Med-Surg Certification

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Any advice on preparing for my med-surg certification exam? Any specific study material you used?

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Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

I waltzed in there thinking that I had already ran into it all, and should know it by now. I passed... but not with an amazing grade. Kind of barely. I had a few questions each on erectile disfunction and insulin drips. We deal with neither of those things.

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Thanks! I currently work on a Neuro/tele/med-surg unit but unfortunately we don't see a lot of surgical patients. I know I have a lot to study. Congrats on passing!

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Specializes in HH, Med/surg- liver & kidney transplant, ortho, ++.

I have around 200 or more study questions and a study guide recommended from the hospital I work at. I am working on a resource binder for the nurses on my ward. I was the second to be certified and more are to follow now!!

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On 1/26/2019 at 12:51 PM, KellT1203 said:

I have around 200 or more study questions and a study guide recommended from the hospital I work at. I am working on a resource binder for the nurses on my ward. I was the second to be certified and more are to follow now!!

Congrats on your certification. 

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On 1/26/2019 at 12:51 PM, KellT1203 said:

I have around 200 or more study questions and a study guide recommended from the hospital I work at. I am working on a resource binder for the nurses on my ward. I was the second to be certified and more are to follow now!!

Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment.

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Specializes in Wound care; CMSRN.

I took the CMSRN exam end of last year and passed it. This was my second attempt. I was way to cocky the first time around although I did scour Med Surg related NCLEX study material to prepare. This test isn't really NCLEX style.

I do study best by listening and watching and then doing.
MSNCB has some recommended preparation/study material here:
https://www.msncb.org/exam-preparation

As it turns out, I was also offered an opportunity to attend a two day group study that utilized a 14 hour web cast sponsored by MSNCB of one of their pre exam conferences. I had to decline due to scheduling issues, but that hospital had written a grant for their training and offered me, an unknown outsider, a free seat. Wow.
I basically ran across it by accident on MSNCB's web site.

My facility purchased access to the online version that we were able to do individually, and I was even given comp time to do it at home with my own computer and coffee pot. Can't beat that.

If your facility purchases test enrollment for you, MSNCB offers a price break on a second test if you don't pass. You also avoid up front enrollment fees.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

I took and passed the ANCC Med-Surg exam on 05/10/19. I used two resources: Lippincot’s Medical-Surgical Certification Review book and the CMSRN app that contained 500 questions if you purchased and upgraded your account. I read about 60% of the book and did approx. 90% of the questions in the app and passed the exam at the first attempt. I found the exam to be a little tedious due to its length, moderately hard, not too easy but not excessively hard, and a whole lot better in design compared to the NCLEX-RN. In the NCLEX-RN you couldn’t progress to a question until you had answered and submitted the previous one; this differs in this test, you get all 175 questions from the start and you can skip, flag, and return to unanswered questions at your will. If anybody would like a further insight into the test, ask below and I’ll be glad to answer your questions.

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I just purchased the app! Hoping it will help I also have book recommended by the AMSN and i want to finish that as well. I applied for the test yesterday so I have to get myself in gear. But this isn't my first or second certification. I'm officially stroke certified and peds certified so hopefully this will go over well.

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I've been a RN on a Med-Surg floor for about 3 1/2 years now after going back to school to change careers. I took the CSMRN exam in May 2019 and failed with a standard score of 90. I used "Lippincott Certification Review Med-Surg Nursing - 2018" book which I only finished like 60% of the book w/ questions, purchased the 75 MSNCB review questions, and used the CMSRN app that I purchased questions as well.

I honestly thought the exam was hard and barely finished my 150 questions in 3 hours. I felt pretty defeated cause a couple of other co-workers took it recently and passed with barely studying. It's not like the NCLEX that's all i'll say.

Any recommendations or advice before I decide to retake this lovely exam?

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Specializes in Wound care; CMSRN.

So by now you have a record of the areas you're weak in but not the exact questions you missed, of course. You also know this is not the NCLEX. NCLEX style strategies don't necessarily work with this test.
What I did do that you didn't was listen to the two day lecture series that was a vid of the conference: <https://library.amsn.org/amsn/packages/983/view>

This test isn't about question answering strategies; it's about pathophys and assessment. It's about what Med Surg nurses do. It's about what you do at work every day. You may be overthinking. Figure out what screwed you up worst the first time and brush up on it. I think what does work with this and is something you've heard before is "don't change your answers". You already know it. One last thing. Stress and adrenaline are not conducive to mental clarity. Get plenty of rest and relax. You've got this.
Good luck. You'll be fine.

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@FeliciaRNCPN How did the certification exams go? I just signed up for the exams. Any recommendations on study materials?

thanks

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