As healthcare becomes more technically advanced, nurses have had to increase their knowledge and skills to meet the ever-changing technical demands of the profession, and there is no way nursing schools can adequately cover the various nursing specializations . The PCCN certification in nursing is a voluntary undertaking by the nurse to demonstrate that he/she has attained the competence and expertise to care for critically ill patients in this ever-changing environment. The initials PCCN stand for Progressive Care Certified Nurse, and the attainment of these credentials gives testimony to the nurse’s expertise and dedication to caring for critically ill patients.
The PCCN Certification Process
Qualifications to take the PCCN exam include having a current, unrestricted license to practice nursing or having an advanced nurse practitioner license to practice in the United States. One thousand seven hundred fifty hours of direct patient care in the two years before application are required, 875 of those hours must have been earned in year immediately prior to application. Nurses who work in administrative positions or educators must have direct bedside interaction with acutely ill patients in order to qualify to take the exam.
The PCCN candidate is allowed a total of two and one-half hours for completion of the test. The test contains 125 test items; twenty-five of these items are questions that are being validated for possible use on future versions of the PCCN exam. Candidates who take computer-based exams will have their results immediately after the exam. Candidates who take the exam by pencil and paper will receive their test results within a six- to eight-week period.
Renewal for the PCCN runs on three-year cycles. You must meet the same licensure requirements for renewal as you did for initial certification. In addition, you must have accumulated 432 direct patient-care hours in the last three years, with 144 of those hours being in the prior year. Recertification is accomplished by retaking the PCCN exam or by the accumulation of 100 continuing education points from assorted categories. You may also choose inactive status. You may not take the exam early, fail it, and then renew by continuing education. You may apply for only one option.