ICU Basics

ICU Basics is the ultimate pocket companion and study guide for critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, nursing students, and healthcare professionals. Whether you're preparing for the CCRN, PCCN, CMC, CSC, or ACLS, the 2027 NBRC Respiratory Therapy Examination, or just want to sharpen your clinical knowledge on the floor, ICU Basics gives you exam-level questions and detailed rationales. NEW: RESPIRATORY THERAPY EXAM PREP Built to the NBRC content outline effective January 2027, the single exam that replaces the TMC and CSE for the CRT and RRT. More than 400 questions on patient data, devices and patient safety, interventions, and scenario-based clinical judgment for adult, pediatric and neonatal patients, with 160-question, 4-hour mock exams. FULL-LENGTH MOCK EXAMS Mock exams built to each exam's official test plan. • The real number of questions and time limit: 150 questions in 3 hours for the CCRN and PCCN, 90 in 2 hours for the CMC and CSC • Topic mix matched to the published percentages, with new questions every time • See answers after each question, or only at the end like test day • Skip, go back, flag questions, and review before you submit • Leave anytime and pick up where you left off; the timer pauses COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP • CCRN (Adult): Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Endocrine, Neuro, Professional Caring, and more • PCCN: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine/GI/Renal, Multisystem, and Professional Caring • CMC: Heart failure, ACS, electrophysiology, and patient management • CSC: Post-op hemodynamics, bypass complications, and recovery • ACLS: Megacode scenarios, rhythm recognition, and AHA algorithms • ICU Basics: 31 core topics, including ABGs, shock and vasopressors, sepsis, ventilators and ARDS, sedation, ECMO, IABP, Impella, and LVADs Questions that apply to more than one certification appear in every exam they fit. RHYTHM STRIPS AND WAVEFORMS Read the strip, not just the stem. Questions include rhythm strips and bedside waveforms drawn right in the app: sinus rhythms, atrial fibrillation and flutter, SVT, VT, torsades, heart blocks, paced rhythms, plus arterial line, CVP, PA catheter, IABP timing, capnography, and ventilator tracings. SMART STUDY MODES • Daily Review: Spaced repetition brings questions back right before you'd forget them • Second tries and follow-ups: a miss returns at the end, after a new question on the same idea • Trouble Questions: everything you've missed three or more times, in one drill • Question of the Day: A fresh, challenging question every day • Custom Quizzes: Choose your topics and question count • Timed Quizzes: Study against the clock • Missed Questions and Weakest Subject sessions built from your own answers • Daily Reminders: A nudge at the time you choose DETAILED RATIONALES We don't just tell you the right answer, we explain why. Every question includes a full rationale, plus an explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong. 60 CLINICAL CALCULATORS Hemodynamics, respiratory, renal and electrolytes, acid-base, drug calculations, and more, each with the formula and management notes. Save favorites for quick bedside access. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • Daily streak, overall accuracy, and how much of the bank you've covered • Accuracy and coverage for every topic • Mock exam scores over time, and the reviews due each day this week • Your own notes on any question, and search across the whole bank • Backup to iCloud Drive or Files, and restore on a new device • A daily countdown to your exam date Start mastering critical care today with ICU Basics! ICU Basics is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by AACN, the AACN Certification Corporation, the American Heart Association, or the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). CCRN, PCCN, CMC, and CSC are exams of the AACN Certification Corporation; CRT and RRT are credentials of the NBRC. Content is for education and exam preparation only and is not medical advice.