CCRN's Need advice!!

Specialties MICU

Published

Specializes in ICU.

Hey all you CCRN people out there! How did you prepare for the test? I have talk about this for years and really want to obtain my Certification. I am just wondering how you approach the preparation and actual test. Thanks!!:bow:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

Fortunatly for me I learned to study from day one. I worked in a high acuity teaching SICU and pretty much learned on my feet. Makes it much easier when you take the test. I used a coupl eof the test books just to review.

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Specializes in SICU.

I studied my ass off! Seriously though, I bought some books and studied with co-workers who were also trying to get certified. I bought PASS CCRN which has a good review of the patho if you need review, I bought the AACNs book with just questions and tests. I also bought Laura Gasparis-Vonfrolio's green book of questions and listened to her lectures on CD. They're like $200 but totally worth it. In the end it's really just taking the time to do it. If you work in a good ICU, odds are you do this stuff everyday. And that's what the exam is, stuff you do everyday. I know lots of people will tell you this, but it's true, it wasn't that terrible!

Good luck and you should be proud of yourself that you're trying to increase your knowledge base with this certification...it's a really big deal.

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Specializes in CTICU.

There's a thread here with all you need to know and more: https://allnurses.com/forums/f15/anyone-else-studying-ccrn-exam-232666.html

I did it earlier this year, after >10 yrs in ICU, mostly CTICU. I found it not bad. I did have to review subjects outside my area of expertise, and mostly focused my review on the Pass CCRN book and doing tons (I mean tons) of practice questions. I then looked up the rationale of questions I wasn't sure of. PArt of the trick is learning what they are asking you, and how to answer the question: eg. 'best' answer is the most comprehensive, "what would you do FIRST" etc.

I found it extremely beneficial to relearn a lot of the material (and some I never knew) - and that plus the ICU experience really made it doable.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I primarily used Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's CCRN Review book and video's to study for CCRN. I also saw her LIVE at a review course! She's awesome!

I also bought Dennison's Pass CCRN! book but only used the CD-ROM for the questions that were on it.

Good luck to you!

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