CCRN Practice Tests

Specialties CCU

Published

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Hey ya'll... I'm a neuro nurse with only one year off orientation in a neuro ICU. I really want to take my CCRN this year so that my unit will pay for me to take my CNRN next year- and I like to get things done sooner than later... and I'm a pretty good test taker.

Anyways, I'm studying a lot of cardiac cause I've had ZERO CABG pts, ZERO IABPs, ZERO experience with PACs... so like I said, lots of studying over here...

I'm listening to the Laura Gasparagis tapes & studying her "Pearls" book, and taking the practice tests off "Pass CCRN." On the practice tests I get 50-60% generally. For those of you that have taken the test, would you say this is pretty indicitive of how I will do on the exam?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a neuro ICU nurse. I passed the CCRN first try after 1 year. I just studied from the Kaplan CCRN review book. I did get to do an intership though that taught me about all of the ICU's in our hospital. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU/SICU.

I was scoring 80-90% on my practice tests (PASS CCRN! disk) and I passed on my first try. Remember though, cardiac and pulmonary make up much larger portions of the test than anything else. I didn't have much balloon pump or CRRT, but lots of Swan numbers.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Although I do CVICU our neuro ICU nurses are passing just fine so don't worry. I got the Kaplan book from a library, read it, also went to a local review course. I did pass the ccrn cd questions and watched Laura G.

good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Critical Care.

I passed the CCRN first try doing lots of practice questions. I did the Pass CCRN CD and the cardiac was hard. I prob did 50%on the CD and 85 on the legit exam. Remember they make the CCRN for ALL types of ICU nurses so they aren't going to go too crazy into a IABP. Search "CCRN" in iTunes and some free podcasts come up. The cardiac was ESP helpful.

My advice: schedule it!!! Once I did I studied on and off for 3 months and passed!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU.

13 months off orientation & 3 good weeks of studying & I PASSED TODAY!!! yay!!! :)

Thanks yall for your replies! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hello daughteroftheking!

I'm scheduled to take my ccrn soon and like everyone else- am SO nervous. Any last solid advice you can give me before going into the test? Any advice is appreciated! Have been doing many, many questions from PASS CCRN, have studied and done questions from Kaplan and watched Laura G. Still don't feel prepared because I don't know what I am getting into! lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bump!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiovascular Progresive Care Unit.

Here are exam materials by David W. Woodruff

http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/CertificateEducationProgram/NursingCertificationExamMaterials.aspx

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU.

Just took CCRN and passed. I was surprised at how simple the questions were. As others are saying I overstudied. No complex scenarios.It felt more like a new nurse exam. Questions on dilantin dosing, how to confirm NGT placement, 2 questions on dementia..really? I studied from PASS CCRN questions. Those were way more challenging. There were no "signs" except Cullen's. I overstudied obscure signs. DI/ SIADH pretty basic- which way electrolytes go. Pure memorization. No physiology questions, nothing on renal function tests. Dont waste time on any 12 lead interpretation except for the basic leads associated with inf, septal, anterior... Forget about BBB, axis deviation.Did need to know cranial nerves. Nothing complex. I think taking an overview course would suffice for this test. The textbooks are just too complex. Tips- know which way CO, PA, RA, PCWP go with heart failure, hypovolemic shock, MI. Know what drugs to give for these also. For nursing ethics, pick the "nice" answer. I studied Maslow and stages of dying- not on there. One ekg- a flutter , had to pick drugs for that. Don't waste time knowing anything too indepth- for example anatomy of organs and how they work at cellular level. Know electrolytes, how they behave hi and low, and intra/extracellular fluid. Know about blood transfusion triggers, therapeutic hypothermia, pancreatitis signs on a simple level. All in all, the test felt dated and somewhat poorly written. What the test did do, is force me to relearn basic medicine again. For that I am happy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

helpful thanks everyone

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment