Q: What is CCRN certification via the Tele-critical Care Pathway?
A: CCRN – Tele-critical Care certification is for nurses working exclusively or primarily in a tele-critical care setting (such as a virtual ICU or eICU) behind the camera observing live patients from a remote location. Nurses working in education or in a simulation lab would not be eligible for CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway.
The CCRN – Tele-critical Care credential may be obtained through successful completion of an initial exam or as a renewal option for those who have moved into a tele-critical care setting. The CCRN certification period is three years.
Q: What is Tele-critical Care?
A: AACN has adopted the term "Tele-critical Care" to describe the delivery of remote intensive care services where monitoring systems are used to:
- Maximize technology in order to detect trends in patient data.
- Identify instability and communicate with bedside ICU care providers and patients.
Nurses in tele-critical care settings:
- Monitor acutely/critically ill patients and clinical data.
- Provide consultation and coaching to bedside nurses behind a camera from a remote location.
Tele-critical care settings are emerging, technology enabled networks that may be used to:
- Improve patient safety.
- Bridge distance barriers for rural and underserved areas.
- Provide access to multidisciplinary clinical expertise
- Shorten ICU lengths of stay.
- Improve patient outcomes and save costs.
Q: If I've never had my CCRN, but work exclusively in a tele-critical care setting, can I obtain the CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway?
A: Yes. CCRN certification via the Tele-critical Care Eligibility Pathway may be obtained through successful completion of the CCRN initial exam.
Q: What are the initial exam eligibility requirements for CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway?
A: Eligibility requirements for CCRN – Tele-critical Care certification include:
- Possession of a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license.
- Meeting one of the following practice requirement options:
- Option 1: Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in the care of acutely/critically ill adult patients in a tele-critical care setting or in a combination of tele-critical care and direct care during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
- Option 2: Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in the care of acutely/critically ill adult patients in a tele-critical care setting or in a combination of tele-critical care and direct care, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
- Eligible practice hours are those completed in a U.S.-based facility or in a facility determined to be comparable to the U.S. standard of tele-critical care nursing practice.
- For more details, refer to the CCRN Exam Handbook - Tele-critical Care Pathway.
Q: What does “board certified” mean? Are AACN certifications considered board certifications?
A: “Board certified” is a term primarily used by physician organizations. Only three of the 34 national nursing certifying organizations that are members of the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) label their credentials/programs in this way. While an organization may use the term “board certified” when referring to their nursing certification programs, it does not reflect a different or higher level of certification.
“Board certified” in the nursing world simply refers to certification from a nationally accredited organization that is governed by a board of directors. As such, AACN certification programs are, indeed, “board certified.”
Q: When is the CCRN exam offered?
A: The CCRN exam is offered via computer-based testing year-round, Monday through Saturday, at more than 300 testing sites across the U.S.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for CCRN renewal via the Tele-critical Care Pathway?
A: Eligibility requirements for renewing your CCRN certification via the Tele-critical Care Pathway include:
- Possession of a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license.
- Practice as an RN or APRN for 432 hours in the care of acutely/critically ill adult patients in a tele-critical care setting or in a combination of tele-critical care and direct care within the three-year certification period, with 144 of those hours accrued in the 12-month period prior to the scheduled renewal date.
- Completion of the Renewal by Synergy CERPs program with a total of 100 CERPs in specified categories (A, B and C) during the three-year certification period. If you are renewing your CCRN credential via a different pathway, you may complete the Synergy CERP requirements for either your current or intended pathway.
- The name and address of your supervisor or manager must be provided for verification of eligibility related to practice hours. If you are randomly selected for audit, this person will be contacted to verify that you have met required practice hours.
Q: How do I decide which renewal pathway to select?
A: Renewal pathways are selected based on eligibility. If you plan to renew as a CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway, refer to the eligibility and renewal options in the CCRN Renewal Handbook - Tele-critical Care Pathway. Renewal by Synergy CERPs requires that you complete 100 CERPs in specified categories during the three-year certification period. The breakdown of CERPs for CCRN – Tele-critical Care certification renewal reflects the results of the Virtual ICU Study of Practice, which showed increased emphasis on clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, collaboration and systems thinking skills.
If you no longer meet the eligibility requirements for CCRN – Tele-critical Care certification, you may still be eligible for one of the other CCRN eligibility pathways: Direct Care or Knowledge Professional. Refer to the Renewal Handbook for each of those CCRN pathways for eligibility and practice hours requirements.
Q: If I work in both tele-critical care and direct care settings providing care to acutely/critically ill patients, which pathway should I choose for renewing my CCRN certification?
A: If you meet requirements for more than one eligibility pathway, you should renew via the pathway that best aligns with the majority of your practice. For additional details and eligibility requirements, consult the Certification Renewal handbook for each pathway.
Q: When can I become CCRN-certified via the Tele-critical Care Pathway?
A: Once you meet the initial exam eligibility requirements for the CCRN – Tele-critical Care credential, you may apply for the CCRN exam online or use the paper application found in the CCRN Exam Handbook - Tele-critical Care Pathway.
Current CCRN certificants who have moved to a tele-critical care setting may renew as a CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway at their scheduled renewal time. The only certificants who can apply for CCRN – Tele-critical Care certification at a time other than their scheduled renewal date are nurses who hold Inactive status and then meet CCRN renewal requirements.
If you are renewing your CCRN certification via a different pathway than you currently hold, you may complete the Synergy CERP requirements for either your current or intended pathway.
Q: What if I work exclusively in a tele-critical care setting and meet the practice hour requirements for CCRN via the Tele-critical Care Pathway, but do not meet the Synergy CERP requirements?
A: If you do not complete the required hours or CERPs to renew as a CCRN before your scheduled renewal time, you may opt for Inactive status for a period of up to three years — allowing you time to meet the full eligibility requirements for CCRN via one of the three eligibility pathways. If you are renewing CCRN via a different pathway than you currently hold, you may complete the Synergy CERP requirements for either your current or intended pathway. All pathways require 100 CERPs with differing requirements for Categories A, B and C.
Q: What if I work primarily in a tele-critical care setting and want to return to direct care, but do not meet the direct care hour requirements for CCRN renewal via the Direct Care Pathway?
A: If you are a CCRN who returns to direct care, but do not complete the required practice hours during the renewal period to renew via the Direct Care Pathway, you could apply for Inactive status — which allows up to three years to meet the practice hours requirement — or renew via the Tele-critical Care Pathway.
Q: Can I maintain certification if I leave a tele-critical care setting and/or no longer provide direct bedside care?
A: If you no longer work in a tele-critical care setting or provide direct patient care but in your practice influence patients, nurses and/or organizations to have a positive impact on the care delivered to acutely/critically ill patients, you may be eligible to renew your CCRN certification via the Knowledge Professional Pathway. Consult the CCRN Renewal Handbook - Knowledge Professional Pathway for details.
If you are not eligible for CCRN renewal via any of the three eligibility pathways, other options include Inactive, Alumnus or Retired status.