RNC vs CCRN

[NICU_babyRN, BSN, RN]

i apologize for having yet another question about this!

i'm trying to figure out what the difference is between being a rn, rnc and a rn, ccrn. i know there are two different exams. but what's the difference between one and the other?

i've been doing a little search online, but not finding out too much.

thank you:)

addy:nurse:

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

They are merely two different certification agencies. CCRN costs more and requires more CEUs. I believe the knowledge base and question types are relatively similar. My hospital only pays for one exam, and we only get one certification bonus/differential, so I went with the RNC. The RNC also comes in 2 different levels, Intensive Care Neonatal and Low-risk neonatal.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

What Steve said.

The other thing to know is that most people who are either RNC's or CCRN's are not actually NICU nurses.

The National Certification Corporation (NCC) offers the RNC in any of several specialties, mostly related to maternal or newborn care (low-risk newborn, neonatal intensive care, mother/baby, inpatient obstetrics, etc).

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers the CCRN, a critical care certification with adult, pediatric and neonatal versions, depending on where the unit where the nurse works.

I took the neonatal CCRN a few months ago and found it to be pretty straightforward. I'm preparing for RNC now, since I've just completed the two-year experience requirement.