Do CCRN scores matter?

NA2BE · Apr 11, 2008

Just think of CCRN as pass/fail. It doesn't matter what you get on it. If you are having doubts about taking it, just go take it. I planned to take it before interviewing for CRNA programs, but couldn't get around to it. I had already paid the money so I ended up taking it after I had been accepted. Of course I had no motivation to study because I was in. I passed without cracking a book. I'm not saying don't study, just prepare what you can and go take it. Scores don't matter.

MayisontheWay · Apr 11, 2008

I have heard of one school that wants to see your scores...TCU I believe. I didn't apply there, but I've read it on this board.

May

Mandevillian · Apr 11, 2008

In my humble opinion, unless your school specifically requires that you be certified, why waste your time? I recieved acceptance to both of the CRNA schools that I applied to without it, and does a CCRN cert make you a better critical care RN?--- absolutely not..... :bugeyes:

2814 · Apr 12, 2008

Of course they matter. If I take a test then I perform to the best of my ability, only taking it to pass is selling yourself short. Some CRNA programs do look at your CCRN score. I know one program does not ask you any clinical questions if you score above average.

daitheflu · Apr 12, 2008

all of the schools that i know about do not care about your CCRN score, but they do want you to have it. it makes you look better and shows that you have the motivation for independent study. if you are applying to a school with only a few years of experience, i would definitely recommend having it.

i actually did mention my CCRN scores during my interviews because i did very well. they seemed to be receptive to my mentioning them. i used them as an example of my strength in test taking.

gasmaster · Apr 14, 2008

TCU asked for my scores, but it was not a requirement to apply. But I think it certainly helped me because I did very well on it and was really proud to provide the scores to them. If you are going to take the test you should do the best possible on it just in case......

SWTNES · Apr 17, 2008

Just think of CCRN as pass/fail. It doesn't matter what you get on it. If you are having doubts about taking it, just go take it. I planned to take it before interviewing for CRNA programs, but couldn't get around to it. I had already paid the money so I ended up taking it after I had been accepted. Of course I had no motivation to study because I was in. I passed without cracking a book. I'm not saying don't study, just prepare what you can and go take it. Scores don't matter.

May I ask which school accepted you without the CCRN? I plan to apply to several schools this Fall and I plan to take the CCRN prior only to help getting accepted into a program.

SWTNES · Apr 17, 2008

Can you please share which schools you applied that did not require the CCRN? I plan to apply to several this Fall and was under the impression that I needed to have the CCRN if I wanted to be considered for an interivew.

Thanks

NA2BE · Apr 18, 2008

Most schools don't require you to be CCRN certified. That being said, probably most applicants have it, so you usually need it to be competitive. I really wanted to get in so I applied to 8 schools in several different states and was offered an interview at all of them, so it isn't necessary to have it to get an interview.

gasmaster · Apr 21, 2008

FYI: most of the questions that you will be asked during a clinical interview are straight from the CCRN. So even if you don't take it, it's good to get a study guide and prepare.

californianurse · Apr 22, 2008

FYI: most of the questions that you will be asked during a clinical interview are straight from the CCRN. So even if you don't take it, it's good to get a study guide and prepare.

Like usual, I agree with Neurogeek. The schools which have clinically-based interviews pull their questions from the CCRN. And yes, scores do matter. After all, someone who does very well on the CCRN will have an advantage over someone who barely made it. When I interviewed at several schools, they all asked me about the CCRN (like, "I see on your resume that you have your CCRN..." and would leave room for me to comment), and I was happy to tell them my score. I noted they took special interest and wrote down my numbers.

Having the CCRN just may give you the "edge" you need to get in. You just never know who's going to be accepted and who won't. I've heard of many nurses with lots of excellent experience, personal skills, letters of rec, etc, not getting in. The more you can put on your resume (even if you don't need it as a prereq), the better you will look, the more confident you will feel and the more competitive you will be. Plus, it just may help make you an even better nurse, if that's possible. :)

For me, studying for and taking the CCRN was much more fun and gratifying than the GRE. If anything, it's a great refresher, and your work may even offer you an incentive to have your CCRN. I got $1,000 for being able to write CCRN after my name.

The passing score is 87 out of 125 scored questions. Of note, there are 150 questions you must answer, but only 125 are scored. The "other 25" are used as random analysis of potential questions. I've heard a "good score" is one > 100. However, I don't think that the CCRN scores are weighed nearly as heavily as the GRE. :twocents: