I've signed up for the CCRN

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Specializes in Critical Care.

April 21st....ominous drums beat in the distance...the walls slowly close in around me and the doomsday clock slowly undulates tow

Okay, I'm not totally freaked out or anything. I've been studying since Dec, will have 1 year 8 months of ICU exp at the time. Just thought those on the internet should know.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

Good luck! I've been wanting to take the test for over a year, but can't get off my butt and study. My excuse before was I wanted to finish school first (I just finished grad school for my MSN/MHA). Now my excuse is that I'm looking for a job away from the bedside, so whats the point? I have all the books and even a set of DVDs, but just never settled down to study. I may still do it anyway just for my own sense of accomplishment :rolleyes:

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Specializes in CTICU.

Honestly if you have the really acute experience, the study is just a refresh/review and it's all in there somewhere!

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Specializes in SRNA.

Cool! Good luck :)

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Good luck!

I plan on taking it before summer is over. I have the Dennison study guide with DVD and all that, and our critical care orientation manual is fairly intense covering medical, surgical, neuro and cardiac, so going through both should be plenty I hope!

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Specializes in ICU.

I've been in the ICU since August (was in tele a year prior to this) and want to take the CCRN as soon as I have enough hours. I kind of hinted to this to another nurse and she was like, "naah, you should really get like a good 2-3 years of experience before you take it." What do you guys think? To me, it seems like if I am studying for this exam over the next months, then I am only increasing my knowledge base and helping me become a better ICU nurse. If I meet the minimum requirement, then I qualify just like everyone else, right? Either way, I went ahead and ordered the DVD's and will start studying. It has always been my goal to get my CCRN, and I also want to go back to school part time for my Master's and get a start on that, so I would like to have it prior to my application, as well, but certainly that is not my sole reason for wanting it since I would still need to keep up with CE's

.

thoughts?

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Specializes in SRNA.

When you meet the minimum requirements and are motivated, go for it! Studying the content will only make you a better clinician. I took it right before my 2 year mark, but I don't see why I couldn't have earlier.

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reno...what school are you looking at for FNP???

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Good for you! Know your Swan numbers...I had a couple of multiple-answer questions, "You patient's SVR is 2000, PVR is 100, SV is 200...etc, would you recommend dopamine, a diuretic, or an anti-hypertensive"...stuff like that. Also, know which 12-lead is which area of the heart, "if your patient has ST-elevation in V1, what area of the heart is the infart occuring?"

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thanks for all of the advice. I will keep you guys posted! I hope all of my studying pays off.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Honestly...has anyone heard of a nurse who has NOT passed the CCRN exam lately? The newbie nurses on my unit are passing in droves. Good for them.

Study the stuff they advise you to study (complete with the actual exam questions) and you will pass.

I sincerely hope you get a certification differential. And it does look good on your CV.

I'm sure the AACN organization is smiling all the way to the bank with this one. When re-cert time comes I'll be submitting the fees too.

:::Sigh:::

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Specializes in ICU.
Honestly...has anyone heard of a nurse who has NOT passed the CCRN exam lately? The newbie nurses on my unit are passing in droves. Good for them.

Study the stuff they advise you to study (complete with the actual exam questions) and you will pass.

I sincerely hope you get a certification differential. And it does look good on your CV.

I'm sure the AACN organization is smiling all the way to the bank with this one. When re-cert time comes I'll be submitting the fees too.

:::Sigh:::

5 nurses on my unit took the exam. All with years and years of experience. 3 passed and 2 failed. One of them missed by 2 questions with 14 years of critical care experience. I think this is why it might be better to take it earlier, so you're more acclimated to studying and maybe test taking, too.

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