CNN-NP Exam

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

Anyone have experience with this certification exam? I found minimal information outside of the certifying body, I would greatly appreciate any information/advice!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Certified Nephrology Nurse? I know several of my colleagues (RNs) have gotten this certification. ANNA also has an APN certification open to NPs.

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

Right, the cnn-np is the nncc np level cert. it is mentioned on ANNA. I just can't find many who have actually had specific experience with the NP level cert.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I used to work with an FNP who had this cert. However, she found getting the amount of CME geared specifically to nephrology difficult.

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Hello, I took this exam/passed today. The exam was 175 questions and 4 hours long. I studied a lot using uptodate and other online materials but I recommend reviewing the Handbook of Dialysis by John T. Daugirdas and also reviewing the Henryford HealthSystem CKD for PCPs which is a good review on CKD. most questions were on HD, complications, access issues, some on CCRT, more on PD, some on HD/pregnancy, medications r/t to dialysis, medications r/t to kidney transplants, CKD 1-5, AKIs, the different glomerulonephritis, few on nephrotic syndrome vs nephritic, few on hereditary kidney diseases, several scenario based questions. overall, the test was average, not terrible but not great either. I felt the questions could have been worded better. Some questions/answers just seemed so ambiguous to me, it was kind of frustrating. There was an option to comment on certain questions which I did. And some questions seemed to be so far off out there, like the question maker opened up a nephro book to a random page, pointed to a sentence and made that into a question. Or maybe I just haven't been working in nephrology long enough to know certain things, I am 1 year this week. Anyway hope some of this info helps!

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Hey penNpaper,

Did you start out in nephrology? Or worked worked as an NP before getting into the speciality? I am an NP student but have done most of my clinical hours with an internal/nephrology doc and I would love to enter the field after passing my boards. Any advice from the nephrology NPs?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
Hey penNpaper,

Did you start out in nephrology? Or worked worked as an NP before getting into the speciality? I am an NP student but have done most of my clinical hours with an internal/nephrology doc and I would love to enter the field after passing my boards. Any advice from the nephrology NPs?

I've been an APRN (CNS) for 12+ years in a large nephrology practice. This was my first APRN job and I had no nephrology experience prior to this. I was hired because of my nursing experience: 10 years in level 1 ED, 1 year adult ICU and 1 year PICU. They felt I could think on my feet.

Tips:

1. Network with other nephrology APRNs - most larger practices and some smaller ones employ them.

2. Join your state's APRN organization - this will help you to know what salaries are in your area as they vary greatly

3. Join ANNA

4. Realize that healthcare is a business and you need to be producing revenue for the practice. To this end, many of us work in outpt dialysis clinics as we can bill for our services under our own NPI numbers. This makes us profitable.

Best wishes

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That's great to hear. It's definitely possible to enter the field after passing boards. I didn't have any prior nephrology or NP experience. I worked as an RN in med-surg for abt 3 years. How was the experience with the internal med/nephro doc? I agree with TraumaRUs- network as much as possible, it will be helpful in getting that first job. Try professors, clinical instructors and other APRNs. And yes, join your state APRN organization. I used to go to CANP meetings, California Association for Nurse Practitioners. It was a great way to meet with other NPs from all backgrounds. Check out the national kidney foundation website-click the professionals tab- great resource. Since you had most of your clinical hours with the nephro doc, did you already try talking to them to let them know your interest? If anything, they might be able to direct you to other nephro docs/groups who would be interested in an NP.

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Thanks guys for the tips and yes I am a member of the UAPRN in my state but I haven't been able to attend as much meetings as I would like due to school/work/life. But because I am approaching my last semester it will not become a priority. I am very blessed because my experience with my internal med/nephrology doc was excellent. We managed CKD, AKI's, polycystic kidney disease, HTN, diabetes, and all the primary care stuff. She was very patient and a great teacher but the only downside was that she did not go to the dialysis units so I have zero experience in that area. And yes penNpaper she is aware of my interest but the practices she knows alreadys has NP's/PA's or only hire MD's. I will def use the tips you suggested!

Thanks again guys

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Meant to say that attending UAPRN meetings will become a priority as I am heading to my final semester...

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

Resurrecting-

PenNpaper- did you do the practice tests?

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On 11/26/2018 at 3:10 AM, penNpaper said:

Hello, I took this exam/passed today. The exam was 175 questions and 4 hours long. I studied a lot using uptodate and other online materials but I recommend reviewing the Handbook of Dialysis by John T. Daugirdas and also reviewing the Henryford HealthSystem CKD for PCPs which is a good review on CKD. most questions were on HD, complications, access issues, some on CCRT, more on PD, some on HD/pregnancy, medications r/t to dialysis, medications r/t to kidney transplants, CKD 1-5, AKIs, the different glomerulonephritis, few on nephrotic syndrome vs nephritic, few on hereditary kidney diseases, several scenario based questions. overall, the test was average, not terrible but not great either. I felt the questions could have been worded better. Some questions/answers just seemed so ambiguous to me, it was kind of frustrating. There was an option to comment on certain questions which I did. And some questions seemed to be so far off out there, like the question maker opened up a nephro book to a random page, pointed to a sentence and made that into a question. Or maybe I just haven't been working in nephrology long enough to know certain things, I am 1 year this week. Anyway hope some of this info helps!

Hello! I was wondering if you did the practice exams or if you bought any of the study guides on amazon? 
 

thanks

 

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