CPN® Exam Reference List

The PNCB does not provide or endorse specific review courses or materials for certification preparation, but we do offer questions for you to consider when making your selections. The study resources listed below are not inclusive of all resources that may be utilized in the preparation of the certification exam. Candidates may seek additional study aids in preparation for the exam. We hope these resources will be helpful to you as you prepare to take the CPN® Exam.

If your facility has several nurses planning to take the exam, you may want to consider forming a study group. Does your hospital have CPNs® on staff? You may want to ask if they'd be interested in leading a study group.

CPN® Certification Reference List

The PNCB recommends that you use ONE pediatric nursing textbook that you are familiar with to review for the exam. This text should also focus on the subject areas covered by the CPN® Exam Content Outline.

You do not need to study all the references listed below. Other candidates have found the most current edition of the following references useful for their review. The PNCB does not endorse nor have any proprietary relationship with any of the following textbooks.

For Basic Pediatric Nursing Content:

Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, 8th Edition (2009).
By Marilyn J. Hockenberry, David Wilson and Marilyn L. Winkelstein
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0-323-05353-2

Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children, 9th Edition (2010)
By Marilyn J. Hockenberry and David Wilson
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780323069120

Child Health Nursing: Partnering with Children and Families, 2nd edition (2009).
By J. W. Ball, R. C. Binder and K. J. Cowen
Publisher: Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0-135-15381-6

Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, 2nd Edition (2011).
By T. Kyle
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 978-1605470283

Pediatric Nursing, Caring for Children and Their Families, 3rd Edition (2011).
By Nicki L. Potts and Barbara L. Mandleco
Publisher: Thomson Delmar Learning
ISBN: 9781435486720

Mosby's Pediatric Nursing Reference, 6th Edition (2008).
By C. L. Betz and L. A. Sowden
Publisher: Mosby, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-323-04496-7

For Structuring a CPN Review Course/Independent Study:

Lippincott's Review Series: Pediatric Nursing, 4th Edition (2004).
By Mary E. Muscari
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 1-582-55341-9

Pediatric Nursing Certification Review (2008).
By Janice Selekman and Louise Jakubik
Publisher: Society of Pediatric Nurses (www.pedsnurses.org)
ISBN: 978-0-9794898-1-5

Straight A's in Pediatric Nursing (2007).
By Springhouse
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN-10: 1-58255-287-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-58255-287-3

For Pediatric Nursing Procedures:

Pediatric Nursing Procedures, 3rd edition (2011).
By Vicky R. Bowden and Cindy Smith Greenberg
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 978-1605472096

For Pediatric Medications:

Pediatric & Neonatal Dosage Handbook, current edition.
By Carol K. Taketomo, Jane Hurlburt Hodding and Donna M. Kraus
Publisher: Lexi-Comp
ISBN: 978-1-59195-239-8

For Anticipatory Guidance/Developmental Focus:

Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children in Maternal & Child Health and Adolescents, 3rd edition (2008).
Edited by Joseph F. Hagan Jr., Judith S. Shaw and Paula Duncan
Publisher: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
ISBN: 978-1-58110-223-9

Selecting a Review Course or Book

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

We hear these questions often and can't conduct an actual 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.