Med/Surg Certification Exam

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 9, 2006

First, a question---are you sitting for the CMSRN exam (AMSN), or the one offered by ANCC?

If you're taking the CMSRN exam, fear not..........it's really not difficult, especially if you've been paying attention to the different diagnoses and treatments for your patients' other medical conditions. You have four hours for the test, which is proctored, and it takes about four to six weeks to find out your results. As for the test itself, I kept waiting for it to get harder, and it never did.........most of it was common-sense medical/surgical nursing, with a lot of questions dealing with disease processes and expected interventions and outcomes.

Just as one should do with the NCLEX, take your time, DON'T second-guess yourself, and always go for the safest choice. Good luck to you!

LaurynRN · Apr 9, 2006

I am sitting for the CMSRN and one of my peers just failed in October so I am really nervous now!

Thanks for the advice!

AngelsRN · Apr 15, 2006

What is the difference between the CMSRN and ANCC exams -- if I were to sit for it when I am eligible, which is best, is there really a difference etc.

Thanks

LaurynRN · Jun 12, 2006

Angels,

I am not sure what the difference is but there were many nurses in our hospital review class that were from another hospital and they were taking the ANCC.

BTW, I passed the exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AngelsRN · Jun 13, 2006

Congrats!! I am not eligible yet to take the test - I guess I have time to do research to find out the difference.

LaurynRN · Jun 14, 2006

Angels,

I found this info on the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses web site.

ANCC (ANA's credentialing center) is one of about 40 boards/centers that offer certification examinations in various nursing specialties. All of these boards offer nationally standardized examinations that are prepared using accepted testing standards (Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1999), published jointly by the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education). ANCC offers the largest number of tests (between 30 & 40, including separate tests for AD/diploma and baccalaureate-prepared nurses).

Many of these boards are members of the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), the "board of boards," (similar to the National Board of Medical Examiners), which accredits nursing certification boards. A representative of MSNCB will be attending the ABNS meeting in February. MSNCB plans to join and have its examination accredited by ABNS.

A large numbers of nurses are certified by boards other than ANCC, e.g., AACN for critical care nursing, BCEN for emergency nursing, OCN for oncology nursing, and NCC (National Certification Corporation) for women's health nursing. The NCC offers ten different exams in women's health, and ANCC offers five in critical care. Both NCC and ANCC offer exams in neonatal critical care. ANCC and NCBPNP (National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses) offer both exams in pediatric nursing. Now exams in med-surg nursing will be offered both by ANCC and MSNCB.

allnurses Guide · Jun 14, 2006

Am I correct in that the CMSRN is offered by the AMSN (Association of Med Surge nurses, or something like that?)?

I actually HAVE my CMSRN, so you would think I would know. =)

Anyway, relax Lauryn, it isn't a hard test. Lots of common sense questions.

My understanding is that the test offered by the ANCC is MUCH harder and if you pass it, you get the title "RNBC" for board-certified RN.

Everyone at my hospital who has taken it has passed it. There is only one person that I know of who did not, and oddly enough, this person has been a nurse for like, 30-something odd years.

allnurses Guide · Jun 14, 2006

Woops, after reading again I just realized that you have already passed the exam. =) Well, congrats!!!!!

nightingale, RN · Jun 14, 2006

Angels,
I am not sure what the difference is but there were many nurses in our hospital review class that were from another hospital and they were taking the ANCC.
BTW, I passed the exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:balloons: :balloons: [MOUSE]Yahoo![/MOUSE]:balloons: :balloons:

I took the ANCC Exam 4 years ago and passed. To me, it was like taking another NCLEX. It was difficult but then I thought the NCLEX was also.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

Congrats! I agree the ANCC Exam was very tough, just like NCLEX for me. I passed it twice because I let it expire over two years. Just make sure when you move their have your new address so you will be reminded to renew. I moved twice and never got the renewal notice and took it all over again. :)

LaurynRN · Jun 17, 2006

O.K. I am a little confused by some of the posts on here....maybe someone can clarify. I took and passed the CMSRN boards not ANCC but I don't understand why everyone states that the ANCC is harder than the CMSRN boards? I did not take the ANCC but I do know that in my review class offered by my hospital many nurses were there who were going to sit for the ANCC, so how could the review be the same but one test be "harder" than the other? And should I feel 'less proud' because I passed the "easy" one? Someone please enlighten me if I am missing something here. :confused: