CCRN retake! advice?

Hi Froggy,

It's unfortunate that you did not pass the CCRN this time around. You were so close! I would recommend using the breakdown of your test to beef up on your weak areas as you suggested. I think you will nail it next time. What are you using to study? I am using PASS CCRN right now. I am also going to pick up the AACN Certification and Core Review book. How soon do you want to take it again? We have six times to take it right? You will ace it next time. Good luck to you.

Whatever the big categories were that you missed the most on, those are what I'd brush up on. I wouldn't bother with the areas that are such a small portion of the test if you are pressed for time, even if you did poorly on them.

Thank you for your kind words! I think we have four times to take it in a year since your first test.... but don't quote me on that. I just rescheduled the test for in a month. There were no dates in February! In the meantime, going to use Laura Gasparis question book and read the solutions too, I did notice I was hasty with some of the categories last time so just going to redo some things. Also, going to do the practice test I bought from the AACN again, its in a booklet of 190 questions, only ~16$ !!

Otherwise, not sure what I should do...

Thank you for your kind words! I think we have four times to take it in a year since your first test.... but don't quote me on that. I just rescheduled the test for in a month. There were no dates in February! In the meantime, going to use Laura Gasparis question book and read the solutions too, I did notice I was hasty with some of the categories last time so just going to redo some things. Also, going to do the practice test I bought from the AACN again, its in a booklet of 190 questions, only ~16$ !!

Otherwise, not sure what I should do...

Everyone studies differently, but when I took mine I used the Pass CCRN online questions and the AACN question book, specifically the included DVD.

Between the two question banks, there was close to 1600 questions with fully detailed explanations. I just spent a couple weeks doing practice questions.

I pretty much only did questions on cardiac and respiratory using pass ccrn and Laura g vids. I made a spread sheet on excel on topics I got wrong and wrote out the answers/clarification. Grinded the books for a few days but it wasn't too bad.

The AACN Certification and Core Review for High Acuity and Critical Care was my go to book, and Laura Gasparis DVDs were great, too. Don't give up I wish you the best!

The AACN just sent me an email regarding tips to retake it. Has anyone actually bought the online self assessment exam from them??? 60 questions for 50$....

Yes I did that from a colleague's advice that it was the best thing he has ever done to prepare him for the test. It was great advice!

cookiepie143,

Were the questions similar in any way? some questions repeated?? Thanks!

Well as far as I can remember, it was a gauge of your strengths (or weakness), and they are pretty much test questions which are similar to the review Qs, also with rationale. At the time I was reviewing, I hadn't really started anything yet but only took notes on my pad so that I could review it at a later date. So if I understand correctly, you may have probably encountered these test Qs from your past review/ readings. However, I believe it was a huge help and would do it again.

The AACN just sent me an email regarding tips to retake it. Has anyone actually bought the online self assessment exam from them??? 60 questions for 50$....

I took this assessment. It's just like taking a mini ccrn. Even looks the same. Some people say there are some questions word for word but I don't recall, but they are more similar than pass or AACN questions (cd)

I took the self assessment about five hours before I took the real CCRN, to see what I needed to do some last-minute brushing up on. I passed the self assessment by the skin of my teeth and the actual CCRN by a huge margin, not even close. At least for me, the self assessment was much harder.