ICU nurse to Acute NP

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LTAC/ CVICU.

Hello, I am an Adult-Geri Acute NP student who is currently working in CVICU and I have been there for less than 2 years. Because of school, I haven't had time to take CCRN test. Do you think I should get certified before I graduate since I'm doing acute NP?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

The CCRN is a certification exam that tests your knowlegde as a bedside nurse in the ICU.  The scope of practice of an Adult-Gerontolgy Acute Care NP encompasses the spectrum of acute, critical, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses in a variety of settings.

Maybe if you were to apply to an ICU NP position later on when you're already an NP that the CCRN would add to your credibility as an ICU nurse. Our ICU NP job postings do say "CCRN preferred" but its not required. If you have little time to devote to studying for the CCRN, I wouldn't attempt it especially with less than 2 years experience in a specialized ICU.

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Specializes in LTAC/ CVICU.
4 minutes ago, juan de la cruz said:

The CCRN is a certification exam that tests your knowlegde as a bedside nurse in the ICU.  The scope of practice of an Adult-Gerontolgy Acute Care NP encompasses the spectrum of acute, critical, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses in a variety of settings.

Maybe if you were to apply to an ICU NP position later on when you're already an NP that the CCRN would add to your credibility as an ICU nurse. Our ICU NP job postings do say "CCRN preferred" but its not required. If you have little time to devote to studying for the CCRN, I wouldn't attempt it especially with less than 2 years experience in a specialized ICU.

Thank you.

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Specializes in ICU.

I’m going to respectfully disagree with the wonderful Juan on this one. I took my CCRN at 1.5 years of medical ICU. I studied a bit for sure, but it’s not like I needed months of intense study. Here’s what I would suggest. Purchase a practice test to see what your baseline knowledge is, then you might be able to make a better assessment of whether or not you can accomplish this task prior to graduation. Or maybe just find some questions on the Pass CCRN app and see how you do. Lots of hemodynamics in the CVICU, right? That’s part of what really gets people on the exam since there’s a lot of it, but you may nail that! 

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Specializes in LTAC/ CVICU.

Even though I work in the ICU, I’m not sure if that’s where I want to be as an NP. And as an acute care NP I know I can work in like urgent cares, clinics (hospital or community base) and like privet offices. So I don’t want to wast time and money if I’m not sure that’s where I want to be. 

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
13 hours ago, Nursebecky said:

Even though I work in the ICU, I’m not sure if that’s where I want to be as an NP. And as an acute care NP I know I can work in like urgent cares, clinics (hospital or community base) and like privet offices. So I don’t want to wast time and money if I’m not sure that’s where I want to be. 

You can even take the test after you get your ACNP if you really want the credential.  In the ICU NP group I worked with, not everyone has CCRN or kept their CCRN certification once they started working as NP's.  I see no point in having it if you end up working in Cardiology for instance.  I keep my CCRN-CSC since I'm active with AACN and have been on NTI and test question writing committees in the past.

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Specializes in LTAC/ CVICU.

Thank you. 

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