Week 2 Assignment: Direct Care Project Part 1: Assessment and Diagnosis
Certification Selected-CCRN
The Critical Care Registered Nursing (CCRN) certification was chosen as the clinical qualification for this project, emphasising adult patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This decision is based on the CCRN certification’s obvious fit with the complex requirements and difficulties of providing care for critically ill individuals (AACN, 2023). The cited decision mirrors the recognition that knowledge and skills gained during CCRN certification directly correlate to ICU care, with its characteristic need for precision. Since 80% of the CCRN exam is dedicated to Clinical Judgment, while only 20 % covers Professional caring and Ethical practice, this certification validates a balanced provision for critical evaluation competencies crucial in handling complex adult patients facing extremely adverse conditions (AACN, 2023). The pursuit of CCRN certification can be interpreted as striving for higher standards in the ICU consistently manifested through clinical judgment and ethical, professional behaviours.
Criteria for Selected Clinical Certification:
For CCRN certification, candidates have to qualify with high standards. The first prerequisite is working at least 1,750 hours as an RN or APRN in direct patient care with acutely and critically ill patients within the last two years. Moreover, at least 875 work hours out of these must occur the year before a submission, focusing on actual and up-to-date clinical practice under critical care conditions (CCRN, 2020). These criteria broadly reveal that the certification aims to validate that candidates have considerable hands-on experience caring for acutely and critically ill patients to prove expertise.
The process to obtain clinical certification:
The Critical Care Registered Nursing (CCRN) certification requires several essential steps. To begin with, applicants should ensure that they possess a valid RN or APRN license in the United States and meet specific clinical practice standards. If eligibility is established, candidates may apply to sit for the CCRN test (CCRN, 2023). The second step entails scheduling the examination at a certified testing centre. It is recommended that candidates undertake preparatory actions like studying appropriate study materials and the simulation of mock tests to improve their winning probability. The certificate is valid for three years and needs to be renewed after this period, indicating the approach towards further training in intensive care nursing.
Cost of Application and Testing, Requirements, and Examination Overview:
Seeking the CCRN certification creates particular costs for aspiring Critical Care Registered Nurses, such as a $225-$330 application fee and additional costs when purchasing study materials. Prerequisites include having an RN or APRN license in the US and meeting 1750 direct bedside care hours over two years (the current one is at least 875) or having five practice years with 2,00 hours (CCRN, 2020). The CCRN exam is a three-hour test consisting of 150 questions related to clinical judgment (80%) and professional caring, along with ethical practice (20%), covering different patient populations in various areas (AACN, 2023). The passing score, approximately 70% for right answers, is vital in acquiring the certification that will last three years.
Renewal Time and Process and Items
Nursing professionals must continue professional development every three years to renew their Critical Care Registered Nursing (CCRN) certification. Critical care nurses resume by completing continuing education hours to stay current on industry trends. Along with educational requirements, nurses must document their professional actions and contributions to demonstrate critical care nursing competence. This thorough renewal procedure assures that CCRN-certified nurses perform vital care to the highest standards.
Journal Connecting Patient Outcomes, Certification, and Leadership Skills
Lim, F., Chen, L., & Salina, A. (2020). CCRN® certification. Nursing Critical Care, 15(3), 38–41. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ccn.0000654824.32618.d6
Article Summary
The article “CCRN® Certification” delves into the importance and effects of the Critical Care Registered Nursing (CCRN) certification on improving nursing practice and patients’ outcomes. The article, authored by Lim, Chen, and Salina (2020), highlights the significance of specialized certification in critical care nursing. It highlights the correlation between this certification and enhanced patient safety, decreased adverse event rates, and increased nurse empowerment. The writers discuss the CCRN certification’s concrete advantages, like improved job satisfaction, more income potential, and a link to improved patient safety results.
Enhancing Patient Outcomes and Leadership Capabilities:
In critical care settings, the CCRN certification is a driving force behind improved patient outcomes. The association between certification and lower incidence of bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), patient falls, and general safety improvements are highlighted in the article. Certified nurses bring specialized knowledge and abilities to the table and improve patient experiences by providing a higher standard of care (Lim, Chen, & Salina, 2020). The article also highlights the beneficial effects of CCRN certification on critical care nurses’ leadership abilities. A culture of clinical competence and leadership is fostered within the hospital system by certified nurses who express greater confidence, job satisfaction, and empowerment.
Identified Problem Diagnosis:
Reliability of patient safety and outcomes due to nursing staff’s lack of specialized knowledge and abilities is a common issue in critical care nursing, according to the assessment. As the assessment indicates, this is a common concern in critical care nursing. This concern is corroborated by the article’s findings, demonstrating that CCRN certification is essential for decreasing adverse occurrences, reducing CLABSIs, and boosting overall patient safety (Lim, Chen, & Salina, 2020). The requirement for an all-encompassing plan to guarantee that a sizable percentage of critical care nursing staff members get and retain CCRN certification is, therefore, the recognized problem diagnosis.
References
AACN. (2023). CCRN Exam Handbook – Tele-critical Care – AACN. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/store/books/accrnod/www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/ccrneexamhandbook.pdf?la=en#:~:text=The%20CCRN%20exams%20focus%20on
CCRN. (2020). CCRN Certification. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from www.ccrnreview.com website: https://www.ccrnreview.com/ccrn-certification#:~:text=Candidates%20must%20meet%20one%20of%20the%20following%20clinical%20practice%20requirement%20options%3A&text=Practice%20as%20an%20RN%20or
CCRN. (2023, June 26). Critical Care Nurse | Requirements | Salary | Jobs | EveryNurse.org. Retrieved from EveryNurse.org website: https://everynurse.org/careers/critical-care-nurse/
Lim, F., Chen, L., & Salina, A. (2020). CCRN® certification. Nursing Critical Care, 15(3), 38–41. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ccn.0000654824.32618.d6
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