CCRN Exam changing as of Jan. 13. 2010

WalkieTalkie, RN · Nov 18, 2009

Well, I'm glad I'm taking it in December. I've heard the new one has a bunch of that psychosocial junk on it... I'm much better with the cardiac stuff! :)

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

Well, I'm glad I'm taking it in December. I've heard the new one has a bunch of that psychosocial junk on it... I'm much better with the cardiac stuff! :)

As, IMHO, you should be.

Not to belittle the "psycho-social junk" but I truly believe the emphasis on an exam that is supposed to validate critical care skills should be, well, critical care skills.

IMHO the test should be focused on skills that are particular to the critical care areas. Psycho-social issues are important, of course, but they are largely generic.

JMO, of course, but I really believe that they've watered down the heavy-duty critical care clinical-practice aspects of the exam with lighter "psycho-social" stuff to allow more candidates to pass. And they HAVE shown a higher pass rate since the synergy (aka "psycho-social junk") component has been a part of the exam.

It's a business, guys. Recognize it for what it is and what it really means.

Yes, I have my CCRN and I've had it for many years so I'm not talking from a sour grapes perspective here. It does look good on a CV or application. If you get a little bump in pay or a bonus more power to you! :yeah:

sunnycalifRN · Nov 19, 2009

I heard that the exam was changing, also. Fortunately, I took and passed the test in September of this year. I completely agree that the test should be about critical care nursing, not "touchy-feely" psycho-social stuff. On those questions, I looked for the most ridiculous answer and chose it and got 80% in that category!!!

BTW, I love their disclaimer that "CCRN" does not stand for critical care RN . . . what does it stand for then?? :specs:

meandragonbrett · Nov 21, 2009

I noticed where cardiac tamponade was being removed from CCRN and will only be on CSC/CMC.......Did something change to where tamponade only occurs in CCU/CVICU now?

WindwardOahuRN, RN · Nov 24, 2009

I noticed where cardiac tamponade was being removed from CCRN and will only be on CSC/CMC.......Did something change to where tamponade only occurs in CCU/CVICU now?

I wish they would tell that to our cancer patients who end up in our ICU with SVC syndrome, pericardial effusions, and cardiac tamponades. They apparently haven't received the memo, nor have our trauma patients.

No need to concern yourself about the pesky potential problem of tamponade in the SICU or MICU any longer.

Nope---let's concentrate on the problems illustrated here, in a self-test that evaluates your "readiness for the Synergy questions" on the CCRN exam (please control your derisive laughter---thank you):

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3689/is_200205/ai_n9068466/

Just noticed question number three---"emergency incubation"? I am hoping that was a typo. And yes, you are allowed to laugh at that one, LOL.

OkieICU_RN · Nov 25, 2009

Yeah, I got that note in my weekly AACN update a couple of weeks ago and meant to ask about it. I had decided that once I finished my BSN I'd spend time concentrating on getting the CCRN. Initially I was going to give myself until the 1st of February to study. Now I'm wondering if I should bust a move and get it completed before the changes. Surely I can just use the study materials I have already purchased???

Just as a sidebar, I thought someone told me that they change the test content every 5 years or so. True or false?

Aymese · Dec 13, 2009

Hey guys!

I passed it yesterday morning! Was rather surprised to see so many questions on psycho-social as you mentioned. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I felt really prepared from reading/note-taking AACN's Core Curriculum for Critical Care Nursing and making flash cards from CCRN Exam Review by L. Gasparis ~ both editions, lent to me, were from 10 years ago. I had wanted to purchase the CRAM dvd's but didn't want to shell out the bucks. I wonder if LGV will be updating her materials again with the new version of the exam.

hopefulnurse84 · Jan 17, 2010

I used "old" study material and i passed without any problem. I took the new updated exam. there wasn't that much psych stuff on there and it wasn't crazy hard or out of the ordinary psych stuff, you know s/s stuff.

hopefulnurse84 · Jan 21, 2010

for any questions email me at luciousa84 @ yahoo . com at this time i cannot respond to private messages because i have not contributed to enough discussions.