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 ICU.

I appreciate this advice. I have already taken it twice. The first time, I was overconfident and certainly unprepared. I took it again a couple of years ago, stressed about home situations and not prepared. I WILL PASS

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
thanks!! i think i will purchase the pass ccrn first and go from there. its the cheapest and seems to have received great reviews. if i still remain uncomfortable after using that i will most likely go to

laura gasparis dvd course. pass ccrn by robin donohoe dennison has my bet both affordable and great reveiws.

after reading my first post, i really did not want to sound like a money greedy nurse. i dont mind paying money for a good education and if it gets reimbursed, great. that would include review courses. i think in understanding the first place i looked was amazon.com, read many reviews. there were way to many mixed reviews on helful or not helpful. it left me fairly confused, hence the submitting the blog here.

thanks again!

dj

you didn't sound money greedy at all jd, just trying to get the best material for your money. sounds smart to me!! :wink2:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I think I'm finally going to take the plunge and enter the world of those officially studying for the CCRN. I already have the Pass CCRN book and will try to get some of Laura Gasparis's DVDs when I have some extra money. I'm looking at a goal date of late March 2009. Does 3 1/2 months to study sound reasonable?

YAAAAYYYYY!!!! You are about to embark in a truly empowering few months!! I think 3 1/2 months sounds like a very reasonable time to study, an hour or so a day is all you will need. I found that the time period that I spent getting my CCRN really transformed me into a more confident, secure and assertive nurse.

There are a few nurses that have recently declared their intent to take the exam in the next few months, it is really empowering and fun to be in communication with those going through the same process (hint, hint!).

There are also some who have their CCRN that will lend their voices as well. I hope that you will use this thread as fully as you want. It would be great if you would share a little about yourself. How long have you been a nurse, etc... it is really cool to connect with others with the same goals and commitment....

:grpwlcm: :spnngwlcm: :welcome:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
I appreciate this advice. I have already taken it twice. The first time, I was overconfident and certainly unprepared. I took it again a couple of years ago, stressed about home situations and not prepared. I WILL PASS

Hey, no worries, what I see is someone who is committed to being an excellent nurse, but just had some tough circumstances that got in the way. Please use this thread as fully as you can, as it definitely empowered me to stay motivated and engaged. It is even a place where you can ask for clarification on issues that are difficult to learn or an area where you don't have as much interest. You can share case studies, but if it is a real patient, be VERY careful that you protect yourself by protecting any way that the patient could be identified...even from another nurse from your hospital who may read this thread and know the circumstances and could identify who you are talking about.... (sounds a little far fetched, but apparently it can and has happened...)

Please don't be humiliated...not here anyway, we are all in this together and only want the best for each other. You have to know that every single person on this thread has passed. You are amongst some very good company. Please let us know a little about yourself if you would like....

And of course.....

:wlcmhnds: :hrns&wlcm: :wlcmggrp:

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Merry Christmas all CCRNers. May the holiday season bless you and your practice!!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you used the PASS CCRN! CD exam question to practice for your CCRN exam, what scores were you getting? I'm getting 65 - 75%, and I'm worried...Thanks!

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.

A friend of mine was getting 715 AND WENT AND TOOK THE REAL TEST AND PASSED WITH AMAZING scores. They say that Robin's tests are far worse than the actual test but my friend says that a lot of the questions were almost verbatim form hers.

I did Dennison's CCRN review and she made me feel retarded...lol

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Specializes in Critical Care.

715..do you mean 71.5%? Yeah..I found the book by Dennison to be very reader un-friendly. Did you pass your exam after her review? I suppose feeling temporarily retarted is OK if you got the credential, eh? :)

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.

sorry about the typo...yeah 71%

Actually, Her 3 day review was just as user unfriendly as the book. i think the book is good as a reference, but as a review...OMg. It was not for me. Her course scared me out of taking the exam, but I do plan on taking it in March.

Each time we met for the class, she would say,"I don't know if i told you or not, but when I first took the CCRN exam, I got 200/200...and I retake it every time it is time to renew."

@@

She is a brilliant woman, but she was not what I needed.

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I love PASS CCRN! but many find it too deep and not reader friendly. I highly recommend Laura Gasparis' DVDs.

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Specializes in Not too many areas I haven't dipped into.
I love PASS CCRN! but many find it too deep and not reader friendly. I highly recommend Laura Gasparis' DVDs.

Now she is an absolute hoot!!!

I agree that the pass ccrn book is good, but I find it better as a resource...kind of like one stop shopping when you are in need of looking something up

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Specializes in CCRN-CMC-CSC: CTICU, MICU, SICU, TRAUMA.

Dennison's CD for practice test questions is invaluable... and the book itself is an excellent reference... I keep mine in my locker... Yes, it's dense, but you should not expect to learn everything in it for the CCRN... use it to supplement your identified weaker areas... Ed Woodruff's review is good as well... as is the AACN review. Good luck!

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