Did You Get CCRN Certified Without ICU Experience?

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

If this is you, interested to hear whether or not this has been a plus for you in applying for jobs and/or getting hired into an ICU or ER.

Not looking for debates on whether you need actual ICU experience to sit for CCRN. There are enough threads discussing that.

Thanks!

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[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I'm a little confused.....This is like asking Did you get hired as an RN, without going through school and taking boards?”.

[Nurse Leigh]

It is my understanding that one needs so many hours of critical care experience to take the test. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

CCRN looks nice on your resume, but so does experience in a high acuity setting. Honestly I never bothered to get my CCRN but I don't think it would detract from my resume due to my # of years of experience.

[crr1987]

If you're asking can you take the ccrn without ICU experience I believe the answer is yes. I think the AACN states that ER experience counts as critical care nursing.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Hours are required. Here are the requirements directly from aacn.org:

"Current unencumbered licensure as an RN or APRN in the U.S. is required.

An unencumbered license is not currently being subjected to formal discipline by any board of nursing and has no provisions or conditions that limit the nurse's practice in any way.

Candidates must meet one of the following clinical practice requirement options:

Option 1: Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.

Option 2: Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct bedside care of acutely and/or critically ill patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.

Eligible clinical practice hours are those:

spent caring for a single patient population (adult, pediatric or neonatal) matching the exam for which you are applying.

spent supervising nurses or nursing students at the bedside, if working as a manager, educator (in-service or academic), APRN or preceptor.

completed in a U.S.-based or Canada-based facility or in a facility determined to be comparable to tU.S. standard of acute/critical care nursing practice.

[june2009]

I work LTAC and we are able to take the CCRN.