Peds CCRN

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 17, 2013

I wrote the Canadian equivalent of the CCRN this past April. I wasn't convinced I would pass, by any means but I'm a great procrastinator so I left my prep a little longer than I probably should have. So I know where you're at!

Start off by taking a practice exam. They're readily available from AACN through the bookstore on their website. When you're scoring the exam, make a list of the questions you had incorrect. See what themes develop as you go. (Make sure you go back and look at those questions and correct responses so you can figure out where your thinking went off the rails.) Then do some reading on those areas where you're weak. Don't try to learn everything there is to know about anything, look for key concepts. (I used Google a lot - just make sure you're using reputable resources. I also used Core Curriculum for Critical Care Pediatrics to consolidate what I'd already read.) Then retake the test to see how much your score improves. Repeat the review process if you feel it's necessary. I was fortunate to have three completely different versions of the practice exam so I was able to really suss out what I didn't know enough about. While the exam questions will be difficult, they're not going to be so complex that your head spins. The exam is tailored to nurses working in a variety of critical care settings so there isn't going to be a long section on ECMO, for example, because not every PICU out there is going to do ECMO. But they all will have kids with RSV, kids with traumatic injuries, kids with DKA, kids with MODS... Stop studying a couple of days before the actual exam and do something just for fun. Best wishes for a successful first attempt!

PRNketamine · Oct 28, 2013

Thanks so much!