If you need help studying for the Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (CGRN) exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free CGRN practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the CGRN exam, you’ll have to meet the following requirements:
- You need a current, unrestricted RN license
- You need at least two years (4,000 hours) of GI/endoscopy practice experience
If you meet these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 175 multiple-choice questions total, but only 150 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the CGRN exam.
1. General Nursing Care
21% of the exam
- Normal and abnormal gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
- Physiological, psychological, social, sexual, cultural, and spiritual aspects of patient wellness
- Pharmacology
- Patients’ rights and privacy
- Standards of clinical nursing practice and role delineation in gastroenterology setting
2. Gastroenterological Procedures
35% of the exam
- Endoscopic procedures
- Non-endoscopic procedures
- Normal and abnormal gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
- Environment of care
- Specimen preparation, collection, processing, and handling
- Potential risks, complications, and interventions
3. Patients Care Interventions
25% of the exam
- Recognizing and responding to emergent changes in patient status to prevent complications and maximize positive outcomes
- Promoting wellness by managing GI healthcare needs
- Administering medications and fluids to provide safe care
4. Environmental Safety, Infection Prevention, and Control
19% of the exam
- Standards for infection prevention in an endoscopy setting
- Equipment reprocessing
- Sterilization and high-level disinfection
- Safe administration practices
- Body mechanics
- Electrical, laser, radiation, and chemical exposure
- Patient education related to infectious disease
- Pathogen transmission
- Multi-drug resistant organisms
- PPE
- Surface disinfection
How to Register
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on ABCGN’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any necessary ID documentation (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $520. If you’re an SGNA member, you’ll only have to pay $430.
CGRN Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 200 and 800.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can re-register to take the exam again.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the CGRN exam?
The exam contains 175 questions.
What is the time limit for the CGRN exam?
The exam is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the CGRN exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 450 to pass.
How much does the CGRN exam cost?
The testing fee is $520 ($430 for SGNA members).