Pass CCRN! : Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: This book has everything you need to pass the CCRN exam!
Review: My book includes a comprehensive review of critical care nursing, lots of illustrations and tables, learning activities like crossword puzzles, tables to complete, case studies to analyze, practice questions with answer, rationale, and test-taking strategy for each question, and a comprehensive 200-item practice examination

Rating:
Summary: CD is no good
Review: Nursing education, like that of any profession, has a half life, and with scientific advances occurring at an exponential rate, that half life is growing shorter with each passing year. No where is this more evident than in intensive care. As an older nurse listening to the new grads, I realize this over and over. While experience has taught me the "hows" and "whens" of many events, procedures, treatments, etc., even in a teaching hospital it has not necessarily taught me the "whys" of things, which makes it difficult to predict and to prevent negative outcomes. The education which was adequate in the time in which it was received may be woefully inadequate in today's modern ICU, and with nursing shortages approaching critical mass, older nurses will and probably should be encouraged to remain in their practice. While taking the CCRN exam may not improve the situation, studying for it certainly will. Since I received my license, I have attempted to periodically review some aspect of my profession: chemistry, A&P, nutrition, pharmacology, etc. The CCRN exam books have been a wonderful source of ICU specific information, and over the years I've purchased several of them. Each author has his/her own format which trains the student along certain pathways. Using more than one has helped me a lot. For strips and 12-leads, I've relied on the Rapid Interpretation of EKG's by Dr Dale Dubin. I purchased my first copy in the 1970s, when it first came out, and recently bought the new volume for the new information it contains. As an SICU nurse, I don't do more than simple monitor work, so my knowledge of the fine points is limited and requires periodic review. (I'm in total awe of CCU nurses; to me they seem almost psychic!) Among the three CCRN review books I've read recently (Critical Care Examination REVIEW, Vonfrolio and Noone; Critical Care Certification, Ahrens and Prentice; and Pass CCRN, Dennison) each has its points. The Vonfrolio book is quick, direct, and compact. Among others, it has 187 questions dedicated to CV alone, and 135 to pulmonary. With these two areas the core of the Exam and certainly core to ICU, it provides a good work out. The plus with this text, is that it provides a good run down of why the right answer is right and the wrong answers wrong. It helps one think the problem through the way one would at the bedside. There are no "answers in the back" of ICU! What this book lacks, however, is a review of A&P. The Ahrens book and the Dennison volume do provide it. I found the review of A&P in Pass CCRN almost daunting, however, because it's in outline form. It packs in massive amounts of information over a few pages. One tends to scan rather than read it. The exercises in the book are excellent, helping one think about principles rather than "answers," increasing knowledge base through thought processes rather than pt specific information. I found the crossword puzzles less useful to me and passed over them, but then I'm not a crossword puzzle person; those who are, may find it a perfect way to learn. The A&P in Ahrens is in a narrative format, which may be easier for most learners than an outline. It provides a less detailed but still adequate description of each system at the beginning of the chapter dedicated to it, and the questions are more geared to test A&P concepts. I found the information provided was more naturally memorable than a list of facts. While I make and use flash cards for memorization purposes, I try not to rely on rote to achieve my learning goals because it seems too temporary. The Dennison outline is a flashcard writ large! If this is the best way for you to learn, however, go for it. The strength of the Dennison book really, is it's detailed discussion of test taking. While most of the CCRN books give you general tips: get plenty of rest, eat a salty breakfast (?), guess if you don't know, etc, the Dennison text takes each individual question and teaches the student how to examine it for clues. It teaches test taking principles. For those of you who are actually studying for the exam itself, especially if you are prone to test anxiety, the Dennison is probably the best book for you for that very reason. All four books are excellent resources for the ICU nurse.

Rating:
Summary: Comparative Review: Ahrens, Dennison, Dubin, Vonfrolio
Review: Nursing education, like that of any profession, has a half life, and with scientific advances occurring at an exponential rate, that half life is growing shorter with each passing year. No where is this more evident than in intensive care. As an older nurse listening to the new grads, I realize this over and over. While experience has taught me the "hows" and "whens" of many events, procedures, treatments, etc., even in a teaching hospital it has not necessarily taught me the "whys" of things, which makes it difficult to predict and to prevent negative outcomes. The education which was adequate in the time in which it was received may be woefully inadequate in today's modern ICU, and with nursing shortages approaching critical mass, older nurses will and probably should be encouraged to remain in their practice. While taking the CCRN exam may not improve the situation, studying for it certainly will. Since I received my license, I have attempted to periodically review some aspect of my profession: chemistry, A&P, nutrition, pharmacology, etc. The CCRN exam books have been a wonderful source of ICU specific information, and over the years I've purchased several of them. Each author has his/her own format which trains the student along certain pathways. Using more than one has helped me a lot. For strips and 12-leads, I've relied on the Rapid Interpretation of EKG's by Dr Dale Dubin. I purchased my first copy in the 1970s, when it first came out, and recently bought the new volume for the new information it contains. As an SICU nurse, I don't do more than simple monitor work, so my knowledge of the fine points is limited and requires periodic review. (I'm in total awe of CCU nurses; to me they seem almost psychic!) Among the three CCRN review books I've read recently (Critical Care Examination REVIEW, Vonfrolio and Noone; Critical Care Certification, Ahrens and Prentice; and Pass CCRN, Dennison) each has its points. The Vonfrolio book is quick, direct, and compact. Among others, it has 187 questions dedicated to CV alone, and 135 to pulmonary. With these two areas the core of the Exam and certainly core to ICU, it provides a good work out. The plus with this text, is that it provides a good run down of why the right answer is right and the wrong answers wrong. It helps one think the problem through the way one would at the bedside. There are no "answers in the back" of ICU! What this book lacks, however, is a review of A&P. The Ahrens book and the Dennison volume do provide it. I found the review of A&P in Pass CCRN almost daunting, however, because it's in outline form. It packs in massive amounts of information over a few pages. One tends to scan rather than read it. The exercises in the book are excellent, helping one think about principles rather than "answers," increasing knowledge base through thought processes rather than pt specific information. I found the crossword puzzles less useful to me and passed over them, but then I'm not a crossword puzzle person; those who are, may find it a perfect way to learn. The A&P in Ahrens is in a narrative format, which may be easier for most learners than an outline. It provides a less detailed but still adequate description of each system at the beginning of the chapter dedicated to it, and the questions are more geared to test A&P concepts. I found the information provided was more naturally memorable than a list of facts. While I make and use flash cards for memorization purposes, I try not to rely on rote to achieve my learning goals because it seems too temporary. The Dennison outline is a flashcard writ large! If this is the best way for you to learn, however, go for it. The strength of the Dennison book really, is it's detailed discussion of test taking. While most of the CCRN books give you general tips: get plenty of rest, eat a salty breakfast (?), guess if you don't know, etc, the Dennison text takes each individual question and teaches the student how to examine it for clues. It teaches test taking principles. For those of you who are actually studying for the exam itself, especially if you are prone to test anxiety, the Dennison is probably the best book for you for that very reason. All four books are excellent resources for the ICU nurse.

Rating:
Summary: If you supply the desire, "Pass CCRN" will give you results
Review: Take this book and run, sleep, and eat with it. It will take you to your goal of accreditation by the AACN, with your CCRN. Not only is all the information well organized, the test taking hints, the crossword puzzles will reinforce the information needed to pass the exam. Good Luck!

Rating:
Summary: CD is no good
Review: The book is a fine review but the CD doesn't work!!!!!!
Plain and Simple----doesn't work so don't depend on it.
Very user unfriendly!

Rating:
Summary: Advertised, but out of stock...tied up my money several days
Review: The book was advertised, my money was collected, but the book was out-of-stock. Seller managed to get a small loan fom me for no interest...the joke was on me.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource for the crtical care nurse!
Review: This book is a excellent resource for the critical care nurse. The author covers all body systems with depth and detail. Whether you are serious about taking the CCRN examination, or need a good critical care reference "Pass CCRN " is the book to purchase. This book will assist you in sharpening your skills and modify your clinical practice. I have had the opportunity of participating in several of the authors lectures. Ms. Dennison is constantly researching current practice issues and updating her lecture material to reflect the ever changing health care field. Make an effort to hear the author if she is ever in your area.

Rating:
Summary: Pass CCRN - ROBIN DONOHOE
Review: THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT! I USED THIS BOOK TO PASS CCRN FIVE YEARS AGO. I STILL USE IT FOR REFERENCE! IT IS WELL ORGANIZED AND PERFECT.

Rating:
Summary: THE CD DOES NOT WORK
Review: This text is excellent for reviewing critical care nursing. The CD is worthless. If you have any desire to take a practice test, do NOT waste your money on this text.

Rating:
Summary: CCRN review
Review: Very well put together. The CD was excellent in honing in my test taking skills. This is also a great review book for the CFRN exam.