How to Prepare for Your CRNA Board Exams

Passing exams is never easy and most people have to study very hard to achieve an acceptable grade.  Depending on the nature of these exams, there are several factors to consider on what approach you need to have in order to pass them. Study.com’s credit-by-exam courses for example, prepare you for exams that will help you get credits on a subject matter that you may have experience or expertise in without having the need to take that subject. For exams that require you to pass in order to get a license for example, your approach may be a little different but just as challenging.

CRNA boards are no different, so it makes sense to take a professional approach to prepping for your exams. You can have a go at prepping for the National Certifying Exam on your own, but it makes sense to go on a review course such as those offered by Valley Anesthesia. Whatever option you are currently considering, here are some tips to help you prepare for your CRNA Board exams.

What is a CRNA?

CRNAs are Certified Registers Nurse Anesthetists. They have taken their studies to the next level by studying for a master’s degree followed by certification from the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. It is a tough career path, but if you are able to make the grade, you will enjoy higher earnings and greater respect from your fellow nurses.

Preparing for the CRNA Board Exams

Some people are able to read piles of textbooks and take in everything they need to know in one sitting. These lucky individuals are almost certainly ‘A’ students all the way. The rest of us, however, need to work a lot harder to make the grade.

Join a Study Group

Joining a study group can be helpful when you are preparing for the CRNA exam. It makes studying more interesting and you can test your knowledge using sample questions. This might not be for everyone, though, so if you find that you work better alone, do what’s best for you.

Use Video as a Supplemental Learning Tool

Are you a visual learner? If so, try watching YouTube videos to help you better understand various concepts. Video is an excellent supplemental learning strategy, particularly for people who are more visual.

Hit the Books

You will need to read a huge amount of text when you are in CRNA School. Some of the information you need is taught in class, but the rest of it comes from textbooks. You will find notes made in class invaluable and many of the exam questions will be based on topics covered in class. However, if you want to do more than pass, you will need to hit the books and learn the material.

Attend a Review Course

Attend a review course if you feel as if you need to do some extra preparation for the exam. A course review program is an excellent way to do structured revision of the material you need to know for the exam. It will also help cement any concepts you haven’t quite managed to grasp in detail.

To study and pass the CRNA board exams requires a lot of time and effort. You need to study full-time if you want to pass first time. Draw up a study schedule to ensure you are devoting enough time to preparing for the board exam. If you don’t take the exam seriously, you will probably fail.