CCRN Test

I feel like people really psych themselves out when it comes to the CCRN. It is hard, but remember... it is really critical thinking questions and this is knowledge we use all of the time in our daily jobs. Find a good way to understand the hemodynamics... such as PAOP and CVP are indicative of fluid... if your patient is overloaded, the CVP and PAOP will be elevated, volume depleted, they will be low. If your patient is tamponading, ABP is down, but hemodynamics are all elevated because there is increasing pressure in the chest. If your patient is in anaphylactic shock, they are dilated out, so everything is low. If your patient needs to compensate for a low BP, then the SVR will be increased in most cases. PASS CCRN has a great chart for these. Remember, you know most of this stuff already, or you wouldn't be a successful critical care nurse! The CCRN isn't about regurgitating facts, it is about taking the information they give you and using your critical thinking skills to answer the question... something we do constantly whenever we are on the unit!

are we allowed to discuss specific questions that we remember from the test? if u have to retake the exam, will the second exam be the same as the first or will the questions be different?

im a second timer as of tomorrow also. please wish me luck i am terrified and i totally think i will psyche myself out. any last minute words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. . .

im using the LGV cd's and her question book. . hoping her voice will stick in my head tomorrow

I passed mine on 2nd try. First time- I was rushed and never should have taken the test. One- know where the heckthe testing center is. Two- take your time. I used the whole 3 hours! I went back and reviewed (changed a couple- I was like why in the world did I pick that?). I used the Gasparis videos, reviewed my EKG's, and used Critical care made easy book for reviews of systems before starting the cd. I studied for only 1 hr a day. Anymore than that I could'nt process! Good luck and take your time! You know the material

I just took the CCRN for my second time today and I was SOOOOO relieved I passed!

I've been a nurse for 15 years, 11 years which were PACU and MICU. The first time I took the test I didn't study and I didn't pass by a few questions . The second time around I studied for a good 5 weeks. I listened to the Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio CCRN Review Cram audio CD's over and over again. I listened to it sooo much- I can still feel the ear buds in my ears. I also reviewed the book that came with the audio CD's. The book and audio CD is to the point, and packed with info that I saw on the test. Daily I would do the quiz questions on Pass CCRN Computer CD. I barely read the Pass CCRN book, it was overwhelming and I don't do well reading info in outline form. The book is huge and packed with way too much info- simply put its good for a reference. At the end of my 5weeks I did a total of 3 practice tests from the PASS CCRN CD. I would always score 70%-75%. The tests and quizzes were great since they would give rationale for the answers. I was worried that 70-75% wouldn't be good enough to pass the actual test, but I passed with most sections of the test in the low 80 percentiles. You need 70% overall to pass. Looking back I really felt the Pass CCRN test questions were more difficult than the actual exam. Hope this helps anyone taking this exam.

All I can say is it's a relief to be done- I finally have my CCRN!!!

Do you think the PAss CCRN cd's will be beneficial to a new grad RN who is going to orient to the MICU?

Not at first.... I mean, give yourself a year first to learn about everything, and then go review the CD's... they will make much more sense then.

I think listening to the Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio CD's -CCRN review cram would be a great tool to orient to an ICU setting. I think they are a great resource- I do believe that some of the info she gives will make more sense once you start working but at at least you will have some base knowledge of critical care info before and while working in your first ICU job. The ABG explanation was so helpful- I wish I had listened to the CD's when I first started on an ICU. Good Luck and I hope you love ICU just as much as I do.

Hi everyone!

I can't believe how difficult it is to get these famous gasparis DVDs for passing the CCRN....I can't find them anywhere. There's no material out there from her except for a ten year-old paperback book on Amazon. Can ANYONE PLEASE tell me where these are? I find it hard to believe that Ms Vonfrolio has become independently wealthy and stopped selling her material. Thanks to anyone out there who knows how to get one! Thanks

I just passed today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been an ICU nurse for only one year!!! I got 91/125 (72%). That is fine with me! Even though I studied for three months and thought I would have done better (hey I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, I was just thinking about sleep and pecan cookies LOL). I have the Gasparis Dvd's if anyone want to buy from me....

I am so excited!!!!
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gen RN, BSN, CCRN, MPA