[nurse-lou]

I took the exam today! It was tough! But I am proud to say that I am now officially a CCRN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy!!!!

I didn't do as well as I would have liked but I passed regardless!!!!!!!!! I know someone that went to that Med-Ed seminar and he felt that it was a waste of time. He also agreed that Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio was better. But to each is own. I wholeheartedly endorse Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio!

Good luck to the rest of you!


Kelly, RN CCRN

[rarjn5]

specifically, should I buy the Laura's DVD's and the CCRN review book, or what? And where is the best site to buy from?

[nurse-lou]

The Gasparis Vonfrolio CCRN review book can be found at amazon.com cheap. Check eBay for the DVD's. I highly recommend both. No, she's not paying me to say that either. Or, if you can, go see her live. She does two day seminars at different locations throughout the country.

Good luck!

[zipporah]

I passed my CCRN in 1991 and had taken a dynamite review class but I think the key to success was the Core text for AACN and enough experience to put it all together. I know the test has changed some since then but use the core text as well as these big name speakers. I have listened to nancy townsend (NTI speaker) as well as other big names and they are great; but look at that core text becasue that is what we are responsible for.

[rarjn5]

Thank you for all the help. I think I will try Laura's DVD first and go from there.

[nurse-lou]

I think a big part of success on the CCRN exam is the experience level and maybe even the type of ICU in which you work. I used to work in a 28 bed Surgical/Cardiac/Trauma ICU and we would get a little bit of everything. Trauma's, Brain injuries, CABG's, MI's, GI Bleeds. So, I got very familiar with Swan Ganz catheters, Ventric's, Ventilators, etc.

The unit that I work in now is very small and the pt's would be on a tele floor at a larger facility. In this new unit, nurses aren't even allowed to wedge a Swan. Just found out today that we're not allowed to pull art lines or central lines either. Oh well. Let the House Officer do it! One less thing for me to do!

On my exam yesterday I had a LOT of questions relating to Swan readings and their applications to the clinical condition of the patient. A LOT!!

I have never even SEEN the AACN Core Curriculum. Maybe I'd purchase it if it didn't cost like $100

[tammyg652]

Originally Posted by nurse-lou

I took the exam today! It was tough! But I am proud to say that I am now officially a CCRN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy!!!!

I didn't do as well as I would have liked but I passed regardless!!!!!!!!! I know someone that went to that Med-Ed seminar and he felt that it was a waste of time. He also agreed that Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio was better. But to each is own. I wholeheartedly endorse Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio!

Good luck to the rest of you!


Kelly, RN CCRN

Congradulation i glad u pass u deserve a hand clap.

[rarjn5]

Congratulations to you! How long did the test take? How many questions? Did you use any of the official CCRN study books or CD study questions? I'm still trying to get my strategy together on how to tackle this TEST so it is encouraging to hear of a recent success story!

[nurse-lou]

Thank you! I used mainly Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's CCRN review material. I bought the tapes, attended her live seminar, and bought her CCRN review book that's LOADED with review questions. I also used the CD in the PASS CCRN book. I did not use any materials put out by the AACN.


There are 150 questions on the CCRN exam. 25 of those questions do not count in your score but are used for future exams. My exam started at 9am and I finished the test at 10:15 am. I am a quick test taker and rarely spend longer than a few minutes on each question. Was like that all through nursing school. It's a TOUGH test! Don't fool yourself into thinking it won't be that tough! IT IS!!!! I had a LOT of questions on hemodynamics and what they mean, how to interpret them in regards to different disease processes. Good luck!

[BAMACCRN]

I signed up for the CCRN test before I looked over any material. WHY? If you have decent test taking abilities you will pass the test. Any CCRN review will help. I suggest a 50/50 approach. Work on test taking skills and synthesizing info rather than cramming over long periods of studying. The test is easier than the NCLEX if you ask me (I am no braniac....ask my wife ).