CCRN--how bad is it? (again)

[dianacs]

I saw a thread on this subject but it is older, so I thought I would start a new one. I am taking the CCRN shortly. I've mainly been using the Critical Care Nursing Certification Review by Ahrens. My scores on the accompanying practice exams have been less than spectacular. I would love it if anyone could comment on their perceived difficulty of the exam in general, and if anyone has used the Ahrens book, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it as well.

[Ladybug123]

Not bad. I went straight to ICU after I graduated and took it 14 months after I'd been working there. Granted my ICU is huge and busy, so I get to see a lot. My advice would be to try to understand what is happening instead of memorizing the information. Don't be intimidated, you can do it!

[BULLYDAWGRN, RN]

5 nurses in the unit I work in took the exam last yr. 3 past. I was one of the lucky ones. We all had just about 2yrs icu time (give or take a yr) we all started studing about the same time, I studied about 5 months,the last month I crashed studied for it. It seemed like I had alot of cardiac/vasoactive drug questions and vents to. Another person clamied they had more hemodynamic questions. I thought it was a tough test, 1-10 scale on toughness, I'd give it a 7-8. But I'm a dumb ole country boy from Ms. But I guess it really depends on which exam you get as far as determining how hard the exam is for you. I reviewed the book on aacn policy on clinical skills (shows you ways to perform icu nurse stuff by the aacn guidelines) Also I found the ccrn recview dvds by laura gasparis vonfrolio helped explain a lot of stuff easily for me. I used her stuff for my cen exam a few yrs ago and passed it, so I gave her another chance, glad I did. Hope you do well, just don't sell yourself short.

[RNforLongTime]

I took the exam a year ago and passed. I had a LOT of hemodynamics questions on my exam. Good luck!!