CCRN - Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse Practice Test

Candidates must have one of the following: 1) 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients within the last two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the year preceding application; OR 2) 2,000 hours of direct care within the last five years, with 144 hours in the year preceding application. Direct care is defined as hands-on, bedside care of patients or supervision of nurses providing such care.

The CCRN exam is a computer-based test consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored, 25 unscored pretest items). Candidates have 3 hours to complete it. The exam uses a criterion-referenced passing point, not a curve. The scaled passing score is 80, but this does not equate to 80% of questions correct. The scoring accounts for question difficulty, and results are reported as pass/fail.

The AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care is the foundational framework for the CCRN exam. It posits that optimal patient outcomes are achieved when the needs and characteristics of the patient and family are matched with a nurse's competencies. The exam assesses your ability to apply eight nurse competencies (Clinical Judgment, Advocacy, Caring Practices, Collaboration, Systems Thinking, Response to Diversity, Clinical Inquiry, and Facilitation of Learning) to meet patient needs across various clinical scenarios.

The CCRN is specifically for nurses providing direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients, typically in high-intensity ICU settings (e.g., Medical, Surgical, Cardiac, Neuro ICUs). The PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) is designed for nurses caring for acutely ill adult patients in progressive care, intermediate care, step-down, or telemetry units. The choice depends on your primary patient population and clinical environment.

The CCRN credential is valid for three years. Renewal can be achieved through one of two pathways: 1) Renewal by Clinical Practice and Continuing Education: Accumulation of 100 renewal points, with a minimum of 24 points from clinical practice (direct care hours) and the remainder from continuing education (CE). 2) Renewal by Exam: Retaking and passing the CCRN examination. The AACN provides a detailed Renewal Handbook outlining all acceptable activities.