Published Sep 24, 2007
CVICURN2003
216 Posts
Now that I've passed the CCRN (YAY) it's on to the next one. Anyone taken the CSC? What study materials did you use? Hopefully, it's time for a new "sticky" to get started....
Glutton for punishment I know...if I could just motivate myself to lose weight...:uhoh21::uhoh21::idea:
Burnt2
281 Posts
hahaha slow down, girl!
I glanced through the CSC/CMC stuff online today, apparently not too many people go for it:
"Since the CMC exam was launched in January 2005, 390 have passed for a pass rate of 82%."
(around 475 ppl have tried to take it)
"Since the CSC exam was launched in January 2005, 533 have passed for a pass rate of 87%."
(around 612 ppl have tried to take it)
I found that here
I don't think I could squeeze another title onto my badge.....thats without putting the ccrn on there, lol
I wonder why so few people have tried to take it. Any thoughts? Am I just being am overacheiver?? I looked at the stuff too and it is not too bad. I wonder why so few take it??:smiley_ab:selfbonk:
Yea I looked at all the sample questions and they didn't seem really difficult......
*shrug*
I think its the perfect followup - does your unit pay for it?
CCUROB
45 Posts
Sup peeps, passed the CSC, studied Manual Of Perioperative Care In Adult Cardiac Surgery by Robert M. Bojar. Test is a lot of hemodynamic numbers, drugs, etc. A lot of "off the wall" topics like Protamine reactions, types of AAA dissections, Maze procedure... It pretty much follows the outline on the AACN website.
Applying to anesthesia school next fall and wanted a thicker resume'. If you have been recovering hearts for a a few years you will ace it.
cvicugirl, BSN, RN
54 Posts
I took the CSC recently and would agree that if you know cardiac A&P and have been recovering hearts for several years--you'll do fine. I didn't study, but then again, CV is my thing...
1badccurn
19 Posts
I have been thinking of taking this. I passed my CCRN last december. Been taking care of CV patients for over 6 years now. These are the next two I have been thinking about.
Was thinking of taking these before I go back for my MSN/edu. Anything to be a more marketable teacher!
NoviceToExpert
103 Posts
I just passed CCRN and am going to take both the CMC and CSC within the month... AACN has some review materials which are worth checking out... and I'm reviewing Bojar as well... and some other Hemodynamic references... seems pretty straight forward... If anyone is currently studying for it or taking it in the next few weeks/months let me know how you are approaching it!
SanFranSRNA
134 Posts
I took the CSC test last year and I thought it was harder than the CCRN. I studied for a month and used Bojar as a study guide.
Hey everyone... I just passed both the CMC and the CSC. They are very different. I thought the CSC to be more difficult than the CMC... but both very fair. Bojar is very helpful and also the AACN reviews are great. I particularly enjoyed the CMC DVD review... the CSC was on CD ROM and a little more difficult to use because of how it needed to be viewed... the NTI speakers on the CMC review are superb...
Both are easier than the CCRN in that they test a focused area of information so you aren't spread too thin learning specifics of multi-systems... on the other hand they are a lot more difficult because they are so much more specific... the case studies require more inference and astute pick-up on minor details that aren't broadcast to the test taker... There is a difficulty in knowing things you don't see every day... like Protamine reactions and heparin rebound... I'd say you really need to have a solid understanding of things, for the CSC, that are otherwise unfamiliar... the whole surgical process with implications... things that aren't happening on your unit... things that are happening before the pt. gets to you that impact the care or potential complications after they arrive... you need to understand the time-line of complications because you have an idea of how far out from surgery the patient is... and have to work your differentials according to that... it's implicit in the question...
But overall, very fair... like the CCRN, you cannot pass it if you aren't prepared through book study as well as bedside nursing...
Everyone should take them who qualifies, in my opinion...As of last AACN posting, there are only 477 CMCs in the country and 642 CSCs. I don't know how many hold both certs.
I took them both on the same day. I thought the overlap of information was enough to do this without spreading myself too thin on study requirements... I felt I could have studied a lot more... but I did study a lot... Like the CCRN there are many questions that seem basic... and many that are very complex... It's a mix...
But overall, the CSC, in my opinion, is a more expert test.
Hi everyone, I took the CMC today and I passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jake RN, CCRN CSC CMC
:ancong!:
That's just awesome, Jake. It's a great feeling, isn't it?!!!
ps... if you look on AACNs website for proper use of subspecialty initials... they want them hyphenated after the CCRN... as in CCRN-CMC-CSC... just so you're "in the know"...
How great... Congratulations again! Good Good Good for you!
Yipeeeeeeeeeee