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 CTICU.

Congrats, that's amazing taking both in the same day!

Can you give us any insight on the CMC and CSC? What did you/didn't you expect? What was the focus on?

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Alll Right!!!!! YYYaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!

You are the 4th person on this thread who is preparing for the CCRN. How is it going for you? How are the AACN DVDs? Are they as 'dry' as the seem that they would be? I think the Vonfrolio DVDs are amazing. She is having a seminar in MN in October that I definitely want to go to, I think she is an awesome speaker. I love her irreverence for administration, and Doctors!!!

I also have David Woodruffs course which is good.

I will send a personal message to you with the tips I have learned if you would like.

Happy studying!!:lol2::lol2:

Hi I am planning to take the test in March. Your posts are so encouraging. Can you share the personal message with tips to me, please?:confused:

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Specializes in CCRN-CMC-CSC: CTICU, MICU, SICU, TRAUMA.
Congrats, that's amazing taking both in the same day!

Can you give us any insight on the CMC and CSC? What did you/didn't you expect? What was the focus on?

Hey ghillbert... I wrote a little more of what I thought of the CMC and CSC certification exams on the CSC/CMC thread... if you can't find it let me know or if you have other questions after finding that thread let me know... pm me...

I follow your posts and you will obviously have no problem passing either... I can tell you what study materials I used... you should definitely go take them!

There are less than 500 CMCs in the country and less than 600 CSCs. I believe the pass rate for CCRNs taking these exams is somewhere around 80%.

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anybody selling used review material? i am planning to take ccrn but cant shell out the dough for the laura gasparis vonfrolio ones. they're not available on ebay nor amazon as well. perhaps i can borrow and return?

any help would be kindly appreciated.

https://www.greatnurses.com/exp/index.php/products/item/ccrn_review/

thanks.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Try asking around at work - I was able to borrow someone's Gasparis tapes to review, and then gave them back. They are so good though, I think I'll buy them to keep! I never realized what an audible learner I was until I spent weeks driving around listening to those tapes in my car! I knew them off by heart by the time I took the test!

Thanks, Novice-to-Expert. I read your other thread, very interesting. I would like to take both CSC/CMC but at the moment I'm working fulltime, finishing my masters research thesis from Australia, and doing three subjects of my MSN in ACNP... all at the same time. Not sure when I'd have a chance to study for the CSC/CMC at the moment! I have Finkelmeier's CT nursing book, and Robert Bojar's cardiac book to study from. I think I'll register in about 2 months, and then plan to take the exam in my break before next semester starts!

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
Hi I am planning to take the test in March. Your posts are so encouraging. Can you share the personal message with tips to me, please?:confused:

The "tips" are common sense, really. Any good review course will give you what you need. Anti-rejection medications: all of them cause risk of infection, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Watch for decreased WBC's, RBC's and PLTS.

and then know the specifics of these 6 medications:

Corticosteroids: can cause GI bleeds, hyperglycemia, adrenal suppression

Cyclosporine: Hyperkalemia and hypomagnesia

ATgam: Thrombocytopenia

OKT3 (muromonab-CD3): decreased WBC;s and PLTS

Prograf: Hyperkalemia and hypomagnesia

Cellcept: HTN and hypokalemia.

Know Shock states: Hypovolemic, Cardiogenic, Septic (hyperdynamic and shock) neuro/spinal and anaphylactic. Know what is happening with hemodynamics in these states.

Memorize normal for PA catheter values: PAS/PAD, PCWP, CVP, CO, CI, SVR, PVR

know that MAP= DBP X2 / SBP/3

Know the actions of hemodynamic medications as far as HR, BP and CO also normal dose ranges for: Dopamine, Dobutamine, Levophed, Epi, Dig, Nitro, Nipride, Ami.

Know the action of Calcium Channel Blockers and what they interact with (beta blockers, grapefruit juice, anti-arrythmics and anti-seizure meds)

Know the action of Beta Blockers and what to watch for: Use in caution with diabetics (can mask hypoglycemia) asthmatics and additive effects with Ca channel blockers and ACEI.

12-Lead EKG interpretation: difference btw ischemia, injury and necrosis on 12 lead.

Know which leads indicate where on the heart the injury is.

Know sxs and treatment of hyper/hypo: kalemia, natremia, calcemia, magnesia, phosphorous.

Know basic ventilator terminolgy. ABG's. Chest tubes: what is normal/abnormal in suction chamber, water seal, and collection chamber.

For Neuro know the Glasgow coma scoring. Know the hematomas (epidural, subdural, subarchnoid) Know the basic ACLS algorithms.

Also, know Hospital Acquired Pneumonia cause and treatment. AACN apparently funded a big study on this and it is always on the test. Know that tooth brushing (not just the swabs) and turning and repositioning are considered very important and of course hand-washing, even of pastoral care staff etc, apparently there is a case where a pastor contaminated several pts. Also, intra-abdominal hypertension, AACN also funded a big study on that issue.

Not all of these will necessarily be on your exam. I continue to stress that the PASS CCRN CD with the mock exams are the best way to judge your readiness.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
anybody selling used review material? i am planning to take ccrn but cant shell out the dough for the laura gasparis vonfrolio ones. they're not available on ebay nor amazon as well. perhaps i can borrow and return?

any help would be kindly appreciated.

https://www.greatnurses.com/exp/index.php/products/item/ccrn_review/

thanks.

i would definitely ask around your hospital or even other hospitals in your area. does your hospital have a fund for educational materials? perhaps they would purchase them for their library? do you have an educational 'allowance' that you can tap into (tuition reimbursement), perhaps if you petition whoever is in charge of that they would release funds for your educational advancement. hospitals are definitely interested in advancing interest in their nurses receiving certification, so there may be more resources available to you than you think.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
anybody selling used review material? i am planning to take ccrn but cant shell out the dough for the laura gasparis vonfrolio ones. they're not available on ebay nor amazon as well. perhaps i can borrow and return?

any help would be kindly appreciated.

https://www.greatnurses.com/exp/index.php/products/item/ccrn_review/

thanks.

i would definitely ask around your hospital or even other hospitals in your area. does your hospital have a fund for educational materials? perhaps they would purchase them for their library? do you have an educational 'allowance' that you can tap into (tuition reimbursement), perhaps if you petition whoever is in charge of that they would release funds for your educational advancement. hospitals are definitely interested in advancing interest in their nurses receiving certification, so there may be more resources available to you than you think.

if you can't get her course, you still can pass the exam (obviously!). perhaps dr laura herself would offer a discount if you emailed her personally. it wouldn't surprise me.

good luck!! :wink2:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

How is it going?? Anyone studying for their CCRN??!! Are we having fun yet?? Please check in and let us know how you are doing!!

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Hey DeeDawntee,

Its been a long time...I finally sent off my $$$ to test and have to take it by 1/28/09. I plan on scheduling it mid-December cause the beginning of the year will be too hectic. I am starting to get back to studying at each avaliable moment. Still need to focus on Cardio and Pulm. Anymore helpful tips? I'm nervous about this!!!

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

You will do just fine! Every single person on this thread has passed, and you certainly will too!!! It is not THAT hard. Just study the right stuff and you will amaze yourself! Are you using the PASS CCRN cd of questions to gage your progress?? It is really very helpful and confidence building.

Please keep in touch, lets see if we can spark some other folks out there to perhaps make a new year's resolution to pass their CCRN!

Glad you have made the commitment!!

Way to go!!! :yeah::yeah::yeah:

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I have plans to start studying for the CCRN and take it in a few months....but I may be changing jobs out of intensive care, maybe into cath lab or interventional rad. If I do the job change, are any of those jobs considered intensive care to keep my eligibility both before and after the test? Is it worth it for me to even take the test? :uhoh3: :bugeyes: :uhoh3:

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