CFRN – Certified Flight Registered Nurse
About CFRN Exam
The Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) exam, administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), is a specialized certification for registered nurses who provide critical care to patients during air medical transport. Achieving the CFRN credential demonstrates a nurse’s expertise in managing the unique challenges of flight nursing, including patient care at altitude, in-flight emergencies, and the complexities of aeromedical environments. This certification underscores a commitment to excellence in flight nursing and validates the advanced knowledge and skills required to deliver high-quality care in the air
To be eligible for the CFRN exam, candidates must hold a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license. While there is no mandatory minimum number of flight nursing practice hours required to sit for the exam, the BCEN recommends that candidates have at least two years of experience as a flight nurse. This experience ensures that candidates possess the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for the specialized field of flight nursing.
CFRN – Eligibility Requirements
CFRN Exam Content & Focus Areas
The Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN®) exam assesses the knowledge and skills essential for safe and effective flight nursing practice. The exam content is organized into five primary categories, each covering specific clinical areas relevant to transport and critical care environments.
The first category, General Principles of Flight Transport Nursing Practice (28 questions), includes topics such as transport physiology, scene operations management, communications, safety and survival, disaster management, professional issues, and systems management.
The second category, Resuscitation Principles (38 questions), focuses on assessment and patient preparation, airway management, mechanical ventilation, and perfusion.
The third category, Trauma (29 questions), covers principles of management along with neurologic trauma, thoracic trauma, abdominal trauma, musculoskeletal trauma, burns, and maxillofacial and neck trauma.
The fourth category, Medical Emergencies (40 questions), includes neurologic emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, pulmonary emergencies, abdominal emergencies, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic and endocrine emergencies, hematologic emergencies, renal emergencies, infectious and communicable diseases, and environmental and toxicological emergencies.
The final category, Special Populations (15 questions), addresses care considerations for obstetrical patients, neonatal and pediatric patients, geriatric patients, and bariatric patients.
In total, the CFRN® exam consists of 150 scored questions that evaluate comprehensive flight nursing knowledge and clinical decision-making skills.
|
Content Category
|
Percentage
|
|---|---|
|
General Principles of Flight Transport Nursing Practice
|
19%
|
|
Resuscitation Principles
|
25%
|
|
Trauma
|
19%
|
|
Medical Emergencies
|
27%
|
|
Special Populations
|
10%
|
How to Apply for the CFRN Exam?
- Online Application: Begin by creating or logging into your BCEN account on the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) website. Navigate to the “My Certifications” section and select “Create New Application” next to the CFRN logo.
- Application Submission: Complete the online application by providing the required personal and professional information. Ensure all details are accurate to facilitate a smooth review process.
- Payment: Submit the examination fee using a credit card, company check, or ECheck/ACH. Online payments are processed immediately, allowing you to proceed without delay. If paying by check, print the Confirmation of Form Completion page and mail it with your payment, noting that processing may take up to four weeks.
- Eligibility Confirmation: After your application and payment are processed, you will receive an exam eligibility email from BCEN. This email contains important information about your 90-day testing window and instructions on scheduling your exam with BCEN’s test delivery provider, PSI.
- Exam Scheduling: With your eligibility confirmed, schedule your exam through PSI. You have the option to take the exam at a PSI testing center or via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), providing flexibility to choose the setting that best suits your needs.
- Preparation: To effectively prepare for the CFRN exam, consider utilizing the BoardCerts CFRN Question Bank. Our question bank is meticulously aligned with the official exam blueprint, ensuring comprehensive coverage of relevant topics. Additionally, it reflects the level of difficulty found on the actual test, aiding in building confidence and competence. While the BCEN provides a list of recommended references, our consolidated question bank serves as a comprehensive resource to streamline your study process.
By following these steps and utilizing the appropriate study materials, you can navigate the application process efficiently and prepare thoroughly for the CFRN exam
Benefits of CFRN Certification
Preparing for the CFRN exam requires a comprehensive understanding of the exam content and access to quality study materials. The BCEN provides a detailed CFRN Examination Content Outline, which serves as a blueprint for the topics covered in the exam. we align our question bank closely with the CFRN exam blueprint to ensure our practice questions are relevant and reflective of the content you’ll encounter on the test. Our questions are developed in coordination with the exam blueprint and validated against authoritative resources, providing you with an effective and thorough preparation experience.
- Understand Exam Topics: Familiarize yourself with the topics outlined in the CFRN exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources
- Review Courses: Consider enrolling in a review course, such as those offered by BCEN, to build a strong foundation in exam content.
- Question Bank: Utilize a comprehensive resource like the CFRN Question Bank, which aligns with the exam blueprint and is reviewed by experienced flight nurses, providing extensive question practice essential for success. Additionally, it includes predictor exams to help gauge your exam readiness.
PMH-BC Recertification
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse (PMH-BC) certification is valid for five years. To renew your certification, candidates must complete specific requirements designed to demonstrate continued competency in psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Continuing Education: Candidates are required to complete 75 continuing education (CE) hours in the certification specialty during the 5-year certification period.
- Renewal Categories: In addition to the CE hours, candidates must complete at least one of the following eight professional development activities: These categories include academic credits, presentations, quality improvement projects, preceptor hours, practice hours, professional service, publications, or retesting.
- Reactivation of Lapsed Certification: If your certification has expired for less than two years, you can reactivate it by completing the required CE hours, fulfilling one renewal category, and paying the reactivation fee. For certifications expired beyond two years, reactivation requires retaking the certification exam and meeting all other requirements.
- For the most current information and to explore detailed renewal options, visit the ANCC Certification Renewal Page.
Prices
$167 - Question Bank
Comprehensive - CFRN
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- 4 predictor exams to simulate the real exam
Unlimited access for 6 months for $167
$147 - Question Bank
Essentials Plan - CFRN
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- 500+ practice questions, designed to simulate the real exam
- 3-month access to question bank
- 7-day trial with a 100% money-back guarantee for any reason
- Does NOT include the Predictor Exams
Unlimited access for 3 months for $147
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Helpful informationMost Frequently Asked Questions
The CFRN certification validates the expertise of registered nurses in providing critical care to patients during air medical transport. It ensures that nurses possess the specialized knowledge and skills required for safe and effective patient care in the unique environment of flight nursing.
The CFRN certification is offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).
The CFRN certification must be renewed every four years.
The candidate handbook for the CFRN certification can be accessed on the BCEN website.
Yes, the CFRN exam can be taken via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), allowing candidates the flexibility to complete the exam from a suitable location of their choice.
BCEN offers several certifications, including:
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
- Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
- Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN)
In 2023 pass rate for the CFRN exam was 62.6%.
The CFRN exam is available year-round, and candidates can schedule their exam at a convenient time within their assigned 90-day testing window.
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