Certified Pediatric Nurse

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Step-Down.

I am a new grad nurse and work in peds. In June of this year I will have the minimum 1800 hours required by the ANCC to become a certified pediatric nurse. I feel that studying for a difficult pediatric exam would be beneficial to my own nursing practice now that I have some experience. However, I've heard from some more experienced nurses that the exam is almost impossibly hard. For those nurses who have taken the CPN exam, would you recommend a nurse with one year of experience take it? If so, what study materials would you recommend? Any other tips or recommendations?

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Specializes in Pediatric Nursing Certification.

Hi! I'm the Communications Director for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and wanted to clarify that the exam to earn the credential CPN is offered by PNCB. If you are considering the CPN exam, we invite you to explore possible study resources at the link below. ANCC requires 2000 clinical hours. PNCB requires 1800. If you have any questions, please contact us. We'll be happy to help! - Lori Boocks

http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/pn/resources

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Specializes in Peds.

i took the test after i had been a peds nurse for 2 years. it was very hard, but i passed the first time. i am not a good test taker, so i went to a study course provided by my hospital. i also bought the pncb study guide and it was very useful. the thing i remember the most was needing to know developmental milestones for the different age groups. there weren't too many medication questions or anything. just remember your abc's and you'll do great! i will say that it was harder than the nclex.....good luck!

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Developmental stages and milestones were the only part I found difficult, but I'd been doing peds for a few years before taking it. If you have a study guide to study with, it shouldn't be too difficult.

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Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.

I thought the test was way easier than the NCLEX i think i was a peds nurse for 2 or 3 years before i took it. There aren't a lot of resources for this particular exam. I used Nurse Builders - CPN Review Resource Center

I got the review book and the practice question book. They have a whole section for CPN exam....good luck to you. If you can pass the NCLEX you can do this.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have never heard anyone say this test was "impossibly hard." Many of my former colleagues took it and no one failed.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

I work in a children's hospital and people are getting certified left and right. :) They take a course provided by the hospital, which I have heard is amazing. Im planning on taking it when I can, but it might have to wait until after the BSN is finished. :)

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Specializes in peds palliative care and hospice.

Go to nursebuilders.com - they have a CPN reveiw book

Happy Studying :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Hemodialysis, Emergency.

can a Foreign Nurse take the exams?

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