CRRN Certification: How to Pass the CRRN Exam

What is CRRN Certification?

CRRN stands for Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse.  The CRRN is a certification for RNs who provide direct care to patients in a rehabilitation setting.

As a Rehab Nurse, you may work closely with PTs, OTs, Physiatrists, and SLPs to provide care to patients seeking to improve their independence.

As a CRRN, it’s common to treat patients who suffer from ALS, amputations, cancer, spinal cord injuries, major joint replacements, strokes, and other neuromuscular impairments.

CRRN jobs can be found in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, subacute facilities, and even within the home health setting.

The CRRN certification is provided through the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, and accredited organization by the American Board of Nursing Specialties.

How to Become a CRRN

1. Current unrestricted US, US territory, or Canadian RN License is Required

2. Complete Required Clinical Practice Hours

• Two years of practice as a registered professional nurse in rehabilitation nursing within the last five years; or
• One year of practice as a registered professional nurse in rehabilitation nursing and one year of advanced study (beyond baccalaureate) in nursing within the last 5 years.

3. Apply for Certification Online

You do not need to be a member of the ARN to apply for and to become certified as a CRRN. However, you will be eligible for the discounted CRRN exam rate when you are a member of the ARN.

You must register for the exam before the deadlines. The exam is currently offered two times per year at test sites around the country.

4. CRRN Exam Prep

The CRRN Exam Handbook provides an outline of the material covered in the exam, but it is up to you to study the material.

There are very helpful CRRN study guides and CRRN exam prep courses available. If you learn best through video lessons (hearing and visually seeing material), I would highly recommend an online CRRN prep program like the one offered through MedBridge.

With MedBridge, you can access the entire CRRN prep course and also complete all of your CEUs for the year under the same membership.

5. Schedule and Take the Exam

The CRRN exam is a 3 hour exam that consists of 175 questions. Only 150 question items are scored and 25 items are not scored (used for future test development).

Computer based test results are available immediately following the exam.

If you do not pass the CRRN exam, you may re-register for the next testing date. There is no limit to the number of times you can sit for the CRRN.

CRRN Review Course

The CRRN Exam Handbook is a very helpful resource that outlines the application process, certificate renewal steps, and also contains an outline of content.

Here are the four domains covered in the CRRN:

• Domain I: Rehabilitation Nursing Models and Theories (6%)
• Domain II: Functional Health Patterns (theories, physiology, assessment, standards of care, and interventions in individuals with injury, chronic illness, and disability across the lifespan) (58%)
• Domain III: The Function of the Rehabilitation Team and Community Reintegration (13%)
• Domain IV: Legislative, Economic, Ethical, and Legal Issues (23%)

CRRN Study Guide Resource

The CRRN Handbook simply lists out the topics to be covered in the exam. It is up to you to study for the CRRN.

For Visual and Auditory Learners:

Consider the MedBridge CRRN prep course for over 25 videos designed to cover the material listed in the CRRN Exam Handbook.

This may actually save you time and give you credits towards the CE units you need to renew your RN license.

If your employer sponsors continuing education, you can sign up for MedBridge and access hundreds of nursing courses and also access the CRRN prep course at no additional cost.

Update October 2018 *** You can sign up for MedBridge and get 40% off using the MedBridge promo code: PTPROGRESS

CRRN Study Guide

If you are considering a book for additional studying, take a look at the CRRN Exam Secrets. 

 

CRRN Study Questions

The same company that created the CRRN Exam Secrets book developed a guide with CRRN study questions.

Good Luck with your pursuit to become a CRRN!