If you are planning to take the Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS) exam, you may be wondering how to prepare for it. The CCNS exam is a certification offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for clinical nurse specialists who work in critical care settings. Passing the exam is an important step towards advancing your career as a clinical nurse specialist.
Exam Objectives:
- Demonstrate knowledge of advanced practice nursing principles and concepts in the care of acutely/critically ill adult patients and their families
- Demonstrate knowledge of health promotion, illness prevention, and population health concepts and interventions
- Demonstrate knowledge of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment
- Demonstrate knowledge of current evidence-based practice guidelines for the care of acutely/critically ill adult patients and their families
- Demonstrate knowledge of leadership, collaboration, and ethical/legal issues in advanced practice nursing in critical care settings
The CCNS exam is designed for clinical nurse specialists who work in critical care settings such as intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, and trauma centers. To be eligible to take the CCNS exam, you must hold a current, active, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the United States, its territories or Canada, and have a master's or higher degree in nursing. You must also have completed a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in a critical care setting within the past five years or have practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in a critical care setting for at least two years within the past five years.
Related Books:
There are many books and study materials available to help you prepare for the CCNS exam. Some of the most highly recommended books for CCNS exam preparation include:
- Adult CCRN Certification Review: Think in Questions, Learn by Rationale by Kendra Menzies Kent
- AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing, Fourth Edition by Suzanne M. Burns
- Fast Facts for the Critical Care Nurse: Critical Care Nursing in a Nutshell, Second Edition by Michele Angell Landrum
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Pain, Agitation, and Delirium in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit by the Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Sheehy's Manual of Emergency Care, Seventh Edition by Emergency Nurses Association
Exam Details:
The CCNS exam is a computer-based test consisting of 175 multiple-choice questions. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE testing centers and costs $395 for AACN members and $530 for non-members. Candidates have three hours to complete the exam.
To pass the CCNS exam, you must earn a scaled score of 96 or higher. Scaled scores range from 0 to 500, with a passing score of 96 corresponding to a raw score of approximately 107 correct answers out of 175 questions.
The CCNS exam is offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers across the United States and in select international locations. You can register for the exam online through the AACN website.
In conclusion, passing the CCNS exam requires a combination of knowledge, preparation, and practice. By understanding the exam
objectives, eligibility requirements, and exam details, as well as utilizing study materials such as the recommended books, you can increase your chances of success on the CCNS exam. Good luck!