I am currently studying for my Medical-Surgical Certification through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, AMSN. The test to become certified as a Med-Surg Nurse. Hospitals striving or retaining Magnet status need a percentage of their nursing staff to hold a BSN and be certified in their specialty.
The certification test differs from NCLEX in a few different ways. The NCLEX tests your critical thinking skills and can come off as tricky, whereas the Certification test is straight knowledge-based questions. No longer does the phrase “more right” get used. Your answer will either be right or wrong. Passing the NCLEX gives the test taker RN at the end of their name. This particular test adds CMSRN.
Review the information
I have worked the last six years on a medical-surgical floor in one form or another, and I have seen most of the test items first hand, but I am not going into the exam cocky. Some co-workers have been able to go into the exam and pass without studying. The hospital I used to work at also paid for the test and placed the nurse in a fail-safe program that allowed the nurse to retake the test if they should fail. My current hospital, unfortunately, doesn’t do that. I believe they will reimburse the nurse after passing. This test is coming out of my pocket. I am seven weeks out from the test date, and I am reading and reviewing the Core Curriculum for Medical-Surgical Nursing from the AMSN. Days off, I read two chapters a night. Most of the information is known, but it’s a review.
Answer Questions
Much like studying for the NCLEX, determining where you stand with your knowledge and where you lack can be achieved by answering questions. AMSN has a small book of questions, Medical-Surgical Nursing Review Questions. An app can be purchased from the AMSN and a free sample test found on the website.
Start studying before applying
I have taken a review course about three years prior. I know what I am getting into, but I needed a deadline as a motivator. It’s highly suggested to start studying before even applying. I applied and scheduled my test date for two and a half months. When you schedule the test it needs to be within 90 days of acceptance. But with the deadline of the actual test date, the pressure is on if you want to start studying and then apply with sooner dates. That is up to you.
Review Session
As I stated above, I took a review course. My old hospital had a goal to become a Magnet hospital and encouraged its nurses to become certified in its specific field. One nurse was certified in Med-Surg, Oncology, and Chemo. A hallway of my old unit was also the Oncology and Surgical Oncology. The hospital paid for any nurse interested in taking a review session. The review session was two days. They went through the topics and expectations for the exam. The facilitator was excellent, and the two days flew by quicker than I expected. My employer paid me to go. So it was a win-win. If you aren’t as lucky, the website has a list of review sessions.
Are you certified in your specialty?