CBUNA-CURN Exam Information and Guideline
CBUNA Certified Urologic Registered Nurse (CURN) - 2025
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Exam : CBUNA Certified Urologic Registered Nurse (CURN)
Number of Questions: 150
Question Type : multiple-choice questions.
Note: Some older sources mention 175 or 200 questions, but the most consistent and recent information confirms 150 questions for the CURN exam.
Passing Marks: The passing score for the CURN exam is 70%
1. Anatomy and Physiology of the Urologic System (10-15%)
- Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and male reproductive organs (prostate, testes, penis).
- Nephron structure and function.
- Pelvic floor muscles and their role in continence.
- Urine formation (filtration, reabsorption, secretion, excretion).
- Hormonal regulation (e.g., antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone).
- Micturition reflex and bladder control.
- Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- Hydronephrosis
- Detrusor muscle
- Sphincter mechanisms
- Renal perfusion
2. Common Urologic Conditions and Pathophysiology (25-30%)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):
- Causes (e.g., Escherichia coli), risk factors, and complications (e.g., pyelonephritis).
- Types: Cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis.
- Urolithiasis (Kidney Stones):
- Types (calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite).
- Risk factors, symptoms (renal colic), and complications (obstruction).
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH):
- Pathophysiology, symptoms (lower urinary tract symptoms - LUTS), and complications (e.g., bladder outlet obstruction).
- Urologic Cancers:
- Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, testicular cancer.
- Risk factors, staging, and metastatic patterns.
- Voiding Dysfunction:
- Overactive bladder (OAB), urinary incontinence (stress, urge, mixed, overflow).
- Neurogenic bladder (e.g., due to spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis).
- Congenital and Pediatric Conditions:
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), hypospadias, cryptorchidism.
- Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) and male infertility.
- Acute and chronic kidney injury (AKI, CKD).
- Hematuria
- Dysuria
- Nocturia
- Post-void residual (PVR)
- Azotemia
- Oliguria/Anuria
3. Diagnostic Procedures and Assessments (15-20%)
- Laboratory Tests:
- Urinalysis (specific gravity, pH, protein, blood, nitrites).
- Urine culture and sensitivity.
- Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and estimated GFR.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer screening.
- Imaging Studies:
- Ultrasound (renal, bladder, prostate).
- CT scan for stones or masses.
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG).
- Urodynamic Testing:
- Cystometry, uroflowmetry, and pressure-flow studies.
- Assessing bladder capacity, compliance, and detrusor activity.
- Endoscopic Procedures:
- Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy.
- Biopsy techniques for cancer diagnosis.
- Physical Assessments:
- Digital rectal exam (DRE) for prostate evaluation.
- Pelvic floor assessment for incontinence.
- Cystometrogram (CMG)
- KUB (kidneys, ureters, bladder) X-ray
- Urethral pressure profile
- Retrograde pyelography
- Creatinine clearance
4. Treatments and Interventions (20-25%)
- Pharmacologic Management:
- Antibiotics for UTIs (e.g., nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin).
- Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin) and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride) for BPH.
- Anticholinergics (e.g., oxybutynin) for overactive bladder.
- Chemotherapy, immunotherapy (e.g., BCG for bladder cancer), and hormone therapy for cancers.
- Surgical Interventions:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Nephrectomy, cystectomy, and prostatectomy.
- Ureteral stent placement and lithotripsy for stones.
- Non-Surgical Procedures:
- Catheterization (indwelling, intermittent, suprapubic).
- Bladder irrigation and instillation therapies (e.g., for bladder cancer).
- Pelvic floor therapy and biofeedback for incontinence.
- Lifestyle and Behavioral Interventions:
- Bladder training, timed voiding, and fluid management.
- Dietary modifications for stone prevention (e.g., low-oxalate diet).
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
- Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC)
- Intravesical therapy
- Kegel exercises
- Nephrostomy tube
5. Patient Care and Education (15-20%)
- Pre- and Post-Procedure Care:
- Preparing patients for surgery (e.g., bowel prep, fasting).
- Post-operative monitoring for complications (e.g., infection, bleeding).
- Catheter care and prevention of catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs).
- Patient Education:
- Teaching self-catheterization and catheter maintenance.
- Educating on medication adherence and side effects.
- Counseling on lifestyle changes to manage incontinence or prevent stones.
- Psychosocial Support:
- Addressing sensitive issues (e.g., sexual dysfunction, incontinence).
- Supporting patients with cancer diagnoses or chronic conditions.
- Stoma care
- Bladder diary
- Patient compliance
- Health literacy
- Shared decision-making
6. Professional Practice and Ethical Considerations (5-10%)
- Scope of Practice:
- Understanding RN responsibilities in urologic care.
- Collaboration with urologists, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers.
- Ethical Issues:
- Patient confidentiality, especially with sensitive urologic conditions.
- Informed consent for procedures and treatments.
- Quality Improvement:
- Implementing evidence-based practices to reduce CAUTIs or improve outcomes.
- Participating in urologic research or quality audits.
- Evidence-based practice
- Informed consent
- HIPAA compliance
- Clinical practice guidelines
- Continuing competence
- Anatomy/Physiology:
- Renal pelvis, calyces, trigone, seminal vesicles.
- Peristalsis (ureteral), micturition, continence.
- Pathophysiology:
- Pyuria, bacteriuria, glycosuria.
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), bladder diverticulum.
- Priapism, phimosis, varicocele.
- Diagnostics:
- Uroflowmetry, post-void residual (PVR).
- Renal scintigraphy, magnetic resonance urography (MRU).
- Treatments:
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) for overactive bladder.
- Penile prosthesis, vasectomy.
- Patient Care:
- Symptom management, care coordination.
- Patient advocacy, cultural competence.