CCRN Preparation

This is the one I used. It gets updated periodically. I started a couple months ahead studying 1-3 hours a day two or three times a week.
As you go through the questions read all the wrong answers (even on those you got right). The rationale explains the critical thinking and facts.

http://www.greatnurses.com/?content=books.php
Critical Care Examination Review
by Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, RN, PhD, CEN — Joanne Noone, RN, MSN, CS, CCRN
Over 800 multiple choice questions that test your knowledge of critical care nursing. Organizes content by body system so that you can easily study whichever subjects you need to review more thoroughly. Presents valuable test-taking strategies to boost your confidence and give you an added advantage when taking the exam. 412 pgs

Also I found Core Curriculum for Critical Care Nurses by thr American Association of Critical Care Nurses Staff quite complete. It was difficult for me to study from so I made sure to go to a textbook for anything in the Core Curriculum I wasn't familiar with.
Here are a couple links. The first has it used and inexpensive:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Core%20C...1612156?used=1
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASI...060651-3789639

I found the following books very helpful:

Critical Care Cerification: preparation, review, & practice exams. Thomas Ahrens & Donna Prentice.

Pass CCRN! Robin Dennison.

Core Curriculum for Critical Care Nursing. Alspach, Ed.

Core Review for Critical Care Nursing. Alspcha, Ed.

I started reviewing the top 3 books about 10-12 months before the exam. As time got closer, I studied more intensely. I found the last book, which is 3 example tests, very helpful. In addition, I attended a couple of CCRN review courses, one by Laura Gesparis (sp?) and another one by Robin Dennison. I also listened to Laura Gesparis' CCRN review on tape while in the car. Her voice can get pretty annoying after a while, but I still found it very useful. Since I work in a rural hospital and the clinical experience is generally lacking, I hit the books pretty hard. If you work in a major ICU and you study up on the areas you are not familiar with, you shouldn't have a problem.

I went to a ccrn review by Dr. laura gasparis vonfrollio gret review. I did this and got a book with review questions by the same person. 3 months of general overview, and i passed this week.