[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by dakota0927

I am looking for PDA software with CCRN type questions/answers. I first read about it on some website posted by someone who used that software to study for the exam (and ultimately passed) and now can't find the information anywhere! I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who can give me more specifics about any CCRN test prep software that is available.

thanks

Hello! Check out this link, this is the only PDA software I know of, but that doesn't mean there isn't more out there.
http://aacn.pdaorder.com/pdaorder/-/...g-item-id=1343

This is from the AACN itself, however there are quite a few errors in the software, as you will see, if you purchase it.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by walk6miles

I remember very well how long and how hard I studied for my CCRN. I consider it an important "badge" - it isn't "just a certification"; the CCRN behind your name indicates to your patients and your coworkers that:
You know what you are doing when you do something to or
for the patient; i.e., when you do a cardiac output on a fresh post-
op CABG patient, you know what the injectate's calculations
reflect.

You understand why the sequence of events in your patient's
care happen the way they do; you understand the workings of
the different systems within the human body and the consequences
of different treatments.

I am proud of my CCRN; I studied long and hard for it - that made me a better RN for all the hard work (not better than someone who is not a CCRN, just better educated from a personal reflection).

As I have gotten older in my practice, I find my CEU requirement for recertification forces me to work on my knowledge base; I tend to get lazy in my own way - I actually look forward to my CEU's.

And, like it or not, my CCRN puts the physicians I work with on notice that I am the kind of RN who works hard to keep up with what's new in medicine; I am interested in keeping up with the new "treatment modalities"; I can be trusted to know what I am doing. Many of the physicians at my hospital participate in our monthly AACN meetings as lecturers and are familiar with us as a result.

The monetary reward (I actually figured out the cost versus the increase in pay) is WORTH it...

I used Gasparas/Vonfrillo's cassettes (that's how old) and I used every and any practice test I could get my hands on.... I didn't memorize, I analyzed and that made the difference for me!

Good luck!

Thank you so much for the reminder of why this is so important. I would love for more CCRN certified nurses to post on this thread because it helps with the motivation. Tell me about your monthly AACN meetings, is that for the nurses who belong to the AACN? What is your agenda? Does AACN participate in any way? I am asking as something like that might be useful at my hospital.

Thanks again for the post!! I would love it, if you would keep contributing now and then!!

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by deeDawntee

Hi Hooz!!
I hear that Dennison's questions are generally harder than the CCRN, if that helps. What time on Wednesday do you take the exam?

I have doubts whether a hospitalist could pass this test without studying I think maybe even a cardiologist couldn't pass it with no study.

I am doing much better with my Pass CCRN questions. I have every body system to an 80% or more, with the exception of cardiac and multi-system which I will work on full time tomorrow. Multi-system (different shock states), won't be much of a problem. I love shock patients. Cardiac will be most of my day. My best system is hematological/immunology.....if that was a large percent of the test I would feel warm and fuzzy.

My test is either at 1:00 or 1:30, (I forget) PST. I will be full of glucose and caffeine (noticed in nursing school this combo could boost my test percentages by about 5%). Since I work nights, either time offered (9 Am or 1:00 PM) is not really in my prime time. That is a distinct disadvantage for us night-shifters. I have been on vacation since 7/3 though and am on a modified day shift schedule! I force myself to sleep before 2:30 AM, sleep about 6 hours, then take a nap around 5-6 PM. Probably more info than you ever wanted to know!

I will be sure to post on Wednesday after the big test. I am a good test taker and am sort of looking forward to the experience. If I fail, it still was a good learning experience and I will just take it again when I feel ready.
Thanks for all your support!

[Burnt2]

Sounds like I"m going to have to pick up the Pass CCRN CD.........are they computer tests that grade you?

how many are there?

hows it work?

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by Burnt2

Sounds like I"m going to have to pick up the Pass CCRN CD.........are they computer tests that grade you?

how many are there?

hows it work?

Hey Burnt!!

The Pass CCRN by Robin Donohoe Dennison comes with a CD. It is $50.14 on Amazon.com. The book is a really good reference. On the CD, you can choose to test one area at a time and it will grade that area for you. It does offer rationales for each response. Or you can test on preset exams or mix up the test how you would like on different areas. I have the 2nd edition and have some difficulty with the disc giving me an error message, where I lose my test and have to start over. It is a bit frustrating. I have a hunch they have worked out whatever kinks were in my earlier version. I have heard that it is very helpful and that these questions are more difficult than the CCRN itself, so it is quite a good way to judge one's progress. I was told not to use the book as study material, but as a reference to look up areas you don't understand, as it is way too much material than we are expected to know on the test. Hope that helps!!

Oh, I believe there are about 492 questions all total on my version, don't know about the current edition.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

I have doubts whether a hospitalist could pass this test without studying I think maybe even a cardiologist couldn't pass it with no study.

I am doing much better with my Pass CCRN questions. I have every body system to an 80% or more, with the exception of cardiac and multi-system which I will work on full time tomorrow. Multi-system (different shock states), won't be much of a problem. I love shock patients. Cardiac will be most of my day. My best system is hematological/immunology.....if that was a large percent of the test I would feel warm and fuzzy.

My test is either at 1:00 or 1:30, (I forget) PST. I will be full of glucose and caffeine (noticed in nursing school this combo could boost my test percentages by about 5%). Since I work nights, either time offered (9 Am or 1:00 PM) is not really in my prime time. That is a distinct disadvantage for us night-shifters. I have been on vacation since 7/3 though and am on a modified day shift schedule! I force myself to sleep before 2:30 AM, sleep about 6 hours, then take a nap around 5-6 PM. Probably more info than you ever wanted to know!

I will be sure to post on Wednesday after the big test. I am a good test taker and am sort of looking forward to the experience. If I fail, it still was a good learning experience and I will just take it again when I feel ready.
Thanks for all your support!

Way to go!! You are going to do fine. I like how that poster who has her CCRN said she didn't memorize but used the studying to sharpen her analytic skills (paraphrased), I really like that, because that is how it feels to me, that I am not sitting trying to memorize material, but the time studying is reinforcing or reorganizing my brain cells or something like that....Do you know what I'm trying to say? I don't want to memorize stuff that I will forget in a week or two, this is about overall competence and commitment...anyway...
Keep on plugging away!!!

[Burnt2]

Originally Posted by deeDawntee

I don't want to memorize stuff that I will forget in a week or two, this is about overall competence and commitment...

exactly right

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by deeDawntee

Hey Burnt!!

The Pass CCRN by Robin Donohoe Dennison comes with a CD. It is $50.14 on Amazon.com. The book is a really good reference. On the CD, you can choose to test one area at a time and it will grade that area for you. It does offer rationales for each response. Or you can test on preset exams or mix up the test how you would like on different areas. I have the 2nd edition and have some difficulty with the disc giving me an error message, where I lose my test and have to start over. It is a bit frustrating. I have a hunch they have worked out whatever kinks were in my earlier version.

I have the second edition also, but haven't had a problem with it. All of the materials I have were bought on Ebay. The hardest one to find was Dr. Laura's tapes. I posted it to Ebay want it now and it showed up in a couple of weeks. I think I saved at least half of what all these DVDs and software cost retail.

As Dr. Laura would say
Hominous Homimonopia :hatparty:

[walk6miles]

In response to your request for info about our monthly meetings: we have a very active (and vocal) group of nurses. As with most of us, we appeal to our inner hunger (ha, ha) and hold our meetings at a restaurant - we invite a different physician to have dinner with us and make a little presentation on something new or interesting (their choice) within their given field..... IT WORKS !! We avoid summer months but meet between 8 or 9 times a year and we have a wonderful foundation with these physicians.

I don't know what it is about food but we do love to get together!!! Hmmmmm!

Best of luck!!

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by walk6miles

In response to your request for info about our monthly meetings: we have a very active (and vocal) group of nurses. As with most of us, we appeal to our inner hunger (ha, ha) and hold our meetings at a restaurant - we invite a different physician to have dinner with us and make a little presentation on something new or interesting (their choice) within their given field..... IT WORKS !! We avoid summer months but meet between 8 or 9 times a year and we have a wonderful foundation with these physicians.

I don't know what it is about food but we do love to get together!!! Hmmmmm!


Best of luck!!

What a truly excellent idea!! What group of nurses doesn't like food? I really want to know if there are any??!! hehe Thanks for the response. I will see what I can dig up at my hospital. Sounds like a lot of fun!! By the way, who pays for the meal??