Customer Reviews

Critical Care Nursing Certification: Preparation, Review and Practice Exams (Critical Care Certification (Ahrens))

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I used this book as another reference for my CCRN review and I find the information very detailed and helpful , such as laboratory values (Renal, Hematology and Electrolytes), and predicting location of myocardial infarction and other dysrhythmias using 12-lead EKG.

Also, my area of weakness is Neurology and this book helped me with the information I needed for the examination. The practice questions are great and so are the comprehensive tests.

It would have been great if the book came with a CD software containing more practice exams.

Nevertheless, I passed the CCRN exam with the help of this book!

The first review book I bought was so dry and boring that I couldn't get through the first chapter. This book was easy to read and understand. It broke the content into seperate subjects so that it was easy to focus on my weak points. Also, at the start of each chapter it tells you how the test is weighted, so that you concentrate on the subjects that will have the most questions on the test. At the end of each section there are review questions for practice.

The only thing that would make this book better is if it had the practice questions on CD.

And I passed CCRN on the first try!

I have been working through this review. I find the helpful hints interesting. I wish the author would just leave out information that is not really applicable to the exam. I am sure that it is good to know these things, but if it isn't needed for the exam why clutter my brain with it?? The knowledge base is good. I have not found any obvious errors.

I attended AACN's NTI critical care conference in 2007, and had the privilege of attending lectures by Thomas Ahrens. After studying tons of material in preparation for the exam, this was the last book I purchased. It should have been the first and only one I purchased. Ahrens simplifies complex concepts in an interesting manner, and covers material you WILL SEE on the exam. This book was the most helpful resource I utilized! He presents hundreds of scenarios and practice questions, which were priceless when I sat for the exam. I passed the paper-and-pencil, full-length CCRN exam on the first try. Great prep indeed from Ahrens - a valuable and brilliant critical care expert.

Tip: If you want in-depth info (down to the cellular level), try using the "Core Curriculum" from AACN as an added source. Although Ahrens' book is the most in-line with the actual exam, if you desire advanced pathophysiological data, you will require another source.

I would have to say that this is the best CCRN review book out there. It is easily readable, comprehensive, and includes many practice questions to help you determine if you understand, can apply, and can remember the material. I have bought other review books, but unfortunately, they have been in outline forms and not as valuable. They get boring quick too! I have no problems with the little bits of extra infomration included in this book that may or may not be on the exam as it helps you comprehend the other information and serves as a review. I have bought other books that only have questions for review and I must say that I tried some of them without this book and did so so, but not great. After reading the sections of this book, I went back to those questions and others I had not done and did much much, much better, as I had reviewed the information and had a better understanding of the material! I certianly think this is a good book for anyone planning to take the CCRN exam or wishing to brush up and learn more about critical care nursing in general! I definately believe this book is the book I need to help me pass the CCRN. I am planning to take the exam in September- I will leave and update to how I do after! Thanks again for this book.

I too thought that the first chapter was hard to get through--the cardiovascular section is extremely thorough and has quite a bit of information that really isn't addressed on the exam. The remaining chapters, however, were much easier reading, and the explanations are so much better than what I have found in other books. The book also has an extensive collection of practice questions, and while it does not give rationales for the correct answers, it does direct you to where it was covered in the book. I used several resources to study for the exam and this one was by far the most complete. I am currently in a graduate program working on my CCNS and I still use this book all of the time as a reference for my assignments.

This book has some good stuff like the cardiac and pulmonary material, but it is uneven and there are some errors and outdated info. And who uses the word "roentgenogram" when they can just say chest film? Yikes. Must be something they learned in nursing theory.
Two coworkers of mine reccommended using the cd that comes with the Pass CCRN book and also the Gasparis DVD lectures, so I'm going to try that.

This book is easy to read and understand. It reads like a book, not like a laundry list of signs and symptoms so it's easier to remember concepts. I used this book in conjunction with the PASS CCRN CD. I never used the PASS CCRN book though. I recommend this book to all my colleagues who plan on taking the CCRN. I can't say enough good things about it. I passed the CCRN with the first try.

I have tried several CCRN books and this one is the best! It is easy to read and it doesn't give a whole lot of unneeded information. There are several questions at the end of each unit, so you will know if you absorbed the information and what you might need to go back and look at. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to pass CCRN and not read outlines to do it. The only other CCRN book I would recommend is the Kaplan CCRN Review.

Both interesting to read and understand. The information is not too in-depth to cause overload but adequately covers each topic. You get what you need.