Studying for CCRN. Argh!

[Zee_RN]

Wow. I'm overwhelmed. There is sooo much. It doesn't help that I work in a rather low tech ICU...no open hearts, no balloon pumps, only diagnostic cardiac caths, rarely a Swan-Ganz.

I've always been a straight-A, 4.0 student. That's what I'm used to. I get A's.

Well....I've been taking the practice CCRN test on disk as well as other critical care related "quizzes" on CD. ACK! 74% to 86% have been my ranges. I've NEVER scored so low on anything in my life!! I'm really getting depressed!

I'm taking a two-day CCRN review course this week. I'm really counting on it to help gear me up and get me going in the right direction.

Does anyone know what % is required to pass the CCRN? My goal is to take it in June so I've got time to prepare (I think!!)

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

Thanks y'all.

Been studying most of morning. Gonna take a break now and bake some peanut butter cookies. Then I'll probably eat them all.

My unit rarely uses hemodynamic monitoring so I'm working extra hard on that stuff. Ya know, shock states and expected hemodynamic parameters, etc.

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally posted by UntamedSpirit

I have the Laura Gasparis review book and so far I am not batting a very good average......lol. Makes me wonder if I know what I think to begin with ..... :roll

I missed a lot the first time I went through the questions too. Thinking about the rationale given for why answers are wrong helped a lot. I came out of the test worried about not passing. My score was actually very high. I had remembered each time I guessed.

In real life guessing is not OK. You also have fellow nurses, MDs. RTs, and all the brains working together.

http://www.greatnurses.com/index.php?content=books.php

Call 1-800-331-6534 9am-3pm EST Monday-Thursday

Critical Care Examination Review by Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, RN, PhD, CEN-Joanne Noone, RN, MSN,

CS, CCRN

Glad I can't smell those cookies baking! Too easy to over eat fresh home baked goodies.

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

I don't have her books and don't have enough time now to get them. I have listened to the tapes repeatedly, however. And taken the PASS CCRN tests repeatedly. Just did abominably on one them, *sigh*. However, got 95% on neuro--who'd have thunk it?! And 94% on respiratory (expected 100%, lol). More studying on cardiovascular needed though. GEEEEEZ, I wish our unit did more of that stuff.

Time for more cookies.

[Jenny P]

Zee, when is the test? I'm too lazy today to read back. I think you will do okay if you remember to use your head. Sunnybrook had some excellent advise.

[New CCU RN]

Just wanted to wish you luck with your studying. I think this question was originally posted a while back, so it must be soon that you are taking the CCRN exam.... good luck to you. Keep us posted on how it is going.

I have bought a boook from the AACN for the exam, and looked at some of the questions...... they are quite hard, even the cardiac stuff which I thought would be easy!