PCCN Exam Information and Guideline
AACN Progressive Critical Care Nursing
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.
The PCCN and PCCN-K certification exams focus 80 percent on clinical judgment and 20 percent on professional caring and ethical practice. Our comprehensive course prepares you in the following categories:
Clinical Judgment
- Cardiovascular
- Pulmonary
- Endocrine
- Hematology
- Gastrointestinal
- Renal
- Neurology
- Behavioral/Psychosocial
- Musculoskeletal
- Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
- Advocacy/Moral Agency
- Caring Practices
- Response to Diversity
- Facilitation of Learning
- Collaboration
- Systems Thinking
- Clinical Inquiry
- Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this learning activity, participants should be able to:
Validate their knowledge of progressive care nursing Briefly review the pathophysiology of single and multisystem dysfunction in adult patients and the medical and pharmacologic management of each Identify the progressive care nursing management needs for adult patients with single or multisystem organ abnormalities Successful Completion
Learners must complete 100 percent of the activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.
12.8 contact hours awarded, CERP Category A
Exam Eligibility
Are you eligible to take the PCCN or PCCN-K exam? Eligibility requirements and links to handbooks with test plans are available on our “Get Certified” pages — click here to get started: PCCN (Adult) or PCCN-K (Adult) .
PCCN and PCCN-K certifications emphasize the knowledge that the progressive nursing specialty requires and the essential acute care nursing practices that you can apply in your role every day in a step-down unit, emergency or telemetry department or another progressive care environment.
PCCN and PCCN-K specialty certifications also demonstrate your knowledge and dedication to hospital administrators, peers and patients, while giving you the satisfaction of your achievement. PCCN and PCCN-K credentials are granted by AACN Certification Corporation.
Validate and enhance your knowledge and improve patient outcomes. Take advantage of this detailed review course and earn your PCCN or PCCN-K certification.
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Centers (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN), Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 12.8 contact hours.
AACN programming meets the standards of most states that require mandatory CE contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.
AACN and AACN Certification Corporation consider the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses foundational for nursing practice, providing a framework for making ethical decisions and fulfilling responsibilities to the public, colleagues and the profession. AACN Certification Corporations mission of public protection supports a standard of excellence where certified nurses have a responsibility to read about, understand and act in a manner congruent with the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.
I. CLINICAL JUDGMENT (80%)
A. Cardiovascular (27%)
1. Acute coronary syndromes
a. non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
b. ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
c. unstable angina
2. Acute inflammatory disease (e.g., myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis)
3. Aneurysm
a. dissecting
b. repair
4. Cardiac surgery (e.g., post ICU care)
5. Cardiac tamponade
6. Cardiac/vascular catheterization
a. diagnostic
b. interventional
7. Cardiogenic shock
8. Cardiomyopathies
a. dilated (e.g., ischemic/non-ischemic)
b. hypertrophic
c. restrictive
9. Dysrhythmias
10. Heart failure
a. acute exacerbations (e.g., pulmonary edema)
b. chronic
11. Hypertension (uncontrolled)
12. Hypertensive crisis
13. Minimally-invasive cardiac surgery (i.e. nonsternal approach)
14. Valvular heart disease
15. Vascular disease
B. Pulmonary (17%)
1. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
2. Asthma (severe)
3. COPD exacerbation
4. Minimally-invasive thoracic surgery (e.g., VATS)
5. Obstructive sleep apnea
6. Pleural space complications (e.g., pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleural effusion, empyema, chylothorax)
7. Pulmonary embolism
8. Pulmonary hypertension
9. Respiratory depression (e.g., medicationinduced, decreased-LOC-induced)
10. Respiratory failure
a. acute
b. chronic
c. failure to wean
11. Respiratory infections (e.g., pneumonia)
12. Thoracic surgery (e.g., lobectomy, pneumonectomy)
C. Endocrine/Hematology/Neurology/Gastrointestinal/Renal (20%)
1. Endocrine
a. diabetes mellitus
b. diabetic ketoacidosis
c. hyperglycemia
d. hypoglycemia
2. Hematology/Immunology/Oncology
a. anemia
b. coagulopathies: medication-induced (e.g., Coumadin, platelet inhibitors, heparin [HIT])
3. Neurology
a. encephalopathy (e.g., hypoxic-ischemic, metabolic, infectious, hepatic)
b. seizure disorders
c. stroke
4. Gastrointestinal
a. functional GI disorders (e.g., obstruction, ileus, diabetic gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome)
b. GI bleed
i. lower
ii. upper
c. GI infections (e.g., C. difficile)
d. GI surgeries (e.g., resections, esophagogastrectomy, bariatric)
e. hepatic disorders (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis, portal hypertension)
f. ischemic bowel
g. malnutrition (e.g., failure to thrive, malabsorption disorders)
h. pancreatitis
5. Renal
a. acute kidney injury (AKI)
b. chronic kidney disease (CKD)
c. electrolyte imbalances
d. end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
D. Musculoskeletal/Multisystem/Psychosocial (16%)
1. Musculoskeletal
a. functional issues (e.g., immobility, falls, gait disorders)
2. Multisystem
a. end of life
b. healthcare-acquired infections
i. catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
ii. central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
iii. surgical site infection (SSI)
c. infectious diseases
i. influenza
ii. multidrug-resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA, VRE, CRE, ESBL)
d. pain
i. acute
ii. chronic
e. palliative care
f. pressure injuries (ulcers)
g. rhabdomyolysis
h. sepsis
i. shock states
i. anaphylactic
ii. hypovolemic
j. toxic ingestion/inhalation/drug overdose
k. wounds (e.g., infectious, surgical, trauma)
3. Behavioral/Psychosocial
a. altered mental status
b. delirium
c. dementia
d. disruptive behaviors, aggression, violence
e. psychological disorders
i. anxiety
ii. depression
f. substance abuse
i. alcohol withdrawal
ii. chronic alcohol abuse
iii. chronic drug abuse
iv. drug-seeking behavior
v. drug withdrawal
II. PROFESSIONAL CARING AND ETHICAL PRACTICE (20%)
A. Advocacy/Moral Agency
B. Caring Practices
C. Response to Diversity
D. Facilitation of Learning
E. Collaboration
F. Systems Thinking
G. Clinical Inquiry Cardiovascular
• Identify, interpret and monitor
o dysrhythmias
o QTc intervals
o ST segments
• Manage patients requiring
o ablation
o arterial closure devices
o arterial/venous sheaths
o cardiac catheterization
o cardioversion
o defibrillation
o pacemakers
o percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
o transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Monitor hemodynamic status and recognize signs and symptoms of hemodynamic instability
• Select leads for cardiac monitoring for the indicated disease process
• Titrate vasoactive medications
o Dobutamine
o Dopamine
o Nitroglycerin Pulmonary
• Interpret ABGs
• Maintain airway
• Monitor patients pre and post
o bronchoscopy
o chest tube insertion
o thoracentesis
• Manage patients requiring mechanical ventilation
• Manage patients requiring non-invasive O2 or ventilation delivery systems
o BiPAP
o CPAP
o face masks
o high-flow therapy
o nasal cannula
o non-breather mask
o venti-masks
• Manage patients requiring respiratory monitoring devices:
o continuous SpO2
o end-tidal CO2 (capnography)
Manage patients requiring tracheostomy tubes
• Manage patients with chest tubes (including pleural drains)
• Recognize respiratory complications and initiate interventions
Endocrine/Hematology/Neurology/Gastrointestinal/Renal
• Endocrine
o manage and titrate insulin infusions
• Hematology/Immunology/Oncology
o administer blood products and monitor patient response
• Neurology
o perform bedside screening for dysphagia
o use NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
• Gastrointestinal
o manage patients pre- and post-procedure (e.g., EGD, colonoscopy)
o manage patients who have fecal containment devices
o manage patients who have tubes and drains
o recognize indications for and complications of enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Renal
o identify medications that can be removed during dialysis
o identify medications that may cause nephrotoxicity
o initiate renal protective measures for nephrotoxic procedures
o manage patients pre- and post-hemodialysis Musculoskeletal/Multisystem/Psychosocial
• Musculoskeletal
o initiate and monitor progressive mobility measures
• Multisystem
o administer medications for procedural sedation and monitor patient response
o differentiate types of wounds, pressure injuries
o manage patients with complex wounds (e.g., fistulas, drains and vacuum-assisted closure devices)
o manage patients with infections
• Psychosocial
o implement suicide prevention measures
o screen patients using a delirium assessment tool (e.g., CAM)
o use alcohol withdrawal assessment tools (e.g., CIWA)
General
• Administer medications and monitor patient response
• Anticipate therapeutic regimens
• Monitor diagnostic test results
• Perform an assessment pertinent to the system
• Provide health promotion interventions for patients, populations and diseases
• Provide patient and family education unique to the clinical situation
• Recognize procedural and surgical complications
• Recognize urgent situations and initiate interventions
• Use complementary alternative medicine techniques and non-pharmacologic interventions