Charting and Assessment

What is CCRN?

CCRN is a registered service mark of the CCRN Certification Corporation and denotes certification in critical care nursing as granted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation. CCRN certification is achieved by those critical care nurses who pass a CCRN examination. A CCRN certified nurse has the advanced body of knowledge necessary to care for the needs of complex patients.

The CCRN examination is a three hour test consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam is given via computer based testing and is offered year-round, five days a week at more than 100 Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP) assessment centers nationwide. A paper and pencil version of the CCRN exam is offered each year at the National Teaching and Critical Care Exposition (NTI). For more information on the CCRN exam please click here.

If you are interested in one of the AACN specialty exams, either the Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) or Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC), you will need to obtain another nationally accredited clinical nursing certification like the CCRN exam. For more information on the AMC or CSC specialty exams please click here.

The CCRN exam is based on the most recent study of practice which defines the dimensions of critical care practice and identifies the actual tasks, knowledge and experiences required of a registered nurse practicing in a critical care setting. Complex patients can be found in settings outside the intensive care unit (ICU). Some examples are the Emergency department, Interventional cardiology and Flight transport. The nurses of these and other units with complex patients may be eligible to write the CCRN exam since the exam is based on the study of practice. Contact the CCRN Cetification Corporation for confirmation of eligibility at:
AACN Certification Corporation
101 Columbia
Aliso Viejo CA
92656-4109
1-800-899-2226
Email: info@aacn.org

Click here to view a copy of the blueprint for the CCRN exam for 2010.

The free CCRN review flashcard program was developed based on the blueprint for the CCRN exam that expired in 2009. It will take time to update the review program and I am not willing at this time to estimate how long that will take. If you have questions for the review program please click here.
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