ACA-CCN Exam Information and Guideline
ACA Certified Corrections Nurse - 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 Code: ACA-CCN
Exam Name: ACA Certified Corrections Nurse
Issuing Organization: American Correctional Association (ACA)
Type: Computer-based or paper-based (depending on testing location).
Number of Questions: 200 multiple-choice questions
Time Limit: 240 minutes (4 hours)
Passing Score: Determined by a standard-setting process (exact passing percentage may vary).
- Correctional Nursing Fundamentals
- Role of the Correctional Nurse:
- Scope of practice
- ethical considerations
- professional standards
- Legal and Regulatory Issues:
- Constitutional rights of inmates (8th Amendment, deliberate indifference).
- HIPAA in corrections.
- PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act).
- State and federal regulations.
- Documentation & Risk Management:
- Proper charting
- incident reporting
- liability prevention
- Patient Assessment & Triage
- Initial Health Screening: Intake assessments, suicide risk evaluation.
- Chronic Disease Management: Diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis in incarcerated populations.
- Emergency Care: Recognizing life-threatening conditions (overdose, withdrawal, trauma).
- Mental Health Assessments: Identifying psychosis, depression, and suicidal ideation.
- Common Medical Conditions in Corrections
- Infectious Diseases:
- TB testing and prevention.
- HIV/AIDS management.
- Hepatitis B/C.
- MRSA and other infections.
- Chronic Illnesses: Managing asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease.
- Women’s Health: Pregnancy, menstruation, and gynecological care.
- Geriatric Care: Age-related conditions in long-term inmates.
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse
- Behavioral Health Interventions:
- Crisis de-escalation techniques.
- Suicide prevention protocols.
- Substance Withdrawal Management:
- Alcohol withdrawal (CIWA protocol).
- Opioid withdrawal (COWS scale).
- Stimulant intoxication/withdrawal.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT):
- Methadone
- buprenorphine
- naltrexone
- Medication Administration & Pharmacology
- Formulary Restrictions: Limited medication options in corrections.
- Observed Therapy (DOT): Ensuring medication compliance.
- Controlled Substances: Security, diversion prevention.
- Side Effect Monitoring: Antipsychotics, opioids, and other high-risk medications.
- Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Response
- Code Blue/Medical Emergencies: Responding to cardiac arrest, seizures.
- Restraints & Use of Force: Medical monitoring during restraints.
- Environmental Hazards: Heat/cold exposure, cell extractions.
- Ethical & Cultural Considerations
- Patient Advocacy: Balancing security vs. healthcare needs.
- Cultural Competency: Working with diverse inmate populations.
- End-of-Life Care: Hospice in prison settings.
- Correctional Facility Operations
- Security Protocols: Escorts, lockdown procedures.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working with COs, mental health staff, and providers.
- Quality Improvement: Audits, infection control, and continuous improvement.
- Deliberate Indifference Failure to provide adequate medical care, violating 8th Amendment rights.
- PREA: Prison Rape Elimination Act (mandates reporting/response to sexual assaults).
- DOT: Directly Observed Therapy (e.g., for TB treatment).
- CIWA/COWS: Clinical scales for alcohol/opioid withdrawal.
- Formulary: Approved medication list in corrections (often restrictive).
- Sick Call: Inmate request for medical attention.
- Use of Force Security actions requiring medical assessment post-event.
- GENERAL/OFFENDER MANAGEMENT
- Communicating and working with offenders
- Verbal and nonverbal communication skills/techniques
- Diversity of correctional populations
- SECURITY/ENVIRONMENT
- Controlling offender behavior
- Contraband
- Searches
- Disciplinary actions
- Personal liability
- Security program
- Emergency response procedures
- Counts
- Transport of offenders
- STANDARDS AND ACCREDITATION
- Terminology: outcome measures, expected practices, process indications, protocols
- Elements of performance-based standards
- LEGAL
- Legal terminology
- Landmark Supreme Court decisions that affect correctional health care
- Civil Rights Act of 1964
- American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Torts
- Habeas corpus
- Offender lawsuits
- Constitutional amendments affecting corrections
- Issues surrounding suicide
- NURSING PRACTICE
- Security training for nurses
- Health care training for correctional staff
- Roles and responsibilities for correctional nurses and private health care providers
- Offenders’ rights and level of health care
- Barriers to correctional health care
- Infectious diseases
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Mental health assessments
- Suicide issues
- Crisis intervention
- Mental health standards
- HEALTH CARE
- Health care issues in corrections
- History of correctional health care
- Health screening