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AACN PCCN Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | AACN |
| Exam Name: | AACN Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) Examination |
| Exam Number: | PCCN |
| Exam Format: | Multiple choice |
| Real Exam Qty: | 150 (125 scored + 25 unscored) |
| Exam Duration: | 150 minutes |
| Related Certifications: | CCRN CCRN-K PCCN-K |
| Passing Score: | Scaled score 100–150 (passing typically ~68% correct equivalent) |
| Exam Price: | USD 185 (AACN member) / USD 285 (non-member) |
| Certificate Validity Period: | 3 years |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Recommended Training: | AACN PCCN Review Course |
| Exam Registration: | AACN Certification Registration |
| Sample Questions: | AACN PCCN Sample Questions |
| Exam Way: | Computer-based testing at authorized testing centers or online proctored (depending on region availability) |
| Pre Condition: | Registered nurse (RN) licensure with clinical experience in progressive care or step-down/telemetry units recommended |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/pccn |
AACN PCCN Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular | - Acute Coronary Syndromes - Heart Failure and Shock States - Arrhythmia Management |
| Hematology / Immunology / Infectious Disease | - Coagulation Disorders - Sepsis Management |
| Pulmonary | - Oxygenation and Ventilation Disorders - Respiratory Failure - Mechanical Ventilation Basics |
| Multisystem Failure | - Shock Syndromes - Organ Dysfunction Syndromes |
| Endocrine / Metabolic | - Electrolyte Imbalances - Diabetes Management |
| Neurology | - Stroke Management - Seizure Disorders - Increased Intracranial Pressure |
| Clinical Judgment | - Patient Assessment and Prioritization - Interpretation of Clinical Data |
| Gastrointestinal | - Liver Failure and Pancreatitis - GI Bleeding |
| Professional Caring and Ethical Practice | - Patient Advocacy and Communication - Ethical Decision Making |
AACN Progressive Care Certified Nursing Sample Questions:
1. Which of the following terms indicates prolonged or recurring seizures without a return to baseline mental status?
A) Tonic-clonic seizure
B) Status epilepticus
C) Myoclonic seizure
D) Drop attacks
2. Which of the following is true related to pneumococcal vaccine recommendations?
A) Infants and children < 2 years old should receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
This is a 4-dose series.
B) Infants and children < 2 years old should receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). This is a 4-dose series.
C) An adult who previously received two doses of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) before age 65, should receive one final dose at age 65 or older once 10 years have passed since the most recent PPSV23 dose
D) Anyone aged 2 through 64 years with certain medical conditions should get 2 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), five years apart
3. Many chest x-rays taken in the progressive care unit are obtained with which of the following views, with the patient lying supine in bed?
A) A lateral view
B) An oblique view
C) A posterior-anterior view
D) An anterior-posterior view
4. When assessing the patient's gastrointestinal status, the nurse keeps in mind that:
A) Auscultation of bowel sounds in all four quadrants is performed moving in a counter-clockwise direction
B) Before noting absent bowel sounds, a quadrant of the abdomen should be listened to for at least 60 to 90 seconds
C) Palpation is completed prior to auscultation
D) Adventitious bowel sounds include frictions rubs, bruits, and rhonchi
5. To evaluate functional capacity as evidence of the patient's ability to reason about his or her own choices, which of the comments or questions would be the best for the nurse to make/ask?
A) "Please tell me about some of the difficult health care choices you have made in the past."
B) "Do you know what day it is?"
C) "What is the name of your doctor?"
D) "Why are you in the hospital?"
Solutions:
| Question # 1 Answer: B | Question # 2 Answer: B | Question # 3 Answer: D | Question # 4 Answer: B | Question # 5 Answer: A |
By Len
