CCRN certification

the requirement only states that you have worked 1750 hours in the last 2 years caring for patients in the patient population in which you are applying. there is no requirement to have worked any of these hours in the icu to be eligible for the ccrn examination. the following was taken from the most recent copy of the aacn certification exam handbook.

practice as an rn or aprn is required for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the previous 2 years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application. eligible hours are those spent caring for the patient population (adult, pediatric or neonatal) of the exam for which you are applying.

the adult ccrn test plan begins on page 23 of the certification exam handbook.

if you have additional questions you might refer to the aacn certification corporation website.

i hope this information was helpful.

Wondering if anyone else has thoughts on this? I've seen other posts that say the hours must be in the ICU, however the website clearly states hours must be in the care of "acute and/or critically ill". My experience is med surg/tele, but my employer is training me for an ICU position. I would like to take the certification exam after they send me to a 2 day ICU course with a test prep component. However I keep reading conflicting information about whether I am "qualified" to take the exam. Any additional feedback would be very appreciated!

It does not spell out that it must be ICU because not all ICU are called by that name. However, working in a hospital (acute care) does not make you used to working with the acutely/critically ill patients. Unless you are used to actively titrating vasoactives, inotropics, changing vent settings on your med/surg floor then no it does not count for hours worked.

I took this from the AACN website.

The CCRN exam is for nurses who work at the bedside of acutely or critically ill patients, regardless of the setting (includes areas such as ICU, CCU, Emergency Department, Trauma Unit, Interventional Radiology/Cardiology, and Critical Care Transport/Flight). Certain other units with high acuity patients may also be eligible; please contact AACN Certification Corporation to inquire.