The specialty certification that I hold is my CCRN. While there are many that believe this to stand for Critical Care Registered Nurse, this is a common misconception. CCRN is not actually an acronym, but instead a registered trade mark associated with meeting the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) requirements for taking and passing the exam (CCRN Review,2018).
1. Despite the misnomer of this certification there is still value to earning it. The exam to obtain CCRN certification reflects a high level of understanding pertaining specifically to critical care practice. Nurses that obtain their CCRN certification thus have demonstrated proficient knowledge pertaining not only to advanced technical clinical skills, but also critical thinking skills related to invasive monitoring interpretation. This is the reason that most ICU’s encourage their staff to obtain their CCRN certification and even offer incentives to do so.
2. The value of this certification to nursing as a profession is applicable as outlined above. This certification acts as an external indicator distinguishing those who obtain it as knowledgeable pertaining to critical care. It can also provide patients that have some knowledge of the certification with confidence that their care is being handled by knowledgeable staff.
All that being said I feel compelled to mention some caveats associated with this topic. Fist, I believe the skill set that an ICU nurse develops is at least in part perishable. Just because at one time the individual was knowledgeable regarding ICU level patient care does not necessarily mean it is the present case, especially if that individual has not cared for ICU patients in an extended period of time. Second, there are some individuals who are disproportionately well suited to take tests over practical application of knowledge. Therefore, just because an individual has obtained their CCRN certification does not necessarily meant that they are clinically proficient at applying the skills or knowledge.
CCRN Review. (2018, January 15). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved April 1, 2018, from https://www.ccrnreview.com/faq
I agree there is book smart that doesn’t always transfer to clinically proficient. So once you take the CCRN exam you have those credentials forever? We have to keep up on our ACLs and BLS every 2 years. If you haven’t worked in a ICU setting in years it is hard to keep up with the ever changing healthcare.
CCRN certification is much like maintaining your RN license. The certification is good for three years and can either be renewed by taking the exam again or meeting renew requirements. There is a list of requirements to maintain and include an active RN license, completion of 100 CERPs, and 432 hours of clinical time providing patient care for critical patients. Below is a link with more information.
https://www.aacn.org/certification/certification-renewal/ccrn-adult?tab=Renewal%20by%20Synergy%20CERPs
Interesting. Thank you for explaining the CCRN certification. I have not had the opportunity to work in a critical area and at this point in my life am not desiring to, but for future reference, having the certification makes perfect sense.
I completely agree that just because you have you have your CCRN doesn’t mean you are proficient in applying skills and knowledge. Being knowledgeable is one thing but applying that knowledge is another. I think its so important to work as an ICU nurse for awhile to get that knowledge and skill set under your belt. I know you have to have at least 2 years experience to take the exam.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (2018). Retrieved on April 7, 2018 from https://www.aacn.org/certification?tab=First-Time%20Certification