a variation in this based on the difficulty of the overall test. AACN.org has all the information. The test costs $300 to take.

As far as the study material, I believe the Institution package would be a hospital purchasing the same material, which would make it accessible to many more people, hence the price difference. Perhaps even multiple copies available? That's just a guess.

I was advised to concentrate on hemodynamics, that seems to be the most difficult content, also AACN is big into their Synergy Model of nursing care, and also they have done a lot of research into Hospital acquired pneumonia, so that would most likely be on the test. I was told to memorize certain things, like electrolyte abnormalities and their signs, and what leads on an EKG indicate where an MI is occurring. Also, the immunosuppresant drugs. David Woodruff's material is quite specific about what to memorize and what to concentrate on. He actually provides flash cards, with the content that should be memorized (not that much really). He explains things very well and has a guarantee you will pass as long as you take the test within 3 mos of receiving his materials. That is actually a good motivator for me! If you don't pass, he will privately tutor you and pay for your next exam. I believe he has a 98% pass rate on the first try. I like those odds!!

To be honest with you, I don't think it is THAT hard, if you concentrate on the right content. If you try to learn EVERYTHING you will go insane!! Let's face it, there will never be an end to what will need to be learned in nursing!!! I think you should go for it!!! Hey, we can support each other. I appreciate your questions and interest in this!!

Specializes in Cardiac.
Is the test the same for everyone? or is it like the NCLEX (adjusting difficulty level with every question answered)? because if it is, then the percentages in types of questions would vary, no?

I need to find out more about this test! I found the Gasparis DVD's but there is 2 kinds: 1) is $150 and the 2) is $700 and it says "institutional". What is the difference? The website did not have a customer service phone or e-mail. Right now I just want to get better at my job. I know I'm not ready for that test.

I didn't get the $700 one!!!!

I got the lesser one, and it has several DVDs on it. It's not the best quality recording, but she's such a great teacher! I highly recommend her tapes!

Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

I am currently studying!!! I have paid and everything and just need to set my date by October 2nd :) I bought 2 CCRN books...One is called 'Pass CCRN' by Robin Donohoe Dennison. This book is slightly overwhelming and has tons of info. It comes with a CD with sample questions. The other book I bought that I love is 'Critical Care Examination Review' by Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio.

It's nice to find a supportive thread like this, I have only been getting positive feedback from my Nurse Manager and other CCRN certified nurses...(there are only 7 others). Some people have been giving me a bit of attitude about it. I decided I'm not going to let anyone get me down about it, I've wanted to do this since before I graduated nursing school!! Good luck in studying!!

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I am currently studying!!! I have paid and everything and just need to set my date by October 2nd :) I bought 2 CCRN books...One is called 'Pass CCRN' by Robin Donohoe Dennison. This book is slightly overwhelming and has tons of info. It comes with a CD with sample questions. The other book I bought that I love is 'Critical Care Examination Review' by Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio.

It's nice to find a supportive thread like this, I have only been getting positive feedback from my Nurse Manager and other CCRN certified nurses...(there are only 7 others). Some people have been giving me a bit of attitude about it. I decided I'm not going to let anyone get me down about it, I've wanted to do this since before I graduated nursing school!! Good luck in studying!!

YAAAYYY!!! You don't know how happy this makes me!! THANK YOU so much for responding to this thread!!!!!

:lol2:

I have paid for the exam but am still waiting for my post card. I would like to take it the end of August because I want to start school in September. I also have the Dennison book and have ordered Linda Gasparis' material, but have not received them yet. I also have David Woodruff's course which I am working through now.

There is a lot of attitude about CCRN where I work as well. I have told only one other nurse because she signed my honor statement, otherwise, I'm keeping it to myself, until I pass.

So how is your studying going? I have found that it has been very empowering. I'm not in the "freaking out" stage yet!! hehe

:lol2::roll:cool:

Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

Studying is going good...I do about an hour or two on the days I have off. And I agree, it is very empowering and I feel that I am really LEARNING this stuff, rather than memorizing, so I am seeing how I can apply it to my patients. Right now I'm mostly concentrating on cardiac, since that is most of the test and what I am weakest at!! (I work MICU).

I have had people say to me (in a snotty attitude): "why would you take a test that makes you get more CEU's than you already need??!" and then they walked away before I could even give all the good reasons why I am taking it. And other nurses on our unit have said that the nurses who are CCRN certified are not good at the bedside (!!!?!!) It's sort of sad. Why do people care what I do in my own time that does not affect them whatsoever?

One more thing, what are you going to school for??

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

It seems like we are in very similar places with this exam. My focus is to really absorb the material, as well, and not just test well and forget it. I'm spending more time studying than I thought I would because I am actually enjoying this process.

Are you kidding me? CCRN certified nurses are not good at the bedside??!! Do they really believe themselves? That is so absurd it is laughable. You should let AACN in on that one and see what their response would be!! That certainly tells me a lot of the character of those nurses. I know that attitude would exist where I work as well. I am afraid of those hard-core old-timers who judge everyone and think nobody is as smart as they are or as good of a nurse. I'm sure they will be laughing behind my back after about 1 year of ICU experience, when I get the CCRN, they will find some way to discredit the certification in general or me in particular! But there also will be a few who will be truly happy for me!! So, in the end, I am really only doing this for myself and to build my own confidence. I also would like to start precepting new ICU nurses!!

Thanks for asking about school, I have applied for an accelerated BSN to MSN program. The soonest I could get into the BSN part of the program would probably be January, but hope to take Statistics this Fall and get it out of the way.

David Woodruff has great suggestions about some testing strategies and provides flashcards for material that should be memorized for the test. I talked a little about that in a post in this thread, but it you would like, I could work on a private message for you and tell you specifically what he says to memorize. He has over a 98% pass rate with his program!

Thanks for the post, talk to you soon!!!

Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

I'm surprised there aren't more people out there currently studying! Maybe some will find this thread and be encouraged to take it! ;)

I also only have just over a year of ICU experience. I'm trying to break the mold on my unit where everyone thinks you need 20+ years of ICU experience to take this test.

And that PM would be great! ;) Back to studying!

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Hello!!

Hope studying is going well! I sent you that PM. One thing I forgot to tell you is there is another area where AACN has done a lot of research and that is Intra-abdominal hypertension, so that will likely be on the test. Apparently one can transduce a foley catheter!! I am going to have to ask around about that, I hadn't even heard about it before!!

I don't think we need to know the Cranial Nerves, I sent an email to David Woodruff about that. I'm concerned about having to figure out drip rates as well. For crying out loud, that's what IV pumps are for!! I know it's not that hard, but I still hate having to do it.

What hours do you work? I'm 12 hour night shift person. So, I basically work 3 nights a week and am almost full time (0.9).

:zzzzz:yawn: Good night!!

Specializes in MICU, CCRN.

Yes, our unit has the set-up to do IAH monitoring through the pts foley catheter. It's interesting. We don't do it very often, but from the research I've read, we should be doing it more.

Ok, good luck to all studying!

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I admire your confidence and ethusiasm, Dee Dee, but I wouldn't write off 20 years of ICU experience so eagerly. And also, they've paid their dues and maybe they don't feel the need to pass this exam since they have so much hands on experience. Also, they probably already are immersed in life and raising kids, spending time with grandkids and don't feel the need for this.

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