Anyone else studying for CCRN exam?

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  1. I have or would like to get my CCRN certification: (you may select more than one)

    • 851
      Yes
    • 17
      No
    • 365
      If yes: I get some kind of financial reward or incentive to achieve and maintain certification.
    • 331
      If yes: There is no financial reward or incentive at my institution for CCRN certification.
    • 360
      If yes: I have or can have CCRN on my name badge or there is other forms of acknowledgement.
    • 291
      If yes: I find the certification has empowered my practice and would encourage others to pursue it.
    • 13
      If yes: It really hasn't been worth the work and I would discourage others from pursuing it.
    • 5
      If no: I don't have the certification and feel no need or have had negative experiences.
    • 53
      If no: I would like to pursue it, but have had difficulty getting motivated.
    • 12
      I am undecided.

379 members have participated

Is there anyone else out there who is currently studying for the CCRN exam and would like to start a thread as perhaps a study and support group? I have just applied for the exam and have not yet set a date, but about in 3 months is when I will be taking it. I would love to be in communication with others in the same boat! I hope there is at least one other nurse out there! Thanks!

deeDawntee

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I get to get a new name badge that says RN, CCRN ;) Most of my coworkers already have their CCRN so I am just another fish in the sea of CCRNs :trout:

Remember, my workplace gives a hefty incentive for certifications - enough to make every nurse WANT to get a certification.

I have noticed more senior nurses want to brainstorm with me their complex patients. We always have before, but now they trust my advice more than ever. That is a good feeling. We have 3 new RNs on nights and they like to gather around and listen to us for learning purposes. Geez, I am smart all of sudden :uhoh3:

LOL!! Of course, we all knew that all along. :lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I just finished studying MG on the neuro part of the gasparas review book - what a great way to solidify it, dawn! Whats NIF of -20 mean? is that her inspiratory pressure? if it is then thats not bad at all...

Ever notice how after you study something for CCRN, you end up with a patient that coincides with what you've studied? It's uncanny how often thats happened to me since i've started working on the CCRN

Hey Burnt!! Yea, according to the RT at my facility a NIF (negative inspiratory force) of -20 meets one of the parameters for weaning/extubation. So that is very good!

You are sooo right about getting patients you just studied about!!

I am starting to realize just how specialized critical care nursing (and critical care medicine) really is. When I look at where Primary Docs "turn over" their patient to the Intesivists, it is quite predictable. They need (primarily, I think) Vent management and/or vasoactive drips (or the likely potential of either of those treatments). And then how quickly other specialties are called in when it goes beyond that. Maybe that isn't a realization to anyone else! Sometimes I'm a little slow.

hehe

Well, I took tonight off from work and that gives me until Monday at 1:30 PM to solidify material for the test. I will probably be on here a lot. Hope a few of you will check in!! I am excited and psyched to kick it up a notch or two and dig in and nail that sucker!!!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Your test is coming sooooo soon!!! Good luck!

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Specializes in LPN school.

Hehe i'll be here with you tonight - i will be finishing up pacep.org level 2.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

I just took a 150 exam on PASS CCRN by Dennison and these are my results:

Total score: 84%

Cardiology: 79%

Pulmonary: 66%

GI: 100%

Neuro: 80%

Renal: 100%

Endo: 100%

Hem: 75%

Multisystem: 100%

Synergy: 86%

I am posting them here so we can see how well these scores correlate to the actual exam...I am disappointed in the Cardiology and Pulmonary!! Those questions are definitely the most detailed and most difficult even though I would consider those systems my strong areas as opposed to any of the others. I guess I know where my focus will be this weekend.

I don't like being in this test studying mode now...I found the other studying much more enjoyable: Learning for learning's sake. I do want to do well on Pulmonary especially, considering how many vents are in ICU!!! dang...I expected to see different results... higher in cardiac and pulmonary and low in all other areas....

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Hey Dawn,

GREAT scores for PASS CCRN. I think you are just about done studying. Take all the questions for the Pulmonary and Cardiac sections again and you are ready to go girl! Your studying is 98% done!

Good luck,

Hooz

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but I have never done it before. We have glucomanders for our insulin gtts. This is a computer program that calculates what the insulin rate should be based on "some" equation. The multiplier changes at times based on what ever the Accucheck is. We do q 1 hour accuchecks and put them in the computer and the computer tells us what to run the insulin at. Obviously, there are times when you have to use your judgement. Like the time I was running 200+units an hour on a patient, but the patient had epi going at 300-400 hour. plus vaso, plus lev-reg. So, ofcourse your insulin demands will be higher. But, usually, it is a reasonable rate.

So, now my dumb question, which will show my inexperience in other hospitals...how do you figure an insulin gtt without a glucomander? I am sure there is a formula somewhere.

Thanks....

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Specializes in LPN school.

old fashioned sliding scales written down on paper

if it's this level, bolus with x and turn gtt to y/hour.

like heparin drips.

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.

Thanks. Sometimes, it's the dumbest things I don't know.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

hi!! i have composed this little table: see if this looks right and if there are any more to add.

resp acidosis

drug od

cardiac arrest

myasthenia gravis

copd

resp alkalosis

cns disorders

asa overdose

cirrhosis

sepsis

pe

anxiety

met acidosis

dka

lactic acidosis

diarrhea

renal failure

hypovolemic shock

burns

met alkalosis

multiple blood transfusions

hypokalemia

vomitting

renal failure

lasix (contraction alkalosis)

steroids

the concepts surrounding the causes of the respiratory abg disturbances are pretty clear to me. but some of the metabolic ones are harder to grasp. why does hypokalemia cause met alkalosis? i can't find the reason right now and it is driving me nuts!!!

also, does anyone know why hypokalemia causes paralytic ileus??

did you know that giving lasix too fast can cause transient deafness???!!! whoaaaaaa!!!

thanks to all, i know everyone is studying on a saturday night out there!!!! hehehe :lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in LPN school.

The concepts surrounding the causes of the respiratory ABG disturbances are pretty clear to me. But some of the metabolic ones are harder to grasp. Why does hypokalemia cause met alkalosis? I can't find the reason right now and it is driving me nuts!!!

It has to do with hydrogen ion secretion in the kidneys- I think its some kind of exchange system where for every potassium ion exchanged a few hydrogen ions go with it. I'm at work right now so I can't say for sure what the mechanism is, but I remember talking about it in my physiology class last year. I'll look it up when I get home.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Maybe this is a stupid question, but I have never done it before. We have glucomanders for our insulin gtts. This is a computer program that calculates what the insulin rate should be based on "some" equation. The multiplier changes at times based on what ever the Accucheck is. We do q 1 hour accuchecks and put them in the computer and the computer tells us what to run the insulin at. Obviously, there are times when you have to use your judgement. Like the time I was running 200+units an hour on a patient, but the patient had epi going at 300-400 hour. plus vaso, plus lev-reg. So, ofcourse your insulin demands will be higher. But, usually, it is a reasonable rate.

So, now my dumb question, which will show my inexperience in other hospitals...how do you figure an insulin gtt without a glucomander? I am sure there is a formula somewhere.

Thanks....

Actually, for me at my hospital, I just increase or decrease the insulin gtt based on my preference. I look back at the history and put together the clinical picture.

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