A question about eligibility to take CCRN

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I have a queston about my eligibility to take the CCRN exam. I have 5 years pure Critical Care (ICU) experience, and 1 yr CCU experience and am currently working in Acute Dialysis. My role in Acute Dialysis leads me to work in the ICU in a daily basis, treating critically ill patients and allowing me to use my critical thinking skills. I have not officially worked in ICU as a staff RN for 4 years. Am I eligible to take the CCRN exam?

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

I'm sure you already know this, but the eligibility requirements are clearly posted on www.aacn.org.

What is says is that you need 1750 hours of "direct bedside care" over the past two years in the care of acutely/critically ill patients. I am not sure that dialysis applies as "direct bedside care", being of a procedural nature, even if you can somehow verify that that you had spent 1750 hours in an ICU doing dialysis over the last two years.

You could contact the AACN but from what their info says, I am thinking they are going to say that you can't sit for the exam unless you go back to an ICU seeing that you haven't worked in one as staff for 4 years.

Any particular reason why you want to take the CCRN seeing that you work in dialysis? What about the CNN (certified nephrology nurse) certification?

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I already have the CDN, and am aiming at doing a BSN in the near future. I want the CCRN to cement my ICU experience and perhaps to return to ICU one day. My role in acute dialysis is not purely procedural, but we use and need our critical thinking skills while carrying out dialysis on a critically ill patient requiring pressors to maintain BP as we affect the BP on a minute-to-minute basis. I would class this as direct patient care. I routinely asses the patient as I would if I were an ICU RN. I am, after all, treating them. I have also trained ICU nurses in CRRT/CVVHD and start and monitor these treatments in the ICU and CCU. Thanks for your input. I have emailed the AACN (of which I am a member). Hopefully they can clarify.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Got my answer! Yes I can! Woo hoo! :yeah:

"As long as the patient is critically or acutely ill, it does not matter what type of unit the nurse is working in or the location. If nurses are attending to acute or critically ill patients on the floor then these hours would count along with the hours they have obtained in the ICU. "

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Specializes in Critical Care.

i am so glad you emailed them. I've had a change in role that has made me wonder if I can sit for the exam or not. I think I"m going to try it. I"ve let this test intimidate me for years...I need to defeat it! Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.
i am so glad you emailed them. I've had a change in role that has made me wonder if I can sit for the exam or not. I think I"m going to try it. I"ve let this test intimidate me for years...I need to defeat it! Good luck to you!

Good luck to you too! Don't let it intimidate you...go for it and beat it! :up:

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