We have gathered together some of the most common questions we are asked about our test preparation. If we didn't answer a question you have, please feel free to email us and we will be happy to personally answer your question(s).
Frequently Asked Questions
The following exam preparation materials are currently available:
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TMC |
2nd Edition (2023) - Covers all content for current exam forms Everything needed to pass the TMC at the high-cut score (our goal is to help you over-prepare to make that high score the first time!) While we cover the material that is on the Clinical Simulation Exam (CSE), this course does not provide practice simulations (the exam is being discontinued by the NBRC in a few years so we have decided to not invest the large sums of money required to build the simulation structure). Plus everything else on the NBRC Content Outline! |
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ACCS |
1st Edition (updates 2022) - Covers all content for current exam forms Everything needed to pass this advanced exam, including advanced ventilator strategies, fluid management, sepsis, nutrition, and all the pharmacology you'll need to know (Sedation, Paralytics, Vasocative Drugs, Diuretics, etc.). Plus everything else on the NBRC Content Outline! |
| NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) |
2nd Edition (2022) - Covers all content for current exam forms Everything needed to pass this advanced neo/ped exam, including extensive ventilator information (including advanced ventilation), complete exam overview of neo/ped diseases and disorders, and everything else on the NBRC Content Outline! |
We are pleased to be an incredibly affordable option. Our philosophy is the same as our pocket guides: keep the cost low enough to make it accessible to everyone.
| Monthly | 6-Months | Student Plan | |
| Cost | $24.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 |
| Length of Plan | 31 days | 182 days | 365 days |
| Automatic Renewal | Yes (cancel anytime) |
No (special renewal offer) |
No |
| Memberships Always Include | |||
| Online Review everything you need from anywhere you're online (phone, tablet, computer) |
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| 12-Lessons that include content review, practice questions, and tips |
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| 200+ Practice Questions Each exam has 200+ practice questions, each with "teaching explanations" to help point out why answer options are most correct, less correct, or incorrect |
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| One-Page Reviews for Diseases/Disorders and Pharmacology |
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How do We Know Everything is Covered?
We made the early decision to organize our content using the NBRC's Content Outlines. These content outlines are what the NBRC uses, including the question counts, to determine what might be on the exam you take.
Why We Think This is Helpful
This entire program was built on one person's preparation for the ACCS exam back in 2012, when it was first launched - before there were study materials. He opened up the content outline, put it into a word document, treated it as topics that needed to be reviewed and researched. That developed study guide became a solid passing score for the NBRC.
Our ACCS course has had a near-100% passing rate using this format.
And, so, we adopted the same study strategy for the other exams, adding practice questions, and then organizing it all into manageable lessons (12 seemed right ... 3 months to prepare for those who want to do one lesson per week)
What We Do Not Cover
We maintain what we call a laser-focus. Our goal in this course is not to make you a better clinician (although we could argue it does), nor to help you pass a course (although we could also argue it could), but it is to help prepare you to take the NBRC exam.
Will this be on the test? That's the question we ask for every word included. Obviously, not everything covered will be on your form of the test, but it is designated as "testable" content by the NBRC.
This is very hard for us ... we want to include much more! If you're like that, check out Oakes-STAT.com, where you will find our pocket guides online (coming mid-2023), meaningfully expanded.
There are 12-lessons to go through (or you can embrace your inner rebel and explore the content outline at your own speed).
| We recommend 1 lesson each week, 3-4 hours per lesson |
Some people do 2 lessons a week, some people do 1 lesson every 2-weeks, and yet others review the entire course in a month's time and sit successfully for their exam. Only you know how you best study, whether you can cram successfully, and how much you want to retain for the long-term.
We never intended to offer test preparation to others. This started as one person's study guide, which he shared through lunch-and-learns and through hand-written notes, with his co-workers.
However, it quickly became apparent that this was a new, friendlier, option compared to some of the others. For legal reasons we won't directly compare ourselves to anyone, but in general:
| Oakes Academy | Other Full Review Options* | |
| Cost | $24.99/mos $99.99 for 6-mos |
$240 or more* some portions of content is usually printed, other online portions are time-limited |
| Content Review |
Laser-Focused Friendly language - we assume you know the basics but our tone is a teaching tone Study Sheets - single page reviews in many areas, but especially in pharmacology (every drug you need to know on a single page), equations (TMC course - with examples!), diseases/disorders (the perfect summary to what you need to remember) |
Textbook-like approach |
| Type of Materials |
Everything you need is one place: online at OakesAcademy.com. No bulky books to carry around, no audio files to figure out. |
Varies, but usually a mix of printed material with online supporting content |
| Practice Questions |
9 quizzes for each 1 midterm-length 1 full-length All with teaching explanations ... not just answers but answers that make sense |
Varies, but typically 1-2 practice exams with basic answers/explanations (textbook style) |
See a Sample Page from Our TMC Course
This outline page is a sample from our TMC Course
Want to view a topic? Check out Capnography
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Section I-C: Perform Procedures |
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Question Type |
Average Questions |
| Basic Recall | 8 |
| Applied Knowledge | 15 |
| Analysis | 7 |
| Total Questions | 30 |
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Oakes Academy Tip The TMC exam has tons of questions about procedures. Technically this is three separate areas on the content outline: performing procedures (the steps to appropriately perform the procedure, which can include indications, hazards, contraindications, and troubleshooting); evaluating results (what to do with the information collected - everything ABG analysis to PFTs); and recommending diagnostic tests (knowing when things are indicated ... for example, when you should monitor capnography). |
12-lead ECG
Noninvasive monitoring and diagnosis
pulse oximetry
transcutaneous
exhaled gas analysis
Pulmonary function and related testing
screening spirometry
spirometry, lung volumes, and DLCO (in a PFT Lab)
other tests you should know
peak flow
6-minute walk test
oxygen titration with exercise
cardiopulmonary stress testing
Blood Gases
blood gas sample collection
blood gas analysis/hemoximetry
Cardiopulmonary calculations
Hemodynamic monitoring
Overview: Review this first
Interpretation Study Sheet
preload
afterload
contractility
rate control
cardiac output
oxygen delivery
Pulmonary mechanics and measures
pulmonary compliance and airways resistance
maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures
tidal volume, minute ventilation, and vital capacity
plateau pressure
auto-PEEP determination
Apnea Test (Brain Death Determination)
General diagnostic testing
apnea monitoring
sputum induction
skin testing
Critical Care Specific
tracheal tube cuff pressure and/or volume
spontaneous breathing trials
Sleep-disordered breathing
sleep studies
overnight pulse oximetry
CPAP/NPPV titration during sleep
