What Is CCRN® Certification?

When you have the CCRN certification, it means you are certified to take care of critically ill patients and their families. It is a registered designation of nursing skill.

What Is Critical Care Nursing?

Critical care nursing requires a level of skill above and beyond that of a registered nurse. This advanced expertise is needed in certain healthcare settings, such as intensive care units, emergency rooms, trauma centers, and remote locations. Flight and transport care is another area of nursing in which a CCRN certification may be required.

How Can I Get the CCRN Certification?

You must choose in which area you wish to be certified as they are issued for different aged populations: adult, neonatal, and pediatric. Then, you must satisfy the requirements for taking the appropriate CCRN exam which are listed below. Finally, you’ll need to achieve a passing score on that test. CCRN certification must be renewed periodically.

What Are the Requirements for Testing?

You must first possess either a U.S. RN or APRN license. You’ll also need to accumulate a certain number of verified actual practice hours with critically ill patients. Finally, register and prepare for the test.

What Is the Test Like?

The CCRN Certification Test covers all the areas of critical care nursing:

• Cardiovascular
• Pulmonary
• Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/Renal/Integumentary
• Musculoskeletal/Neurology/Psychosocial
• Multisystem
• Professional Caring and Ethical Practice

The questions are not simply factual recall true/false or multiple-choice ones. They generally begin with a scenario and you are asked to make a judgment about the appropriate action to take. Or, you are expected to use your knowledge in all of the above areas to make a decision or diagnosis. Some of the questions ask you to choose one or more answers. To get a feel for the construction and difficulty level of the questions before test day, it’s a good idea to take CCRN practice tests.

How Do I Prepare?

Your previous nursing studies should have covered some basics, but you will want to access as much additional information as possible in all of the tested areas. Then, spend considerable time practicing answering these types of questions. A great place to start is here: Free Preparation for the CCRN® Certification Test.