NICU CCRN Certification

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While preparing for the neonatal CCRN exam I found that there wasn't much information regarding what the test was like other than the test breakdown found on the aacn website. I had seen some mentions of what books to look over such as the core curriculum and the neonatal intensive care 4e book but those are quite indepth and there's really no real way to retain all of that information without spending several years in the NICU. So here is a review of everything I did to prepare and what I feel helped. To put things in perspective I have only been in the NICU for a year and I was a new grand prior to that. I passively read the core curriculum, then I did the neonatal intensive care review questions book. I read through a copy of the NICU Solutions book which is highly recommended by many but I was not able to attend the 3 day class. The week of my test I reviewed a series of videos on youtube by Crash! Medical Review. I found them immensely helpful in narrowing down what to focus on. I also did multiple rounds of 100 questions of the neonatal core curriculum online questions since I really couldn't get access to a practice test. About the test: it was 150 questions some of which are pilot I'm not sure how many actually but aacn claims 25 are pilot. There was a lot of hypotension/hypertension, IVH, TTN, RDS, renal disorder questions, couple of PPHN. I definitely think it was as difficult if not more difficult than I anticipated but those Crash! Medical Review videos were extremely helpful and I don't believe I would have passed without them. As great as those books are I feel like the CCRN focused a lot more on pathology than those books and even the NICU solutions book led on. Please post a comment if you have any questions.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks for this info! I'm going to take it soon but have no resources in my unit as everyone else has taken RNC...

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Let me know if you have any other concerns.

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The same is true for my unit and that's why I felt so insecure going into the testing center because I really didn't know what to study. There is so little information out there regarding the neonatal CCRN. My best advice beyond feeling like you have a good grasp on the material would be to do those 600 questions on a loop and to watch those videos to pinpoint what you struggle understanding. Very little of the test is just regurgitating information. It's mainly applying your knowledge to scenarios I hadn't experienced before

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Specializes in ICU.

I bought and used the online AACN review course. Took a mock CCRN test tonight and scored 115/150 or approximately 77%. Looks like the cut score for last year's test was approximately 69%. Taking the test really soon and freaking out, plan on taking a few more practice tests, maybe including the one available online via AACN. Fingers crossed. I keep telling myself I can always take it again if I fail....

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Specializes in ICU.

I passed!! 113 right out of the 125 scored. The cut score was 86. Happy to share tips and tricks if anyone works in a unit like mine where everyone takes RNC not CCRN! It was definitely an application of knowledge exam. I got a lot of fluid and electrolyte interpretation, a couple of blood gasses. The cardiac and pulm stuff was pretty easy, but that's kind of our bread and butter isn't it? The AACN model questions were actually a little tricky.

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Congrats!!!

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Specializes in NICU.

hi, congratulations on passing your exam!!

i am about to start studying for my CCRN, i dont want to overwhelm myself with study materials and was wondering if there is a book that you would recommend me getting? I have been in the NICU for only a year, and was a new grad when i started, so i have a year to go until i can sit for the exam. but i wanted to start studying early so i dont feel pressured or rushed.

any feedback or advice will be greatly appreciated , Thank you!!

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