In the first section of the book, the authors cover the content of the Pediatric CCRN examination. An examination was created by the Board of Nursing in order to determine if CCRN graduates meet the criteria necessary to become licensed in the nursing field. This examination is available to all nursing students and is not restricted to any one area of nursing. However, due to the sensitive nature of the material covered on the CCRN certification test and the fact that many nursing students fail the exam for lack of training or preparation, the authors do offer a few tips and guidelines to aid students in their preparation. They also point out that it is recommended that a candidate who fails the exam to contact the Board of Nursing immediately to reschedule the exam for a new one.
The second section of the book covers the actual CCRN test. The book starts out by briefly describing what the exam is and how it is scored. Then the author explains how the scoring process works and gives the details of how to prepare for the exam. Finally, they offer some sample questions from the exam and explain why the sample questions are used.
One of the most helpful sections of the book is the section on preparing for the pediatric CCRN test. The review emphasizes that potential candidates need to create a complete nursing history and develop written nursing competency in order to pass the exam. It also stresses the importance of developing a patient-centered medical care team that will be in charge of caring for an ill child. Students need to have realistic expectations about the service they will be rendering to patients. For example, they need to understand that they will not be performing heart surgeries or child resuscitation.
Another important topic that the review considers is the preparation needed for CCRN certification. In particular, the authors stress that the candidate should consider the right coursework to prepare for the exam. They recommend that students look at accredited courses that are focused on CCRN certification and continuing education. They also recommend that the candidates get a recommendation from their current doctor. A good referral can be a great help in getting more involved in CCRN certification activities after you take the exam.
The authors do not discount the importance of hands-on experience in clinical practice. However, they do stress that students should consider taking more than one CCRN course before applying for a CCRN certification. This is because a lot of CCRN exams are multiple choice, and students must answer many multiple choice questions in order to “pass” the exam. As well, taking too many classes will only confuse the student and make them less likely to remember and pass the exam on the first try.
The authors also recommend that students who plan to pursue careers as nurses inform their supervisors that they plan to take CCRN courses. Some hospitals and other medical centers encourage this, but some do not. The review does not go into detail about why a supervisor might encourage a nurse to pursue CCRN training, but it is a good place to start for potential future nursing students.
The book concludes with a short case study of two families whose child had special needs. (The case study was based on one child, but the recommendations may be applicable to families with other children with special needs.) The parents successfully completed all of the CCRN requirements, passing all five of the seven areas that are part of the CCRN test. Both of their children received good care from licensed medical personnel, and there was a marked improvement in the child with special needs. The parents expressed satisfaction with both of their experiences.