PCCN Certification

empathetic_cynic, BSN, MSN, DNP, NP · Feb 12, 2014

Hello,
I have close to 2.5 years of experience as a RN on a stepdown/tele/vascular surgery floor. I am very interested in taking the PCCN exam. I want to take the exam by the beginning of this summer. I am currently taking 5 credits worth of courses online as I am wrapping up my RN-BS program (online).
What I am wondering is:
-How long should I study before the exam?
-What are the best information resources for the exam?
-What are the best practice question resources for the exam?
If anyone out there has experience with the PCCN and has any advice it would be greatly appreciated!

Hi!

I took the PCCN exam at the end of October last year and passed. I studied on and off for about 2 months preceding the exam.

I suggest reading the handbook and info pertaining to the exam if you haven't already: http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/initial-pccn-certification.pcms?menu=certification

I used the PCCN Review Package from the AACN: http://www.aacn.org/dm/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=302016&prodtyp=product&subsystem=PCK

The book it comes with is a great reference also. It also comes with review questions and a review course that goes over all the topics in the exam.

When you are finished with the review course, I highly suggest you take the PCCN SAE:

http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/saeexampccn.pcms?menu=certification

These questions are similar to what you might see when you take the actual exam.

Good luck!

daisyRN1, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2014

Thank you empathetic_cynic! I will definitely look into that package, it looks like it has everything I want (review content and practice questions).

:up: :sarcastic: Thanks again!

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Feb 20, 2014

Hello! I took the PCCN exam last April and passed. I studied for awhile but then stopped for awhile, too, so I had to get back into my groove, lol. I used different resources:

Pass CCRN! Book. Contains a lot of useful information and it has a CD with practice questions. Yes it pertains more to the CCRN but you can tailor your studying to your needs. And actually, I was doing well on the practice tests with the CCRN material so I figured if I could do that, I should be okay with the PCCN.

PCCN SAE from AACN. Contains questions from previous exams but it will give you a feel for what the questions will be like. It point you to your stronger and weaker areas. I actually had a few questions from my SAE pop up on my actual PCCN exam.

David Woodruff's 90 Day PCCN Success Program. If you take it within 90 days, you get a guarantee to pass. If not, they will pay for you to take your exam again. The Success Program is very thorough, comes with notes and an audio CD. Woodruff is an excellent educator IMO.

daisyRN1, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2014

Thanks turnforthenurseRN! I have been hearing a lot of good things about the David Woodruff materials and pass CCRN!. I am definitely going to be taking advantage of those materials! :yes:

SRDAVIS · Mar 21, 2014

Lets start a study group. I just registered for AAcN Webinar. It starts april 21 and is once a week or so until may 5 plan to test by June.

jayrn07 · Jan 13, 2016

WHere did you purchase the David Woodruff's program? I looked for it on Amazon and even googled it, but did not find it.

wayemika · Mar 3, 2016

How does this go? When apply online so they just contact your job to verify hours so you can sit for the test?