Failed the CSN on my first attempt last spring with a 67% — needed 70% to pass and honestly wasn't as prepared as I thought. I'd been a school nurse for four years but the exam covers so much public health theory and community nursing standards that clinical experience alone doesn't cut it.
Second time around I gave myself 8 weeks and studied about 2 hours every weekday evening. The NASN study guide was my main resource, and I supplemented with flashcards for the legal and ethical content since that section really tripped me up the first time. A small study group through Facebook helped a lot too.
Ended up scoring 74% on the second attempt. The exam has a lot of scenario-based questions where multiple answers seem right, so you've got to think in terms of public health priorities, not just individual patient care. There's heavy emphasis on Healthy People objectives and Individualized Healthcare Plans.
If you're preparing, budget more time than you think for the community health content. The acute care instincts from hospital work don't always translate to the school setting answers they're looking for.
Did you use any practice exams outside of the NASN materials? I'm about five weeks out from my test date and scoring around 65% on practice sets. I'm doing 90 minutes a day right now and not sure if that's enough.
I took 10 weeks and focused heavily on the community and public health nursing content. That section made up what felt like 40% of my exam. The scenario questions are genuinely tricky — glad you passed on the second try.
The pediatric chronic condition management section hit harder than I expected. I'd been in elementary schools for six years and still got caught off guard by some IEP-related legal standards. Practice questions were what finally made it click for me.
The wait time for results is brutal. I sat in June and didn't hear back for almost three weeks. My district gave me a step increase on the salary scale once I passed, so it was absolutely worth the grind.