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 CVICU, Army Nurse Corps.

regarding the laura gasparis dvd's....i bought them and actually enjoy watching them , my question, though, is that they are outdated since they have recently reformatted the test....did anyone still use them to study and think they are still worth it??? thanks

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Specializes in Cardiac/Med Surg.

Is CCRN the same as ACCN?

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Specializes in CTICU.

AACN is the certifying body which runs the CCRN exam.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Med Surg.

thanks, i actually just looked at the review i did and it was a ccrn and pccn exam cram with Debbie Tuggle. i am going to take the pccn just did a review with Debbie Tuggle for 2 days, she was an excellent speaker out of Kentucky,

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

I would like to add my name to the growing list of new CCRN's. Yippeeeee:yeah:

It was such a grand feeling to walk out of the testing office with that piece of paper in my hand!

And to answer a question one had about using the CCRN review by Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio: Yes DVD's are a wee bit "outdated" [2004] but I found myself, when trying to answer a question about systolic murmurs, recalling Dr Gasparis' animated lecture on the subject. The test was HARD, but not as hard as the Army critical care 8A nurse course I went to!

I would highly recommend, as others before me have, Robin Donohoe Dennison's Pass CCRN book/practice CD and Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's CCRN Review Cram DVDs. I actually did better on the CCRN exam today than the practice exams I took using Dennison's CD.

My next challange....Taking the CMC.

Good Luck to Everyone.... I am sooooo appreciative of this site and of all the support I garnered while "lurking"

athena

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Specializes in CTICU.

Congratulations Athena!

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any words of encouragement for someone who failed the ccrn. Thought I was prepared but getting 80% on dennison was enough prep. Any suggestions on studying for the retake?

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Specializes in MICU.

First suggestion is to not personalize the outcome. CCRN is a test of how well you studied and how good you are taking tests; it's not a measure of how good a nurse you are. Even without the added difficulty of obtusely worded questions, it's a hard test. I got through NCLEX two years ago in large part because I finally got good at answering questions and some of that carried over here. Content wise, I really tried to focus on what I was told would on the test. The two day review course really hit it on the head and was extremely invaluable with little tidbits of what to watch out for, especially with guidelines on hemodynamic values. I practiced with a fair amount of questions prior, but I really think the two day review was most helpful in honing in on what was important.

If it was me, I don't know that I would try to reinvent the wheel and start over and re cram all the content. I would probably just focus on whatever sections I was weak on and try to retake it sooner rather than later while the questions I saw were still fresh in my head. For what it's worth, I did buy the 12 dollar CCRN question book from the AACN website and one or two questions from there were verbatim on the test. Lastly, have some confidence that you have now seen what it's like and that alone is going to make it different next time you go in.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Hey Diannrn,

I didn't pass the first time either. I focused on the printout I got and studied those areas only. The second time around I was nervous but passed. You can do it!

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Specializes in ICU, EMS.

I will echo much of what has been already said. I used the materials that have worked well for others. The Gasparis DVD's where helpful. I was fortunate enough to attend her CCRN Review class a few weeks ago. The class and her DVD's are almost verbatim. She is an excellent speaker and if you have a chance, I would highly recommend going to her class. I also used the Dennison's Pass CCRN book. To be honest, I didn't even read the book. I just used the DVD and did practice test after practice test. Before taking the exam I was getting scores in the low to mid 80's. My actual score on the exam was 89%. Lots of questions involving hemodynamics and acid-base disturbances.

Glad its over with!

CC

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.

I spent the past few days going through this thread and have ordered the Gasparis DVD's and the Pass CCRN book with CD. I really really appreciate this thread, and it's longevity. Hats off to deeDawntee and everyone in here. All of your tips and insights have motivated me.

I have been in the ICU for about seven months. Since I am now working part time, I can't take the exam for a while yet, in order to meet the 1750 hour requirement, but as soon as I hit that requirement, I plan on sitting for the exam. Meanwhile, I will be learning how things work.

I received a nice preceptorship, but I still don't have a handle on 12 lead EKG, or feel at all comfortable with swan ganz, and frankly feel a bit slow when trying to figure out how to care for my sicker patients, and am hoping that this process will make me a better ICU nurse.

Prior to my move to ICU, I worked an ortho trauma floor for a couple years and have also worked telemetry, neuroscience, and stroke research.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Med Surg.

anyone want to sell there vonfrios cd's or other study cd's, i am an audio learner and if i can put it on my ipod will do well

want to take the pccn exam before may but might not make it in time

thanks for all the info

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