Another ? about certification

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I am planning on getting my RNC in the next few months or so. I know what books to study. I have 10 years experience as a nurse with 5 of those years in the NICU. I have worked in Level III units, but the one I am currently in does not do surgery, nitric, or ECMO. I feel I have a pretty good grasp on neonatal disease process, treatments, etc.... I also consider myself a pretty good test taker. I really don't get much test anxiety.

Is the certification exam that hard? How long did you study? I would like to study for a good month and then test. Does that sound reasonable? I think I could pass it. Is there much cardiac on it? I know some basic cardiac stuff related to PDA, VSD, ASD, but not so much about the complex defects. How in-depth does the exam get?

I have checked out the NCC website and saw how the test was broken down so that does help some.

Thanks in advance everyone!

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Specializes in nicu, nursery, postpartum, medical/surgi.

I am getting ready to take the exam Sept 19th. I have been told by many other people that have taken the test that the best way to study is to read the Certification and Core Review question book with all the rationals. I have been told that the questions on the test are about the same in level of difficultly. Hope this info helps:D

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

There were not a lot of cardiac questions, as most Level IIIs do not do cardiac surgeries. Agree with using Verklan's Core curriculum with the study guide.

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Thanks Steve and babyrn30. I do have the question book and I am currently working through it. I am going to plan to study for about a month or so and then hope for the best.

Good luck babyrn30 on your test. Let me know how it went and how hard you thought it was.

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Specializes in Level II & III NICU, Mother-Baby Unit.

I had been a NICU nurse for just over 2 years when I took my NCC neonatal nursing certification exam and I passed it on the first attempt. I remember hearing that each test is a bit different and that there is usually one area which receives more focus than the rest but I'm not certain about that (I took my exam in 2000). I studied the Core Curriculum mainly along with Cloherty & Stark's Manual of Neonatal Care and the Merenstein & Gardner Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care. I studied for about 6 months and got really intense during the last 3 months mostly focusing on the areas I felt weakest in. I feel certain you will do well but don't want to jinx you! I honestly believe that most all NICU nurses who have worked for at least 2 years and are reasonably interested enough to read neonatal nursing books and journals, Neofax, and ask questions of the physicians, nurse practitioners and senior nurses will pass the first time; especially if they study a little bit. Please let us know how it goes!! Crossing fingers for you!!!

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