Step 5 of 6 - Study for the exam

Preparing to study

Please bear in mind that the exam covers the lifespan, so if you work in pediatrics, you may need to focus your studies on adult and aging issues. Likewise, if you have expertise in adult and aging issues, you need to review pediatrics. Be very familiar with common syndromes and conditions. Know about seizure care. Know about appropriate delegation to caregivers and direct support personnel. Know about medications that are commonly administered to people with I/DD. Know about health problems that are associated with different syndromes and conditions, including their signs and symptoms and their treatments. Know about common laws that affect the rights of people with I/DD. Know the significance of laboratory values for tests that are commonly completed for persons with I/DD.

Basically, this is a nursing exam that evaluates your overall I/DD nursing knowledge. There are no trick questions. You are not asked to do drug calculations, although you may be asked about the appropriateness of a particular medication for a particular client with a particular syndrome or condition in a particular situation. The questions on this exam reflect the day-to-day practice of I/DD nurses.

Recommended study material

The DDNA Board of Directors recommends completion of the free online I/DD nursing courseware on this website as a useful study tool for the exam. They also recommend the books listed below. You may be able to obtain these books by contacting your local public library to see whether it has the books or whether it can obtain the books for you through an interlibrary loan program. Some recommended books include:

• Core Curriculum For Specializing In Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Resource for Nurses and Other Health Care Professionals. Edited by Wendy Nehring. ISBN 0-7637-4765-3 Paperback
• Medical Care for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Second Edition. Edited by I. Leslie Rubin, M.D., and Allen C. Crocker, M.D. ISBN 1-55766-766-7 Hardcover
• When Your Child Has a Disability: The Complete Sourcebook of Daily and Medical Care, Revised Edition. Edited by Mark L. Batshaw, M.D. ISBN 1-55766-472-2 Paperback
• Genetics and Mental Retardation Syndromes: A New Look at Behavior and Interventions. By Elisabeth M. Dykens, Ph.D., Robert M. Hodapp, Ph.D., and Brenda M. Finucane, M.S ISBN 1-55766-471-4 Paperback

Also, the resources section of this site contains more than 1000 links to I/DD related materials.

Certification practice questions

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