# ICU Basics: CCRN & PCCN Prep — CEN, CMC, CSC & NBRC RT Exams

> Critical care and respiratory therapy certification exam preparation app. (iPhone/iPad app by ALEXANDER STEPHEN GATELEY.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icu-basics-ccrn-and-pccn-prep/id6809866200 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [ALEXANDER STEPHEN GATELEY](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809866202)
- Category: Education, Medical
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 5 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 59 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-22
- Data updated: 2026-11-06
- Monetization: free

## What is ICU Basics?

ICU Basics has 3,800+ practice questions for the CCRN, PCCN, CEN, CMC and CSC exams, ACLS, and the 2027 NBRC Respiratory Therapy Examination, each with a full rationale, plus full-length mock exams built to each test plan. Created by Alex G, BSN, RN, CEN, CCRN, CMC, NREMT-P, an ICU nurse educator, for critical care and emergency nurses, respiratory therapists and students. Free, with no account and no ads.

SEVEN EXAMS IN ONE APP
• CCRN (Adult), 1,700+ questions: cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, hematology, GI, renal, neuro, multisystem and professional caring
• PCCN, 900+ questions, following the AACN progressive care test plan
• CEN, 1,100+ questions across every domain of the BCEN outline, with 175-question mocks
• CMC, 900+ questions: heart failure, ACS, electrophysiology and patient management
• CSC, 650+ questions: post-op hemodynamics, bypass complications and recovery
• ACLS, 250+ questions: megacode scenarios, rhythm recognition and the 2025 AHA algorithms
• NBRC RT, 550+ questions built to the content outline effective January 2027, the single exam that replaces the TMC and CSE, with 160-question, 4-hour mocks
• ICU Basics: every question in the app, sorted into 58 ICU topics from ABGs and vasopressors to ventilators, ECMO and LVADs

FULL-LENGTH MOCK EXAMS
• The real number of questions and time limit: 150 questions in 3 hours for the CCRN and PCCN, 175 in 3 hours for the CEN, 90 in 2 hours for the CMC and CSC
• Topic mix matched to the published test plan, with new questions every time
• Skip, go back, flag questions and review before you submit; leave anytime and the timer pauses

RHYTHM STRIPS AND WAVEFORMS
Rhythm strips and hemodynamic waveforms drawn in the app: atrial fibrillation and flutter, SVT, VT, torsades, heart blocks and paced rhythms, plus arterial line, CVP, PA catheter, IABP timing, capnography and ventilator tracings. Timed drills sweep like a live monitor.

STUDY MODES THAT BRING YOUR MISSES BACK
• Daily Review: spaced repetition brings questions back right before you would forget them
• Second tries and follow-ups: a miss returns at the end of the quiz, after a different question on the same idea
• Trouble Questions: everything you have missed three or more times, in one drill
• Final-week review: past misses return over the 7 days before your exam
• Question of the Day, custom and timed quizzes, Missed Questions and Weakest Subject
• A daily goal tied to your exam date, or a set number a day

DETAILED RATIONALES
Every question explains why the right answer is right and why each wrong answer is wrong.

STUDY REFERENCE
One search across 100+ drug monographs, 46 drips with a dose to mL/h converter, step-by-step algorithms from ACLS to massive PE, 100+ calculators and scores with the formula shown, lab values in US or SI units, rhythm and waveform libraries, and 55+ one-page topic sheets with their sources. Works offline. For education only; always follow your institution's protocols.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
• Readiness estimate from your mock scores and topic accuracy, weighted to the test plan
• Daily streak, accuracy and coverage by topic, mock scores over time, and the reviews due each day this week
• Notes on any question, search across the whole bank, and a countdown to your exam date
• Question of the Day home-screen and lock-screen widget
• Back up to iCloud Drive or Files and restore on a new device

Sample questions and free exam guides at icubasics.com.

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, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), or the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). CCRN, PCCN, CMC and CSC are exams of the AACN Certification Corporation; CEN is a registered trademark of BCEN; CRT and RRT are credentials of the NBRC. Content is for education and exam preparation only and is not medical advice.

## Key features

- Exam-level questions
- Detailed rationales
- Full-length mock exams
- Rhythm strips and waveforms
- Smart study modes
- Clinical calculators

## Is ICU Basics safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess ICU Basics.

## Is ICU Basics legit?

ICU Basics: CCRN & PCCN Prep appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for ICU Basics is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Frequently asked questions about ICU Basics

### What certifications does ICU Basics help prepare for?

ICU Basics offers comprehensive preparation for CCRN, PCCN, CMC, CSC, ACLS, and the NBRC Respiratory Therapy Examination. It covers core topics relevant to these critical care and respiratory certifications.

### Does ICU Basics include mock exams?

Yes, ICU Basics features full-length mock exams designed to match the official test plans for CCRN, PCCN, CMC, and CSC. These exams have the real number of questions and time limits, with new questions each time.

### How does ICU Basics help with learning rhythm strips and waveforms?

ICU Basics includes rhythm strips and bedside waveforms directly within questions, covering various cardiac rhythms and monitoring tracings. This helps users practice reading and interpreting these crucial clinical visuals.

### What are the 'Smart Study Modes' in ICU Basics?

Smart Study Modes utilize spaced repetition for daily reviews, re-presenting missed questions, and focusing on trouble areas. It also offers custom quizzes, timed quizzes, and daily reminders to personalize your study schedule.

### Does ICU Basics have ads?

No, ICU Basics is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted study experience. The app is completely free to use without advertisements.

### What is the update frequency for ICU Basics?

ICU Basics was last updated on October 6, 2026, with version 1.3. The app is developed by ALEXANDER STEPHEN GATELEY and aims to provide up-to-date content for exam preparation.

### What is the age rating for ICU Basics?

ICU Basics has an age rating of 17+, indicating it is intended for adult users preparing for professional medical certifications. The content is designed for healthcare professionals and advanced students.

### What clinical calculators are included in ICU Basics?

ICU Basics includes 60 clinical calculators covering hemodynamics and respiratory functions. These tools can assist users in quickly performing essential calculations relevant to critical care scenarios.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.5 — 2026-11-01

• 3,800+ questions: hundreds of new CCRN, CEN, CMC, CSC and respiratory therapy items, with harder exam-style questions
• CEN prep: 1,100+ questions on the July 2026 BCEN outline, with 175-question mock exams
• Study Reference: 100+ drug monographs, drips with a dose to mL/h converter, algorithms, calculators, labs, rhythm and waveform libraries, and 55+ one-page sheets, searchable and offline
• Notebook: turn any question into a flashcard and keep your notes in one place
• Rate ICU Basics and Send feedback rows in Settings
• Bug fixes and polish

### 1.4 — 2026-10-24

Hundreds of new CCRN, RT and ACLS questions (3,250+ in all), harder exam-style items with every answer explained, a valproate drug card, three new respiratory therapy reference pages, and updated chest tube and anticoagulant reversal guidance.

### 1.3 — 2026-10-06

• New: respiratory therapy exam prep, built to the NBRC content outline effective January 2027 (the single exam that replaces the TMC and CSE): more than 400 questions and 160-question, 4-hour mock exams
• Second tries: a question you miss comes back once at the end of a study quiz, without changing your score
• Follow-up questions: after a miss, the next question is a different one on the same idea
• Trouble Questions: everything you have missed three or more times, in one list with its own practice drill
• Final-week review: in the 7 days before your exam, past misses come back spread over the week
• Upcoming Reviews on the Stats tab: how many reviews are due each day this week
• Optional confidence ratings (Guessed, Hard, Good, Easy) that set when a question returns
• Fixed: Missed Questions now builds its quiz from the questions you have missed
• Daily goal: finish the bank by exam day or set a number a day, and start a session from the dashboard with one tap
• Readiness estimate on the Stats tab, blending your mock exam scores with topic accuracy weighted to the real test plan
• Question of the Day home-screen and lock-screen widget
• Share your score: a card for mock exams and quizzes, ready for Instagram or a study group
• Tap any underlined key term in an explanation for a quick definition, with links to related terms
• Light mode, with a System / Dark / Light setting
• Back up and restore your progress through iCloud Drive or Files and bring everything to a new phone
• iPad layouts: questions, rationales and lists at a comfortable reading width
• ACLS and cardiac arrest questions updated to the 2025 AHA guidelines
• Sixty-five new CMC and CSC questions on the cardiac medicine and surgery topics the exams emphasize
• Wrong answers rewritten across every bank so the distractors are as convincing as the key
• Over-the-air updates, so new questions arrive without waiting for an App Store release
• Faster, more reliable study tools, bug fixes and polish

### 1.2 The Mock Exam Update — 2026-09-28

The Mock Exam Update

• Full-length mock exams built to the real test plan: the same number of questions and topic mix as the CCRN, PCCN, CMC and CSC, with a new set every time
• New: PCCN exam prep with 980 questions and a full-length mock exam built to the AACN PCCN test plan
• New: rhythm strips and hemodynamic waveforms on questions, drawn right in the app
• See answers after each question, or only at the end like test day
• Leave a mock exam and pick up where you left off. The timer pauses while you're away
• Skip, go back, flag questions and review them all before you submit
• Daily Review uses spaced repetition to bring questions back right before you'd forget them
• Every question rewritten to exam-level difficulty, with an explanation for each answer choice
• 400+ new questions across CCRN, PCCN, CMC and CSC, and questions now appear in every exam they fit
• New ICU topic banks and 60 clinical calculators
• Track your mock exam scores over time and see your accuracy by topic
• Notes on any question, search across the whole question bank, daily study reminders and an exam-date calendar
• Better VoiceOver and large-text support, plus lots of polish

### 1.0 — 2026-09-22

No release notes.

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## More apps by ALEXANDER STEPHEN GATELEY

- [RN Basics: NCLEX RN & PN Prep](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rn-basics-nclex-rn-and-pn-prep/id6817038868)
- [Medic Basics: EMT & Paramedic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/medic-basics-emt-and-paramedic/id6817189556)

All apps by ALEXANDER STEPHEN GATELEY: https://appshunter.io/developer/6809866202

## Related topics

[icu basics](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/icu-basics) · [icu education](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/icu-education)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-06.*