RNC-NIC

The girls I work with who just took theirs said be prepared to know things down to cellar level. The test seems heavy in pathophys and less nursing basis.

I remember a lot of ABGs and what you could do to fix them, also a lot of electrolyte questions. But honestly, I felt like it wasn't that hard and that most of the questions were answerable if you had some good NICU experience.

Thank you both for your responses! There is just so much information that is fair game, I can't imagine ever feeling completely ready for it. I suppose that's the nature of the test, though...

The girls who just took it had a lot on PPHN and Neuro. It is just whatever pops up.

I can tell you one thing not to do. Don't go to a prep course, then convince yourself that you need to study your weak areas as exposed by the course and decide to work on those before you sign up for the test. I went to a course by Rogelet last year and she is so amazing but it felt like she knew more in her little finger than I did in my whole brain. So, I went home to study the things that I was weak on and then life intervened and now I'm so far out from that course that I'm scared to take the test. I'm not saying you shouldn't work on your weak areas but if you take a review course, pay for your test at that time so that you have a deadline. I'm taking another review course this February and that is what I intend to do. And I WILL pass and so will you. Terri

I can tell you one thing not to do. Don't go to a prep course, then convince yourself that you need to study your weak areas as exposed by the course and decide to work on those before you sign up for the test. I went to a course by Rogelet last year and she is so amazing but it felt like she knew more in her little finger than I did in my whole brain. So, I went home to study the things that I was weak on and then life intervened and now I'm so far out from that course that I'm scared to take the test. I'm not saying you shouldn't work on your weak areas but if you take a review course, pay for your test at that time so that you have a deadline. I'm taking another review course this February and that is what I intend to do. And I WILL pass and so will you. Terri

I've registered and am waiting for my authorization, so I'll have to take it within 90 days either way. Wish I could do a review course but it's just not feasible at this point. Good luck on your test! Keep us updated on how it goes.

Just an update (and celebration) -- I PASSED!

It was mostly what I expected, with a wide variety of questions that were challenging but manageable overall. A lot of questions on ABG and electrolyte interpretation, a handful each on MAS, PDA, hyperbili, and infection. Also five (FIVE) questions each on "anal wink" and brachial plexus injury, but I suspect that was just a funny coincidence. I could almost always narrow down to at least two possible answers; very few questions were on something I hadn't been exposed to at all.

For those still studying, I pretty much stuck to the plan that I described above. My only suggestion would be to sit for some longer practice test sessions. My only experience computer testing was my 75 question NCLEX, so 175 questions felt like an eternity and I was quite burnt out by the end!

Congratulations! I've thought about going for the low-risk neonate certification but it's hard to find recommendations for studying for that (no NICU experience...yet ).

Congratulations! I've thought about going for the low-risk neonate certification but it's hard to find recommendations for studying for that (no NICU experience...yet ).

Thank you!

Apologies if you already know this, but there are suggestions listed on their candidate guide: https://www.nccwebsite.org/resources/docs/2015-LRN-Candidate_Guide.pdf

Thank you!

Apologies if you already know this, but there are suggestions listed on their candidate guide: https://www.nccwebsite.org/resources/docs/2015-LRN-Candidate_Guide.pdf

Thanks! I have seen that but would love to find someone's personal recommendations because no way can I afford to buy all those books, haha. Maybe I'll just read reviews on them and figure out which seem to be the best options, should I decide to go for it.

Hi there, Congratulations! My name is Carla and I'm planning also to take mine later this year. Where did you take your course review? is that the one you go to a classroom? Thank you!