PCCN vs CCRN

Specialties Critical

Published

Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi All!

I came to the VA ICU (mostly PCU patients) 4 months ago after working in ICU at a level 1 trauma center for 2.5 years. Prior to that I worked at a community hospital in ICU/PCU for a year. I was planning on studying/taking my CCRN this fall - i have Laura's DVDs and was going to buy the test questions from AACN and Baron's CCRN study guide. I work at the VA and they give bonuses for certificates. I have been told to take your PCCN first for the larger bonus and then take the CCRN next for the smaller bonus (each bonus goes down in money) because they have been known to give you grief if you do it backwards. Has anyone studied for just the CCRN and taken the PCCN and passed? I didn't know how difficult it would be or if I need to study separately. Thanks!

I took the PCCN 3 years ago, passed and then took the CCRN a month ago and passed. I would say that the CCRN has more resources, and is broader in what is tested. There is just more content to study. PCCN questions are similar to the CCRN but are more focused on cardiac, since there is a few questions on pacemakers, open heart, cardiac, etc. I believe the CCRN to be more difficult for sure, but studying for the PCCN will get you ready for when you have to study for the CCRN. You will have to study for both, no way around that.

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