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You’re so close to applying to CRNA school, and there’s only one hurdle left to become a more competitive candidate: passing the Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) certification exam. I know it’s not as stressful as when you took the nclex exam because your job isn’t on the line, but it’s still important. Obtaining this certification will allow you to differentiate yourself from the rest of potential applicants. it’s also quite an impressive credential to have behind your name.
You are reading: Aacn ccrn review books
read: how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (crna)
i took and passed the ccrn exam in 2013. prior to this i started my own continuing education business and organized critical care review courses. I researched, took, or talked to other credentialed ICU nurses about the latest CCRN review courses and books. We hope this will save you time and money as you work to pass this exam.
and i’m pretty sure you also noticed there aren’t many ccrn review courses or even ccrn prep books. so what are some review courses and books that can prepare you for the ccrn exam?
Well, first let’s talk about what this exam is really about.
what is the ccrn exam?
the ccrn is a national certification that validates that a registered nurse has achieved a higher level of clinical knowledge to care for acutely and/or critically ill patients in adult, pediatric, or neonatal settings. This certification is a credential awarded by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
why should i get my ccrn certification?
While most of you are looking to earn your ccrn certification to strengthen your nurse anesthetist application, here are a few other reasons why you should take the plunge:
- benefits your patients
- increases their confidence
- your salary can increase
- helps you stay current with the latest evidence-based practices
As you can see, there are many benefits to earning your ccrn certification. The best part is that it shows that you are committed to the profession and demonstrates your dedication to higher education. this is what the admissions committee looks for in applicants.
ccrn preparation books:
as the ccrn: you can do it! practice review questions
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This book by Nicole Kupchik has excellent reviews on Amazon. however, it is not a complete review book. Contains 450 practice questions and rationale for each question. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the AACN Intensive Care Examination Template or another review book. There is also a newly updated 2020 study guide. this is an aacn recommended book to use as a resource for the ccrn exam.
approve ccrn
This book is a comprehensive review of the general ccrn exam with over 1000 practice questions. there is a study mode and an exam mode. there are illustrations, tables, and algorithms that work well for the visual learner like me. A great feature is the outline style revision based on the ccrn adult exam outline. This book goes into a lot of depth and the practice questions tend to be more technical and more difficult than the actual exam, so your chances of passing the actual exam are excellent.
ccrn exam for adults: with 3 practice tests
here is another barron test prep review book with great reviews. there are over 500 practice questions overall. includes 2 full online practice exams with fundamentals. the questions are similar to the ones you may see on the actual exam. a great feature is that there are questions in the book and online.
ccrn review courses
review of the american association of critical care nurses
While I have no direct experience with this course provided by the aacn, it comes from the people who actually write the exam questions. This course features presentations from critical care experts that include real-life scenarios to encourage critical thinking. there is a member price of $159, non-members of $199, and organization prices at various rates. this course is also approved for 15.5 contact hours.
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nicole kupchik ccrn review course
This review course is designed according to the aacn certification model for the ccrn exam for adults. It has impressive reviews and is a self-paced course with eleven modules and is approved for 17.25 contact hours. You’ll get unlimited access for 1 year, a downloadable PDF study guide, and a printable CE certificate.
review by laura gasparis ccrn
this ccrn review course by laura gasparis is actually the course i took to pass my ccrn exam years ago. is a comprehensive web-based refresher course that includes 12 HD-quality video modules or an in-person option. This review course costs over $350 and includes video content, a study guide, over 500 practice questions, and 12 contact hours. There’s also a 1-day intensive review course for $175 if you’re short on time or money is an issue.
nurse.com critical care review
This refresher course is also available online for $179 and includes 10.0 contact hours of continuing education. Although I have not taken this course, I know other nurses who have given good reviews. it is created by experts in the field of critical care nursing and is based on the current aacn model.
critical care academy ccrn review e-course
The content of this intensive care academy course reflects the most recent model of ccrn. you’ll get unlimited access for 6 months for $199 and up to 12 contact hours. Contains short, digestible video lessons along with handouts to help you retain the information. The biggest difference I see compared to other revision courses is the 100% first-attempt pass guarantee, which shows confidence in your ccrn material. so you have nothing to lose by trying it.
my recommendation
here are my thoughts. I would buy a review book or course that has a lot of practice questions with a deep foundation so you understand why you are getting wrong answers. If after reading the rationale you still don’t understand it, be sure to use a reference book to gain a deeper understanding of the material. After much research, the ccrn and ccrn exam for adults, which have great reviews and tons of practice questions, are the ones I would choose.
Not everyone will pass the ccrn exam with just a review book. Some people learn better by taking a refresher course, so I would recommend two courses. the critical care academy e-course because of the short video lessons, 100% pass guarantee, 6 months of unlimited access, and all for a great price of $199. and Nicole Kupchik’s Review Course because it’s self-paced, has unlimited access for 1 year, and breaks the information down into manageable chunks.
p.s. check out other resources listed on the aacn website. There is a manual, practice questions, lesson plans, and practice tests with fundamentals and test scores. here are other ways to strengthen your crna application and remember now is the time to start studying for the ccrn exam.
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