CCRN Exam

Specialties Critical

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Specializes in ICU.

so I am just nervous about taking the CCRN exam. Ive been a critical care RN for 6 years. The one book that I was using to study and do practise exams from, I was consistantly getting 68%. i did one practise exam before I really studied, and did one after I studied and took a review class. Still got the same using that book...see the link, this is the book I used. So needless to say i was getting discouraged.

http://www.amazon.com/Critical-Care-Nursing-Certification-Preparation/dp/007166789X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1321234700&sr=8-5

So I did the 60 sample questions that you pay $50 for on the AACN website

http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/saeexam.pcms?menu=certification

I got 88%. So I dont know what to think. Im going to get the Pass CCRN book and do that for the next 3-4 weeks then im going to take the exam. But do you think that based on how I did from that 60 question self assesment that I should do fine on the CCRN? I feel like I would be fine, it almost seemed too easy, but then with the other book that I was using I was not doing as well.

Opinions/ past experiences would be helpfull

Creamsoda

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

I just passed the PCCN which is similar in many ways to the CCRN exam. The questions on the AACN website (I coughed up for them, too) are indeed very similar to what you will see. It sounds like you are studying your brains out. That bodes well.

For me, the more anxious I got, the more I studied. Good luck with your exam!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Get the Laura Gasparis CD's and listen to those. She is funny, interesting, and an awesome educator. You will never get bored listening to them! There are 8 CD's that come in the kit, and they are about an hour to an hour-and-a-half each, but she will keep your attention the whole time. I found that literally just about every topic she discusses is on the exam. Listen to her CD's, take a few practice questions just to get into the "test mode" and you'll ace the exam

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Also study alot of neuro because I just took the exam (passed it) and realized there was much more neuro questions than Laura Gasparis touched on. Know signs and symptoms since it seem every 3rd question was on signs and symptoms or what to expect. Good luck and if you have any questions, let me know.

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Specializes in CriticalCare.

ahrens is a smart dude--he works here in saint louis at washington university

i studied his books back in the 90s--riddled with errors, but concise.

i wouldnt gauge your chance of success on his product.

the test is difficult from what i have been told. personally, i would purchase every question-bank book on the market (even the old stuff-gasparsis has one) and understand all the questions. i would included ccrn, pccn, cen, and cfrn (minus the flight physiology) information.

it is more than just the information that is presented in seminars. i mean, yes, i would probably subsribe to meded and watch their ccrn, pccn and next product (72hrs of videos), and i would buy gasparsis' dvd product (i just did, along with hemodynamics--need to figure out how to resell), and i would watch these videos a few times over.

but a bank of 5,000 test questions wherein u understand the rationales, etc, provides for a well-rounded 'trauma' background that would serve u beyond the exam itself, in addition to feeling secure about testing for the certification

just my 2cents

but realize i over-do my studying as a rule

:)

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Specializes in Interventional Radiology.
so i am just nervous about taking the ccrn exam. ive been a critical care rn for 6 years. the one book that i was using to study and do practise exams from, i was consistantly getting 68%. i did one practise exam before i really studied, and did one after i studied and took a review class. still got the same using that book...see the link, this is the book i used. so needless to say i was getting discouraged.

http://www.amazon.com/critical-care-nursing-certification-preparation/dp/007166789x/ref=sr_1_5?ie=utf8&qid=1321234700&sr=8-5

so i did the 60 sample questions that you pay $50 for on the aacn website

http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/saeexam.pcms?menu=certification

i got 88%. so i dont know what to think. im going to get the pass ccrn book and do that for the next 3-4 weeks then im going to take the exam. but do you think that based on how i did from that 60 question self assesment that i should do fine on the ccrn? i feel like i would be fine, it almost seemed too easy, but then with the other book that i was using i was not doing as well.

opinions/ past experiences would be helpfull

creamsoda

it sounds to me like you are well prepared. i didn't do half of what you have and i passed. don't fret...it is actually played up as a much harder test than it really is. i'm sure you'll do great!!

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport/Intensive Care/Management.

I took the exam today and PASSED. I'm still in a daze, kinda hard to believe but I did it! I used Laura Gasparis-Vonfrolio's videos and the Pass CCRN CD. I took the AACN's SAE a day prior to taking the test. None of the SAE questions came out from my test but it prepared me to get used to the test environment. There were a lot of neuro questions. I wasn't prepared for that. Still made it though. And this forum really helped!

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