Just took the CCRN 20 Minutes Ago

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And passed. For the SECOND time. My previous CCRN just expired this past May. And I must say, I think it was quite different this time around. The first time around, I do remember thinking, "Wow, this is really easy". But THIS time, I felt like I shouldn't have bothered to study AT ALL. I studied for about 6 months the 1st time (don't know how 1st timers are pulling all this information together in 2-3 weeks), but this time I studied 4 weeks b/c I pretty much had all of the information. The one thing that I did differently was included phone and ipad apps. And I think that doing so threw me off a good 2 weeks. A lot of the information was redundant to what I already had (just worded differently) but it also included WAY more anatomy/biology/physiology than ICU stuff. Also, the 1st time I used Laura Gasparis' Green book (her name was Gasparis Vonfrolio then, or maybe it still is). I never used her CD's because the green book has been around for YEARS and that was the recommendation made to me at the time, not the cds. Another thing I used was the PASS CCRN! Cd, and I'm finding that most people that have passed it used those 2 sources. So here's my take on how to study for the CCRN: DON'T.

At least that's what 2 guys at my previous place of employment did. They decided to just risk it and at least see what the test was like, THEN devise a way to study. But they passed!! Please know that studying for the CCRN is not a bad thing at all! Just watch how EVERYTHING starts to come together at work. You begin to have full understanding as to why you do what you do. You start to see and read about things in the chart that you had JUST studied!! Just in the last 2 weeks I have been able to predict TWO patients that were on the way to Cardiogenic Shock. So for that reason, studying for the CCRN is a good thing. But if you already know why you do what you do and you just want to jump this hurdle to move on to the next phase in your career, then just WALK IN AND TAKE IT. How many times have you blown $300 and have nothing to show for it? At least this way you will know the structure of the test just in case you don't pass, but I am pretty confident that you will, and here's why.

The 1st time around, I must have had about 25 hemodynamic questions related to the PA Catheter. This time........THREE!!! I think it's safe to say that pretty much nationwide, you rarely even see a PA Catheter anymore. And they have taken this into account on the test. And guess how many neuro questions I had......FOUR!!! Probably less. And I did get ONE EKG question about leads II, II, and avF. EIGHTY, yes EIGHTY percent of the test was related to CUSTOMER SERVICE!! I couldn't believe it! And I do remember thinking that it was also a big part of it the 1st time around, but this time it was ridiculous how many customer service questions were on there! "If a patient's family members.... "A patient's family asked...." It was all about the Family. I almost feel cheated, but I'm so happy to have it over with that ALL IS FORGIVEN.

Maybe all the stars aligned for me and I got all of the easy questions but I really don't think so. I've been around for a minute (20 years) and way back when, the CCRN was virtually impossible to pass! And now almost EVERYONE that takes it PASSES! That should say something. As I said, nothing wrong with studying for it, especially if you intend to apply to CRNA school, for it will Definitely put you in study mode, but if you're good without doing all the studying, just WALK IN AND TAKE IT. You'll do fine.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I felt the same way when I took the certification exam for oncology. I used the study manual and the questions had me scared witless. When I took the actual test, I thought they were trying to psych me out, because the questions seemed so easy...and I had only been working in oncology for a little over a year and a half when I took it.

Congratulations on passing. I like how you said how it's so easy to blow $300.00 and have nothing to show for it. That is so true.

Good job!

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Talking about SCARED! How about this: The last time I took it, when I finished it said "Congratulations, you have passed the CCRN!" right on the computer. THIS time, out of nowhere, it said that I had answered all questions with 80 minutes to spare and to.... "See the Test Advisor". That is the very second that I understood the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. Let me tell you, my alpha1 and beta 1 receptors must have been bound by a million epinephrine molecules all at once!! My heart pounded SO hard, that I could see my shirt pulsating without even looking down. My eyes were still glued to the computer trying to figure out how in the Heck did I not pass this thing? So as I walked out of the door, I stood next to a printer that said "printing" on the screen. Now I felt like some one had started a Vasopressin drip on me with a little bit of Nipride because I SWORE that my blood pressure had hit 200/200 and I was going to pass out. I grabbed the paper and it said "CONGRATULAIONS, YOU HAVE PASSED THE CCRN!!" And it also should have read: "For the second time YOU IDIOT since you let the dag on thing EXPIRE!!" And let me tell you, I do love my 2 year old daughter (my only child) but I think I was a tad bit happier when I saw that paper than when I first saw her (of course I'm just kidding but I'm just trying to "take you" to how I was feeling at the moment!). Needless to say, I'm glad that I have taken it twice so that I can make a fair comparison of the 2 tests back to back and give my honest opinion on them. Thanks for responding!!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Ah ha...I was wondering why you had to take the test again. Does the CCRN have the option to renew with a certain number of CEUs relevant to critical care?

And yeah, the first time I certified, I finished the test and then got a pop up on the screen that told me I'd passed. I felt kind of light-headed when I read that, because I didn't believe I could pass it going into it. Holy crap! If the test would have stopped partway through and told me to see the advisor, I think I would have passed out from fright. Sounds like they're doing it sort of like NCLEX.

LOL at you being happier to see you passed the test than seeing your newborn!

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The CCRN Does have an option to renew, using Synergy CERPS, which fall into 3 categories, A,B, and C. But the amount of CERPS you need, and what you need to do to obtain them appeared to be so stringent (write a book, do research, attend 10 conferences a year, go back to school, teach ACLS, write an article for a nursing magazine, and a MILLION more difficult things to do) that I decided that I would just take it again. Unbeknownst to me, there was ONE easy option, and that was to read online Critical Care articles and do the test at the end (and they usually give you the answers any). Some are free, some cost a dollar or two. And I think you need about 12-15 of these a year, in which you could do one every month or all 45 close to expiration time. Unfortunately, I DID NOT KNOW THIS!! So I had to repeat the exam. I don't ever plan on renewing again, but just in case I change my mind, just know that I am not going to study A THING! Nothing!! Nada!! I will just walk in and take it. But truth be told, I am expecting the test to increase in difficulty again in the near future. Especially with a post like this one on a forum as popular as Allnurses!!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Congratulations!

Moved to the Critical Care Forum

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
The CCRN Does have an option to renew, using Synergy CERPS, which fall into 3 categories, A,B, and C. But the amount of CERPS you need, and what you need to do to obtain them appeared to be so stringent (write a book, do research, attend 10 conferences a year, go back to school, teach ACLS, write an article for a nursing magazine, and a MILLION more difficult things to do) that I decided that I would just take it again. Unbeknownst to me, there was ONE easy option, and that was to read online Critical Care articles and do the test at the end (and they usually give you the answers any). Some are free, some cost a dollar or two. And I think you need about 12-15 of these a year, in which you could do one every month or all 45 close to expiration time. Unfortunately, I DID NOT KNOW THIS!! So I had to repeat the exam. I don't ever plan on renewing again, but just in case I change my mind, just know that I am not going to study A THING! Nothing!! Nada!! I will just walk in and take it. But truth be told, I am expecting the test to increase in difficulty again in the near future. Especially with a post like this one on a forum as popular as Allnurses!!

That's what I did. We had to have 100 CEUs, with 60 of them being related to oncology. I was able to get close to 300CEU without spending much money. There are plenty of sites that have free offerings.

In any case, congrats. You've got that in your rearview mirror for a few years. And enjoy your little one!

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

...and they do enforce that CERP requirement. My previous CCRN certification period was randomly audited and I had to submit everything to AACN and the scrutiny (with a fine tooth comb, lol) took 3 months.

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Specializes in ICU.

I couldn't imagine having to take that exam again. I keep up on my CERPS. Kill me if I let it expire by accident and have to renew by exam

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Passed yesterday. Barrons imo really helped in terms of mimicking the coverage on the exam...especially the situational hemodynamic questions.

It took me the entire 3 hours to finish and I passed on my first try with 88 questions...;)

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