CMC Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification

Specialties MICU

Published

Hey all -- So I registered for the CMC subspecialty cert through the AACN. I recently passed my CCRN :w00t: and scored 100% on the cardio portion of the test. I was wondering if anyone out there has recently taken the exam and can offer any advice?? I know they just launched a new version of the test on 6/20.

Thanks!

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Specializes in CHPN, PCCN.
Hey all -- So I registered for the CMC subspecialty cert through the AACN. I recently passed my CCRN :w00t: and scored 100% on the cardio portion of the test. I was wondering if anyone out there has recently taken the exam and can offer any advice?? I know they just launched a new version of the test on 6/20. Thanks!
Hi, I too am planning to take the CMC. In August, actually. I was on here looking for the same information! Any advice would be great!
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Hey NCcardiacNurse -- What type of ICU do you work in? I researched on the boards a bit and it seems as though the general consensus is that the CMC subspec exam is a little easier than the CCRN, but just becase its a focused exam. There arent many RNs talking about the exam on here so I get the feeling that the exam is "unpopular" if you will. I am taking this exam to strengthen my credentials becasue someday I would LOVE to work in a CTICU recovering hearts...Here are some facts about the CMC exam that I have found on the AACN website...

Total number of CMC certificants: 1,134 (WOW, compared to the CCRNs 59,392)

Total number of CMC certificants in NJ (Where I live): 53

Total number of CMC certificants in NC (Im assuming thats where you live): 56

Pass rate (Im assuming this is based on exams PRIOR to June 20th): 73.6% (exactly the same as CCRN)

Total number of items on CMC exam: 90

Total number of SCORED items on CMC exam: 75

Passing score (total number of SCORED items that have to be answered correctly in order to pass): 51

^^I am assuming that the above is true for exams PRIOR to June 20th, I am unsure as to wether they changed the number of items on the exam or the cut score for the new version.

Hope this information helps! Alot of the CV stuff is still fresh in my head from when I took the CCRN in April so I dont plan on studying AS hardcore as I did for that...I am however taking a CV review course offered through my hospital -- It follows the test plan for the ANCCs RN-BC (CV cert)...I figure something is better than nothing!

Best of luck!

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Specializes in CTICU.

I have been CT surgical ICU all my career, and I was worried about the CMC when I took it last year.. in the end I found that it was easier than the CSC for me, weirdly. Just really know your treatment of MI, hemodynamics. If you got 100% on cardiac in CCRN I'm sure you'll be okay.

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If you got 100% on cardiac in CCRN I'm sure you'll be okay.

Thats what I was thinking, lol.

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Specializes in ICU, EMS.

I found the CMC certification to easily be the most difficult of the speciality exams I have taken (CCRN, CMC, CEN, CHPN). Part was the lack of specific study materials for the exam but AACN seems to have addressed this issue. Good Luck! I am sure you will do fine.

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Wow -- You thought it was harder then CCRN?! I might have to start taking this a little more seriously!

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Specializes in CHPN, PCCN.

SICU_Murse,

Hi, sorry for the late reply! My main floor is tele but float often to just a general ICU, no specialty. I would love to do CVICU though! I received my PCCN in May and my CHPN (hospice) in March. I passed both the first time with little studying, so am crossing my fingers for the same luck with the CMC, ha! My co-worker/PCC has talked me into taking the CMC to make our application to an NP program stronger. So I have reluctantly decided to do it. We take it August 11. I've heard different things about the exam (easier than the CCRN vs harder). And I don't know of anyone that has taken it! It's just hard to find study material for it. At least anything that is affordable! You def did your homework! And with you making a 100% on the cardiac part on your CCRN, I believe you should do just fine! Good luck with the exam!!

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NC -- I actually moved my test date up to this Monday! I'll let you know how it goes.

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Hello SICU_Murse and others who will be taking the CMC exam in the near future,

I recently took the CMC examon May 18th and the CSC on June 19th because I wanted to make sure I had these under my belt before they changed the blueprint/formatting of the exam lol. It seems as if they are trying to make it more difficult now because I've compared the new blurprints of both exams to the ones I had to use for my exams and they have added a SIGNIFICANT amount of information that you need to know, in all areas being tested (cardiac problems, other cardiology issues, other patient problems which includes pulmonary, endocrine, hematology, neurology, renal, and the nursing interventions section which consists of cardiology interventions, pulmonary interventions, cardiology monitoring, and pulmonary monitoring). I think you should be just fine though given that you received a perfect score on the Cardiac portion of the CCRN!! You are obviously very strong in cardiology. Congrats on that my dear!!! That's amazing!!!

- One last bit of advice, take both the CMC and CSC exams seriously and study your butt off. Just because someone finds a particular exam easy or difficult, doesn't mean that you necessarily will. I found the CMC to be much more difficult than I expected. I found the CSC to be easier than the CMC. Again just my opinion and experience with it. It varies from person to person. I think the reason why some may find the subspeciality exams "easier" than the CCRN are because they are more focused exams but because of this, the material in WAY MORE in depth and detailed whereas the CCRN covers every system. Just don't take anything for granted and still work hard. You'll do great!!! I promise!! Good luck to everyone taking their CMC or CSC exams in the near future!!! Feel free to PM me for at any time :-)

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Whoops, I forgot to add the study materials I that I found to be very helpful. Too bad there isn't alot of information out there about these exams and how to adequately prepare for them but I'm willing to pass on what I know and help everyone to make it easier. I did alot of trial and error but this is what worked for me for both exams:

CMC Study Materials:

- Cardiocascular Care Made Incredibly Visual by Lippincot, Williams, & Wilkins

- Cardiovasulcar Nursing Practice by Carol Jacobsen, Karen Marzlin, and Cynthia Webner (it's a big red and black book- I used this one for the CSC and wish I had discovered it sooner, wouldn't been a great help for the CMC as well-MUST HAVE)

- AACN Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) Review Course with the CD Roms. It also comes with a booklet but I never actually used the booklet.

- AACN Practice CMC Exam Questions booklet from the aacn.org website ($8- it's a green and white book)

- Pass CCRN CD by Dennison for practice questions. I did the cardiac questions only about 100-150/day to the point where I was getting 100's.

CSC Study Materials:

- Cardiovasulcar Nursing Practice by Carol Jacobsen, Karen Marzlin, and Cynthia Webner (it's a big red and black book) and I focused on the open heart/cardiac surgery chapter only, read it a few times

- AACN Cardiac Medicine Certification (CSC) Review Course with the CD Roms and booklet with all the powerpoint slides that the speakers read from in the CD Rom lectures. I got the audio version so I could follow the powerpoint slides as the speakers spoke and write down all of the supporting details/facts/interesting points in each corresponding slide. Liked this alot. Did this twice and it worked like a charm. Still remember everything.

- AACN Practice CSC Exam Questions booklet from the aacn.org website ($8- it's a blue and white book)

- Pass CCRN CD by Dennison for practice questions again focusing on the cardiac questions only about 100-150/day to the point where I was getting 100's.

- AACN Certification and Core Review for High Acuity and Critical Care 6th Edition by Saunders (did a ton of cardiac questions only)

- CSC Exam Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix

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Ms. B -- thank you for all of the wonderful information! It helped me guide my studying nicely along with the review course I took at my hospital! I'm on my way to take the exam now! Will let everyone know how it goes!

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