CCRN test: how bad is it really?

christianRN · Oct 25, 2005

Farmerll,

I, too, would be only the second person in my unit to be certified if I pass my test the end of December. Scary, isn't it?!! :)

allnurses Guide · Oct 29, 2005

I took the CCRN exam in the spring for the first time and passed w/o any problem (I think I scored an 86-87%). I highly recommend the CD from PASS CCRN book. The book is a nice reference, but not very helpful to study by. The other thing I did was use the CCRN review from David Woodruff @ http://www.ed4nurses.com/ccrn.htm. He guarantees you will pass, and he gives just what you need for the exam not a lot of extra material to memorize that won't help you on the test.

I think there is a lot of hype about the CCRN exam, but the test was not nearly as bad as I was anticipating/dreading.

If you take the practice exam(s) from the PASS CCRN book and pass those you shouldn't have any problems with the CCRN exam. I was scoring about 70% on the practice exams, but made in the high 80's on the CCRN exam.

Good Luck!

Shannon

farmerrl · Nov 2, 2005

I passed the test today. It wasn't as hard as I had imagined it could be. There were even some questions on the test that I had read before. I think they came from the Pass CCRN Cd. I'm sooo happy it is over for me. The anticipation of the test overwhelming. On my practice exams I was getting around 70% and ended up with an 87% on the test. :balloons:

I recommend looking at the aacn's study guide/blueprint and making sure you know what is listed. I had some problems with knowing what an MI in a certain area of the heart causes what complications. It's not enough to know how to read an ECG and what vessel feeds which part of the heart. I also had alot of questions about PA cath pressures and what is high or low with each problem.

good luck to all.....................:)

dorimar, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2005

Congratulations farm!!! I have applied to take it as well. I am waiting for my postcard in the mail. I have been studying for about a month. A lot of the sample questions seem to be a little tricky(like they put in a little something to make you think of the wrong answer). Do you know what the passing score needs to be? I can't seem to find that info anywhere, but probably looking in the wrong place. Again congratulations!

Doris

farmerrl · Nov 6, 2005

There are 150 questions on the test. 25 of them aren't scored. On my test I had to have 87 of 125 questions right. I think that's about 70%.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2005

farmerrl said:
There are 150 questions on the test. 25 of them aren't scored. On my test I had to have 87 of 125 questions right. I think that's about 70%.

Is 70% passing?

farmerrl · Nov 7, 2005

I'm pretty sure that 70% is passing. I can't remember where I got that info prior to the test but on the ccrn test it said that 87 was passing out of 125 questions.

dorimar, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2005

Thanks Farm. That is very encouraging

TX ICU RN · Nov 21, 2005

farmerrl said:
I have to take the CCRN exam in the next few months. I've been preparing for this off and on for a few years but am still only getting in the 60% range in the AACN core review book. I am now in a charge nurse position and my manager wants all of us to be CCRN certified. Has anyone taken this recently?

The CCRN Exam is not a bad exam at all....I highly recommend using the PASS CCRN book and accompanying cd. While the book is packed with lots of detail I found that using the cd helped me to prepare the best for my last minute cramming. Good luck and best wishes ?

pickledpepperRN · Nov 24, 2005

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%2526field-keywords%3Dcritical%2520care%2520exam%2520review%2526results-process%3Ddefault%2526dispatch%3Dsearch/ref%3Dpd%5Fsl%5Fov%5Ftops-1%5Fstripbooks%5F10686739%5F1/103-7834927-1407023

I hope this link works.

Lots of sample questions here. I learned a lot reading the rationale for why choices were wrong.

RoxanRN · Dec 1, 2005

I took the CCRN pencil/paper at Trends in October. I just got the results today. I PASSED

slicrn · Dec 12, 2005

Everyone seems so positive. A gal in our ICU, where with 47 nurse only 7 are certified, had failed the CCRN 5 times. I am typically a good test taker and learn best by taking tons of practice tests. Any idea where to get practice tests that won't break the bank??

Thanks,

Slic