CCRN discouragement?

ukstudent · Jun 24, 2008

At this very moment I am listening to a ccrn exam review on dvd as I come up to being in a SICU for 1 year. Most people at my work are really supportive of me doing the learning needed for it and taking the exam. The few that think that no one shouldn be able to take the test until they have worked in an ICU for 2-3 years are the same people that think new grads should not be in an ICU.

You will learn so much by studying for the ccrn, it will improve your practice. Just because they didn't feel confident taking the test until several years into the ICU does not mean that you should have to wait. The AACN has established the minimal time needed as being one year. So if you want to do it, go for it.

Just how does passing the test at 1 year, or 3 years or 5 years make any difference. You either know and understand the underlying pathology of the different ICU problems and can apply it or you can't. I don't buy into the idea that just anyone (without adequate knowledge) can pass the nclex, ccrn type tests by being a good test taker.

SWEnfermera · Jun 24, 2008

I don't know if those people that are discouraging you from sitting for the exam are CCRN certified themselves, but to me it sounds like they're just being haters. Certification is one of the best things you can do for yourself, and your patients. It verifies that you posess a certain body of knowledge that is necessary in the care of the critically ill. Studies have shown that the more ceritified nurses a faclity has on staff, the better the patient outcomes. I also recommend for you to become involved with AACN. Attending workshops and seminars offered through AACN (especially NTI) allows you to network with so many other critical care nurses from around the country. You come from those workshops feeling so empowered and full of ideas for your own facility. I first took the CCRN test over 20 years ago. Although I wasn't a new grad, at that time I probably had about 1 yrs experience in critical care. Since then I have become CMC certified and also CV nurse ceritfied (RN-BC) through ANCC.

I think you should be congratulated on your ambitions. Keeping up in your field of expertise is a Standard of Care and is metioned in every state's Nurse Practice Act. Joining AACN, you will receive practice updates, newsletters, and journals to help you familiarize yourself with current practices.

Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Jun 24, 2008

CCRN does not test rote knowledge, so a "good test taker" has no better chance of passing than a "bad test taker". Like NCLEX, it measures analysis and application of knowledge, rather than just recollection. So if you don't know your stuff, you won't pass. I found the process of reviewing for it very beneficial. If you're a self-starter, just do it and don't seek the opinions of those who a) like the status quo or b) find it threatening to see a new nurse outranking them. Go for it!

XIGRIS · Jun 25, 2008

Hi everyone,
I am new here, and new to nursing in general (graduated one year ago and started right into an ICU).
I am finding that I am already in a learning slump of sorts, as I have been to every class my hospital offers (that I am allowed to take), one of the general critical care city wide classes and am always asking questions/seeking out new experiences. The problem that I am having is that there really hasn't been anything new on our unit in a while, and I feel like I am not actively learning when I go to work, despite my best efforts.
So now I am starting to consider taking the CCRN, since I've been nursing for a year and feel I have gotten a lot of great experience in that year (although I know I have a LOT more to learn and see). The problem is that everyone on my unit is very discouraging about me taking the CCRN. I am frequently being told that I should wait 5 years so that I have some experience, and that way my passing shows I am a good nurse and not just someone that can pass a test.
While I understand that argument, I've also heard that it is harder to pass after years of experience because you consider what you would actually do at the bedside as opposed to what the books say you should do at the bedside. I also don't understand why having a book prepared person is a bad thing. (Because I'll be studying outside of work, so my studying/taking CCRN will not effect the amount of experience I get at work.)
So I guess at the end of all of this rambling is: Have any of you studied for/taken the CCRN while being discouraged from doing so? And if so, how did you deal with it besides just keeping it all a secret?

I know what you are talking about. I know of some nurses who will discourage anyone from taking the test. I personally believe it is a good way to determine competence and i am for it.

Just take it, you have one year , it should be enough. Besides if you work in different ICU's you will find out that each one has a different way of doing things. It would benefit you if you know the standard... and our standard is the Core Curriculum... I have taken it many times... I renew mine by taking the test and it helps me learn again and again.

Goodluck to you.

joeyzstj, LPN · Jun 25, 2008

Let me ask you this.............are you taking the CCRN for your coworkers or for your own personal knowledge and personal satisfaction? I cant believe anyone would actually discourage you from gaining additional knowledge. The knowledge you would gain alone from reading the books and gaining a greater understanding of drugs and critical care concepts is something you need NOW, not five years from now when you are suffering from burnout. Im one of those people that thinks the CCRN should be a requirement to work in a unit. It gives you insigt to many different aspects of Critical Care that you desperately need. Your coworkers argument makes no sense to me. Just think of how much smarter and how much of a better nurse you will be in five years WITH the CCRN :)

nursecass · Jun 25, 2008

Thank you all for your words of encouragement! It is very refreshing to hear. I definitely am pushing on and will take the CCRN, I was just getting frustrated that every time I mentioned CCRN I would get told that I shouldn't even be thinking about it. But you all have reinforced my thoughts on the matter and have given me the encouragement to take this on by myself. Again, thank you all so much!

icunurse36 · Jul 6, 2008

Hey:

I just have one comment as the others have very eloquently stated their opinions. If you have ever taken the CCRN test, you would never say to someone that this is a test someone could take if they "test well". You have to know your stuff. It was the hardest test I have ever done and I have done it 3 times. I take it to force myself to review. I hope you do take it, it was one of my most proudest moments. Even if no one else knows, you will know, that you did it!! Good luck!!!

PS

I recommend Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVD"s and the reading the entire Core Curriculum book from AACN.

Chris

NoviceToExpert · Jul 9, 2008

I can't believe nurses sometimes... that a colleague would discourage the effort to elevate yourself... don't fall for it... Probably they don't want you to have a certification as a new nurse that they don't have themselves after years of experience... or if they are certified don't want you to have credentials that exceed theirs...CCRN requires having knowledge outside of your specialty on your unit that is applicable to critical care scope patients... example... if you are a CVICU nurse you probably won't have too many ventriculostomies...if you are a MICU nurse you will have to study harder for CT surgery questions...CCRN is also a test of application of information rather than just information... so you have to know your stuff... as everyone else has said... you can't just be a good test taker... you have to be a good nurse!

AACN also offers a good review on DVD with the core curriculum... they have a set you can buy that has the core and the review and something else... I forget... then David Woodruff's CCRN review at ED4Nurses.com is also excellent... A lot of hospitals will reimburse for home study reviews as part of the continuing education budget allowance if you get one... as long as you can show completion... Some reviews offer CEUs with the review that would count for reimbursement even if you don't sit for the CCRN... otherwise passing the test would count for reimbursement for home study... check with your hospital...

After that go to the ANCC and sit for your board certification and get your RN-BC...that requires the equivalent of two years of work in your area of specialty... and then your subspecialty exams if pertinent... like the CSC and CMC....example... RN-BC, CCRN-CSC-CMC ... and then get a big fat badge printed to wear on your scrubs with all your initials and offer the review materials to your colleagues!

Some units have a wall of fame... where your picture goes up with your certifications... to encourage staff to certify themselves...You may want to encourage your unit manager to consider this as well... it motivates staff and elevates the level of the staff if they take it upon themselves to learn more...

Last thought... it can take up to six weeks to get your test card to schedule once you pay AANC... so take that into consideration in your time frame planning... you can't just take the test next week... you have to go through the application process... sometimes it doesn't take this long... but that is the time frame they tell you it takes...so apply to take the exam about two months before you plan to actually sit for it!

Good luck... you are on the right track for sure...!

rickard · Jul 10, 2008

to quote the AACN

" Eligibility Requirements

A BSN is NOT required to sit for the CCRN exam.

Applicants must hold current, unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States. In order to meet the RN licensure requirement for initial CCRN certification and recertification, an individual nurse's RN license must be unencumbered. This means that an RN license, issued by a state board of nursing, must not have provisions or conditions that would limit the nurse's practice in any way. It is the responsibility of the exam applicant or CCRN-certified nurse to notify the AACN Certification Corporation when any restriction is placed on his / her RN license.

CLINICAL PRACTICE ELIGIBILITY

Critical care practice as a registered nurse is required for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of (adult, neonatal or pediatric) acutely or critically ill patients during the 2-year period preceding date of application, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application. All 1,750 hours must be in care of same patient population (for example, for the adult CCRN exam, all 1,750 hours must be caring for acutely/critically ill adult patients). Clinical practice hours accrued in an undergraduate student role are NOT acceptable. Nurses serving as manager, educator (in-service or academic), CNS or preceptor may now apply their hours spent supervising nursing students or nurses at the bedside. Nurses in these roles must be actively involved in caring for patients at the bedside; for example, demonstrating how to measure pulmonary artery pressures or supervising a new employee or student nurse performing a procedure. "

to summarize if you are an RN with a clean license and you worked 1750 hours as a bedside nurse in a critical unit you qualify to write the CCRN exam. the process of studying for the exam is more the challenge. the increase of your knowledge will improve your ability to care for really sick pt's. i wrote the CCRN exam after 2 years in crit care, i am a very good test taker, and as i walked out of the exam i was convinced i had failed it because it was the hardest exam i had ever taken. i had passed it. the next challange was to plan out my recert in 3 years because i was never taking that exam again ! and that is where the true knowledge of the CCRN's come out.

My advice to you is study hard and take the exam and ignore the nay sayers !!!

a quote for you from a pretty smart dude "Great spirits have always encountered violent oppostion from mediocre minds." -Albert Einstein :yeah:

9309 · Jul 13, 2008

Studying for the test is a great learning experience. It will make you a better nurse. FWIW, I found the test hard, and passing it was very rewarding.

9309