Published Dec 10, 2008
iLovemyJackRT
150 Posts
My question is just that. Everytime I do a search on CCRN study material they pop up. They're expensive. I'm just wondering if anyone has used them and what they thought. They seem to offer a lot of questions with rationales. They're in a yellow and black box if you're memory needs to be refreshed :)
Thanks.
Brooke
Summitk2
145 Posts
I know the ones you're talking about... They popped up a lot when I was also looking for review materials. I looked into the website deeper to see what kind of background they had (i.e. nursing). When I saw the hundreds of exams they offer review flashcards for, I decided "no thanks." However, I could be wrong--maybe they're good materials!?
I would look for review materials from critical care nurses. There's plenty out there. I wouldn't buy anything from anyone who also offered flash cards for your real estate license! That's my
californianurse
111 Posts
I didn't use the flash cards to study, so I can't attest to them. However, I bought the CCRN review DVD set of Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, watched those, took notes (laughed because she's awesome!), did practice questions, and scored very well on the exam. I DO NOT recommend the AACN study guide (a big fat book); it reads like a stereo manual. However, I DO reccommend the AACN "Core Review" book with 3 full-length practice tests for the CCRN. It has rationales and I learned a lot from doing those. Also, if you buy Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVDs, it comes with a question book, which is also great.
Her questions are more simplistic than the ones in the AACN "Core Review" book, but I found Laura's material more like the CCRN test format. However, again, I do recommend the AACN "Core Review" book, as it's also a great learning tool. If you get it and start doing the questions, don't worry about your "score" because those test questions are much more difficult that the CCRN. Or at least that was my experience.
If you're interested in Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVDs, you can get them from her website at http://www.greatnurses.com. They too are expensive; about $150, but are well worth it.
LaurynRN
70 Posts
I did not have the flash cards but did make my own while watching Laura's DVDs. I also bought the Core Review book that the previous poster talked about. I got the Pass CCRN book as well, the book was worthless, the companion cd rom was priceless with multiple random test questions that you can also take by system if there is one thing you want to focus on.
snowie_bunny
15 Posts
I did not use the flash card at all. I would recommend you get the Pass CCRN book and do the practice questions on the CD came with it. The book has much more information than you really need for the test. Use it as a good reference. Gook Luck!
mursebryan
17 Posts
I know this is a reply to an old post... I've been reviewing primarily with the Core Review (Alspach) book. Am I to believe that if I scored 112/150 on a practice test, that this is really 112/125 because they only count 125 of the 150 questions? So, IOW, this was a good score?
Just trying to ease the tension of preparing... my exam is on the 17th.
Thanks
jls189
167 Posts
I also recommend Lauras DVD's. The test didn't seem as hard as I thought it was going to be. She makes eveything seem so easy.
I didn't use the flash cards to study, so I can't attest to them. However, I bought the CCRN review DVD set of Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, watched those, took notes (laughed because she's awesome!), did practice questions, and scored very well on the exam. I DO NOT recommend the AACN study guide (a big fat book); it reads like a stereo manual. However, I DO reccommend the AACN "Core Review" book with 3 full-length practice tests for the CCRN. It has rationales and I learned a lot from doing those. Also, if you buy Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVDs, it comes with a question book, which is also great. Her questions are more simplistic than the ones in the AACN "Core Review" book, but I found Laura's material more like the CCRN test format. However, again, I do recommend the AACN "Core Review" book, as it's also a great learning tool. If you get it and start doing the questions, don't worry about your "score" because those test questions are much more difficult that the CCRN. Or at least that was my experience. If you're interested in Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVDs, you can get them from her website at www.greatnurses.com. They too are expensive; about $150, but are well worth it.
If you're interested in Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio's DVDs, you can get them from her website at www.greatnurses.com. They too are expensive; about $150, but are well worth it.
I passed CCRN with only using the AACN Core Review practice tests (3 paper, one electronic). I felt the test was hard, so judging by everyone else's posts, I'd do it all again using Gasparis videos.
N2bater
40 Posts
LAURA GASPARIS VONFROLIO is all you need to know. DVD's were expensive but WELL worth it. Plus, you are supporting nurses, not Kaplan or some other corp when you buy her DVD's.
nike0777
23 Posts
I used the Pass CCRN book/CD and that more than prepared me! The questions were so similar that after I got done the exam I couldn't remember which were test questions and which were practice questions. I used it for two weeks and passed the test with flying colors.