The PNCB Reference List for the
Acute Care CPNP® Exam

The PNCB recommends that in reviewing for the examination, you use a pediatric textbook you are familiar with and one(s) that focus(es) on the subject areas covered by the content outline. Our acute care item writers and committee members have found the most current edition of the following references useful for their review. A few of the many pediatric specialty based texts that also may provide reference to the content outline are included below. The PNCB does not endorse nor have any proprietary relationship with any of the below mentioned textbooks or handbooks, but we do offer a list of questions for you to consider when making your selections.

• Barkin & Rosen - Emergency Pediatrics: A Guide to Ambulatory Pediatrics
• Kliegman, Stanton, St. Geme, Schor & Behrman - Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
• Center for Disease Control - 2009 Redbook
• Gilbert & Barnes - Clinical Use of Pediatric Diagnostic Tests
• Johns Hopkins Hospital: Harriett Lane Handbook
• Moloney-Harmon & Czerwinski - Nursing Care of the Pediatric Trauma Patient
• Perkin, Swift, Newton & Anas - Pediatric Hospital Medicine
• Richardson - Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• Nichols, Carcillo & Dalton - Rogers' Textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care
• Slonim & Pollack - Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Zaoutis & Chang - Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine

Selecting a Review Course or Book

What review course should I take? Which books are the best? Do you offer a review course?

The PNCB can't conduct a review course because this would be a conflict of interest. We also can't endorse a specific review course or book, but we do recommend you consider the following when selecting a course or title:

1. How are the instructors or authors prepared? Do they have rigorous academic credentials? Do they hold the credential you seek? What about their practice experience?
2. Are the topics covered consistent with the exam's content outline?
3. Do the books offer practice questions after each chapter?
4. Does the course offer testimonials? If so, evaluate the comments offered by your peers.
5. Does the review course ask for feedback? Do they post survey results on their website?
6. Talk to others who have taken a specific review course. Were they satisfied?

You may also want to check your membership organization website for books that are recommended. We hope this gives you an idea of things to look for as you make your decisions.