CNN vs CDN

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Specializes in Renal Dialysis.

I'm a new hemodialysis nurse working in the hospital. My job just announced they are going to start giving pay raises for holding certification (in addition to paying the fees). So I started looking around at what the requirements were so I could be ready for the exam once I've had enough experience. That's where I discoevered there is Certified Nephrology Nurse and Certified Dialysis Nurse options with different requirements. What's the difference?? Since I work in the hospital setting I work with all renal patients (AKI, chronic, transplant, etc) but my actual job is ONLY hemodialysis so I assumed I should just take CDN. How do you decide? Can you take both? Are they looked upon differently?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

CDN for nurses with associate's degree. CNN for nurses with bachelor's degree. ANNA thinks there is a difference.

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Specializes in Renal Dialysis.

OK I relooked at the requirements. The CDN doesn't say what education level you need. But the requirements are less in regards to the number of hours and experience. Can I start with the CDN and then try for the CNN at a later time?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

It's 300 dollars for each exam and I think they only offer it twice a year. If your employer is willing to pay I guess you could take both. The CNN has more transplant questions so if you are not familiar be sure to study. I think anyone who is currently working as a dialysis nurse could pass the CDN as it is focused on the technical aspects of dialysis.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.

Chisca is right- CDN associates or bachelors, CNN bachelors only. CNN 3 years, CDN 2. They have recently changed requirements as well, are you looking at the NNCC website? CNN is geared towards Acute care nurses, so you have to work in a setting where you do more then just HD. If you work in an outpatient clinic and do HD only, even if you have a bachelors, you will likely not be eligible for the CNN.

I got the CDN when I worked in the clinic. I have been doing acutes now for a few years and just got my CNN in May. I don't need both and it probably going to be too expensive to keep both so I'll prob let the CDN lapse. As far as testing, I got a permit and could schedule the test at a computerized testing center pretty much every day of the week at different times. Once you get your permit for the test, you only have a certain amount of time to take it.

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On 10/19/2015 at 9:03 AM, NurseRies said:

Chisca is right- CDN associates or bachelors, CNN bachelors only. CNN 3 years, CDN 2. They have recently changed requirements as well, are you looking at the NNCC website? CNN is geared towards Acute care nurses, so you have to work in a setting where you do more then just HD. If you work in an outpatient clinic and do HD only, even if you have a bachelors, you will likely not be eligible for the CNN.

I got the CDN when I worked in the clinic. I have been doing acutes now for a few years and just got my CNN in May. I don't need both and it probably going to be too expensive to keep both so I'll prob let the CDN lapse. As far as testing, I got a permit and could schedule the test at a computerized testing center pretty much every day of the week at different times. Once you get your permit for the test, you only have a certain amount of time to take it.

Hi, I know it's been a while since you took these exams, but besides the pre-requisites are there any notable differences and similarities with the test questions? I got my CDN 2 years ago and contemplating taking the CNN exam next year for professional (and monetary) advancement but I don't want to waste money buying test preps if they are the same. 

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I also want to know if the prep for both exams is the same or different. The CDN test has a lot of transplant questions too and acute and general renal function. Thank you.

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It looks like both have identical questions. At least they're very similar. 

My CDN certification expired a year and a half ago. No reason for me to renew it since I don't work in HD anymore and I received my promotion for having it. However, I still work in the renal world so I'm planning on taking the CNN exam this fall. Not getting an extra promotion for this but will help with the appraisal. 

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I was told the content overlaps up to a 95%. They just change the percentage of the content. The CNN will ask you more questions about PD, Acute, Transplant and Concept of Kidney Disease. Whereas the CDN has a lot more questions related to hemodialysis. CDN total of hemodialysis questions 52%. CNN total of hemodialysis questions 29%. Therefore, you can tell it's not hemodialysis clinic oriented but rather oriented to other modalities. That's why at least 750 hours worked out of in center is required. 

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