CCRN...STUDY PLAN?

Shanimal · Oct 28, 2018

I am planning to test for my CCRN sometime next year. What is the best way to bbn prepare for this exam? Best book? Are there online courses?
Also, the requirements have a 2 year option, does this mean I have to have been a critical care nurse for 2 years before I can test? Or just have the total hours?

To sit for the CCRN exam, you need to have spent 1750 hours providing direct care of acutely ill/critically ill patients within the past two years, and at least 875 of those hours accrued need to be within the most recent year. What that means is that if you've worked 1750 hours over the past year, then you've met that requirement. Most full-time ICU RNs should be at or near those hours within one calendar year (36 hours x 52 weeks = 1872 hours).

As far as studying strategies go, first take a look at the CCRN exam blueprint and notice which topic areas have the highest percentage of questions. I personally then used Barron's CCRN Exam guide, focusing on the topics that are heavily tested as well as the topics I didn't feel as comfortable in. From there I used the computer question bank from Dennison's Pass CCRN, taking tests over and over, reading rationales to questions I missed, then re-focusing on areas I didn't perform as well in. There are a ton of in-person and online CCRN prep courses if you choose to go that route, but that choice should be based on your own individual learning style and preferences--they're certainly not a requirement to be successful.