RNC Review

NeoNurseTX, RN · Feb 14, 2010

Curious myself! I haven't done much with the review book (and haven't come across any sample questions) but I'm going to the review course next week in Chicago.

nicumom · Feb 14, 2010

I wish there was more out there to study from! My girlfriend is taking the adult CCRN-ICU and she has so much study material to choose from. Everyone on my unit that I have talked to says "oh you'l be fine," but that doesnt make me feel better :) I feel like practice questions have always been a good measure of my knowledge, thats all that I did for the NCLEX. Thanks for your reply...I'll let you know how this course was

KatRNC · Feb 15, 2010

If you feel ready to take the test, then DO it! Good luck! I did mine in 1993 after 5 yrs working in a busy NICU. I was surprised at how hard the test was, even with that review book, but I passed, and I am proud to have done so.

You GO girl!

nicumom · Feb 15, 2010

thanks for the vote of confidence...I really want to get this test behind me, so I just have to keep at the books!! I got my permission to test in the mail, so there is no turning back now :)

I'll let you know how it goes...

niculonghornrn · Feb 17, 2010

Good luck! :)

karnicurnc, MSN, APRN, CNS · Feb 19, 2010

I took my exam about 14 mos ago. I used the review books and a few other resources. I went through each chapter and answered questions. If I scored a 70% or greater I felt like I knew most of the material well enough and concentrated on the areas I did not know as well. This helped to determine what I needed to focus on. The exam was very broad, so you need to know a little bit about everything - like boards. Best of luck to you!

Love_2_Learn · Feb 19, 2010

All these poster's suggestions seem on target to help you. There is good advice on this website!

I got my RNC in 2000 after being in a 24 bed Level III NICU for 2 years and 5 months. I had used the Merenstein & Gardner book during the start of my NICU career and had joined the National Association of Neonatal Nurses who at that time published the Neonatal Network journal (since then they have split up into two neonatal nurse organizations and we now have two journals to learn from) which I poured over each time one was published. When studying for my exam I used the Core Curriculum for Neonatal Nurses and the Neonatal Care book by Cloherty (a very good similar one would be the one by Gomella). I pretty much read the books over and over and did my best to apply the part I was reading to babies I had cared for. The condition, the pathophysiology behind it, medications, treatments, tests and what to expect for nursing care of the baby. That seemed to help a lot. One of the most important things that helped me; however, was the other certified NICU nurses who worked with me telling me that, "If you have worked in a NICU for 2 years and taken care of a variety of sick babies, you will be able to pass the test." I quit studying about 2 days before the exam and relaxed knowing that if I didn't know it by then that I wasn't going to be able to cram it in at that point. Besides that, if I didn't pass I could always take it again. This gave me a breath of calm which I think helped too. I fortunately passed on my first attempt.

By the way, less than a week ago a new Apple App has been produced called "Neonatal Nurse". It costs $9.99. I don't have the iPhone but do have the iPod Touch and downloaded it yesterday. It is basically a review course for getting your certification. It is a bunch of quiz type questions on multiple topics with A,B,C or D answers. You choose your answer and it tells you if you are right or wrong and then gives you the rationale for the correct answer. It's written by a NICU nurse and a neonatologist. You might want to check it out as another resource. I've only played with it for about 15 minutes but like it so far. I don't know if it has references for the answers and rationales though... I'm still exploring...

I have faith in you as it sounds like you have worked hard at studying up on the areas you feel weakest in and that you have some good experience behind you as well. You should do just fine!!!!

karnicurnc, MSN, APRN, CNS · Feb 19, 2010

I agree with Love2Learn about everything, but especially the aprt about reading booms about the patients you are caring for. I precept/orient new employees and one of the first things I tell them is to buy a good NICU book (like Gardner's) and pick a problem to read about related to the patient. It is much easier to apply this knowledge to a person than for it to just float around in your brain unassociated with anything. I have been in the NICU almost 10 years and I still do this. Never stop learning!

nicumom · Feb 19, 2010

Hey Ladies...

Thank you so much for all of your help!!! I have been following much of your advice. I have been reading Merensteins since I started in the NICU. Since I have finished all of the questions in the book, I have now been just reviewing the "big" chapters (F&E, cardiac, respiratory, neuro, etc). I am hoping to that taking this review class will really help me tie up any loose ends.

Thanks for the advice about the IPOD app...I am gonna look into it. I will let you know how it goes.