It is important to know how content areas are weighed in the exam so that you know how much to focus on each area. CCRN exam is a three-hour exam with 150 items; 125 of these are scoring items, and the remaining 25 serve to provide statistical data on examinees' performance in various items, which is used for future exams. Exam content is based on AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care with 80 percent focusing on Clinical Judgment and 20 percent on Professional Caring and Ethical Practice. The CCRN Test Plan available in AACN's Certification Exam Handbook gives an in-depth detail of how content areas are broken and weighed. This Handbook is available free of cost on the AACN website (see Resources).
To better handle patient problems listed under Clinical Judgment content area, re-familiarize yourself with general nursing care, including signs and symptoms, potential medications and procedures and possible side-effects, as well as technical knowledge, such as blood gases and lab values. Make a note of patient problems that are given more weight more so that you give more attention on such topics. Items under Professional Caring and Ethical Practice can include questions on nursing care related to any age; for example, adult CCRN certification exam can include questions on care for neonatal, pediatric and family patients.
Purchase nursing textbooks on acute or critical care published within the past five years, for exam preparation. Visit AACN's online bookshop for a range of study products, from books to audio and video review courses. Review courses are also available in several parts of U.S.
References provided in Study Bibliography of CCRN Certification Exam Handbook can be excellent study material. Exam content writers use these references to confirm answers for items; you can find signs and symptoms, medications and lab values related to any condition using this reference section. Forming study groups with other aspiring candidates helps share knowledge and discuss ideas.
Approach CCRN-certified nurses in your facility for guidance on exam preparation. Request to go on rounds with certified nurse colleagues working in the acute or critical care unit in the facility to gain exposure to different patient conditions and applied solutions. Consult your unit manager to know if he can help you gain clinical experience either within the facility or in another setting.
CCRN certification deals with questions that require you to analyze or apply theoretical knowledge to practical patient situations. For example, a question may provide you with vital signs and symptoms and lab values for a patient and would ask you to anticipate further procedure. So spend adequate time on coming up with answers for application-oriented questions. The CCRN Handbook provides several such sample questions for pediatric, neonatal and adult nursing care. Visit the AACN website for more study products that provide sample questions.