CCRN Certification

Specialties CCU

Published

Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

Hello All =)

I just had a question for all of you who have obtained your CCRN. First off, congrats! I've heard about how hard the test can be, and it certainly is a huge accomplishment. I am looking to go for mine, but I am confused about one of the requirements. I understand the acute care hours requirement of 1,750, however does this have to be within two years, or can I have aquired this amount in a year? It reads:

"Practice as a registered nurse is required for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the 2-year period prior to application"

Does that mean I need to have been a nurse for two years?

Thank you!!

Kara

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It can be within one year, 10 months, or 18 months... as long as you have met the hours requirement.

The 2 year statement refers to the hours being within the last 2 years, no greater.

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.
It can be within one year, 10 months, or 18 months... as long as you have met the hours requirement.

The 2 year statement refers to the hours being within the last 2 years, no greater.

Thank you!!

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The biggest kicker is 875 of those hrs have to be within the last year.

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Specializes in MICU.

I work in an acute care setting and I would like to get CCRN certified. I will have the hours required to test in October. Will this certification make me more marketable for ICU jobs? I have heard that the test is difficult so I am beginning to study now. Has anyone taken the test without working in ICU and passed?

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

You are supposed to be working in a critical care setting with the required hours. It can't just be med surg.

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You are supposed to be working in a critical care setting with the required hours. It can't just be med surg.

I don't think that this is correct. The AACN no longer requires practice in a critical care unit as a requirement to sit for the CCRN examination, and hasn't for several years. The CCRN/PCCN Exam Handbook lists the following practice requirement to sit for the CCRN:

Practice as an RN or APRN is required for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the previous 2 years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application. Eligible hours are those spent caring for the patient population (adult, pediatric or neonatal) of the exam for which you are applying.
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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Depends how you interpret that statement... what does CCRN mean if one has a CCRN but no crit care experience?

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

I don't think that this is correct. The AACN no longer requires practice in a critical care unit as a requirement to sit for the CCRN examination, and hasn't for several years. The CCRN/PCCN Exam Handbook lists the following practice requirement to sit for the CCRN:

You have to work in patients who are critically ill or acutely ill. This means high acuity patients not just a general med- surg floor.

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Specializes in CVICU.

The ccrn is only for icu. If you work in a tele/step down floor then you get your pccn. You need icu experience because the test is very difficult. You can't get the necessary knowledge by working Er or med-surg, etc.

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.
The ccrn is only for icu. If you work in a tele/step down floor then you get your pccn. You need icu experience because the test is very difficult. You can't get the necessary knowledge by working Er or med-surg etc.[/quote']

I work in a PCU and tele and I've seen a mix of both

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Specializes in CVICU, CCU, Heart Transplant.
The ccrn is only for icu...You need icu experience because the test is very difficult. You can't get the necessary knowledge by working Er or med-surg, etc.

AACN Website states, "The clinical setting [for CCRN candidates] may include, but is not limited to ICUs, CCUs, emergency departments, trauma units, interventional radiology/cardiology units, or critical care transport/light."

http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/consumer-whatiscert.pcms?menu=

I know a ton of ER nurses that have pass the CCRN exam.

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