While accomplishment of specific technical skills is no longer required to be eligible to sit for the CCRN exam, having knowledge and/or experience with specific critical care technical skills (i.e., hemodynamic monitoring, ventilating patients) may benefit you in understanding the questions presented on the exam. Having knowledge and experience with patient situations involving technology that monitors or maintains life functions will enhance your understanding of the patient care scenarios outlined in the examination. If you are unfamiliar with a specific technology (for example intracranial pressure monitoring), in addition to learning about the technology through studying, you may wish to seek out clinical experiences that enable you to become familiar with normal and abnormal readings, patient assessment, and troubleshooting.

ADULT- This document is designed to serve as an example of the types of procedures that critical care nurses perform. It is only for your own reference, and is no longer part of the eligibility to sit for the exam or for recertification of CCRN status.

Hemodynamic instability that required: arterial pressure monitoring
central venous pressure monitoring
pulmonary artery pressure monitoring
invasive cardiac output / index determination
direct RA / LA / PA pressure monitoring
intravenous vasoactive agents
fluid resuscitation
Life-threatening conditions that required: emergency drug administration (e.g. epinephrine, atropine)
Compromised air exchange that required: continuous respiratory monitors
an endotracheal tube
a newly inserted tracheotomy
nasal / facial CPAP
conventional mechanical ventilation
high frequency ventilation
Cardiac dysfunction that required: continuous EKG monitoring
a temporary pacemaker
elective cardioversion
12-lead EKG interpretation
a transcutaneous (external) pacemaker
newly inserted permanent pacemaker
intravenous antidysrhythmic agents
intravenous thrombolytic agents
defibrillation
intravenous phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., amrinone)
mediastinal chest tube(s)
automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Neurologic dysfunction that required: intracranial pressure monitoring devices (e.g., bolts, screws, fiberoptics, subdural cup)
Physiologic alterations that required administration of: intravenous paralytic agents
continuous intravenous insulin infusion
intravenous push anticonvulsive agents