By Laurie L. Prescott, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CRC

I am terrible at multiple-choice standardized tests. People laugh when I tell them the hardest test I ever took was the CPR exam—yes, that CPR test. It is not that I lack competence in CPR (although it has been a few years since I performed the task). It is because when it comes to standardized testing, I read more into the question than I need to. I look at the question and I remember a similar scenario albeit with patient unique in presentation and find myself running down rabbit trails that make me question what I know and what I don’t. I debate between choosing A or C, A or C, to the point I get confused and choose B. It is not pretty.

That’s just one reason why I am so impressed by those who sit for our Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) and CCDS-Outpatient (CCDS-O) certification exams.