ACCNS-AG Exam Information and Outline
Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Gerontology
ACCNS-AG Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official ACCNS-AG exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by AACN. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
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: ACCNS-AG
Exam Name: Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Gerontology
Exam format: Computer-based- linear (fixed form)
Number of Questions: 175 multiple choice questions
Number of scored items: 150 scored questions (25 are unscored “pretest” items used for statistical data)
Time allotted: 3½ hours (3.5 hours)
Passing score / cut score: 94 correct out of the 150 scored items
Certification valid for: 5 years
Cardiovascular
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Acute inflammatory disease (e.g.- myocarditis-endocarditis- pericarditis)
- Cardiac surgery
- On-pump
- Off-pump
- Valve procedures
- Hybrid procedures
- Revascularization procedures
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiac trauma (blunt and penetrative)
- Cardiogenic shock
- Cardiomyopathies (e.g.- hypertrophic- dilated-restrictive- idiopathic)
- Coronary artery disease
- 9Dyslipidemia
- Dysrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Acute
- Chronic
- Advanced
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive urgencies or emergencies
- Peripheral vascular insufficiency (e.g.- acutearterial occlusion- carotid artery stenosis-endarterectomy- peripheral stents andFem-Pop bypass)
- Pulmonary edema
- Ruptured or dissecting aneurysm
- Structural heart defects and disease (acquiredand congenital)
- Mechanical circulatory support
- IABP
- VA ECMO
- VV ECMO
- Impella
- LVAD
Respiratory
- Acute pulmonary embolus
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Acute respiratory failure
- Air-leak syndromes (e.g.- pneumothorax-pulmonary interstitial emphysema-pneumopericardium- pneumomediastinum)
- Airway obstruction (e.g.- angioedema- mucusplug- air space-occupying lesions)
- Aspiration
- Asthma/reactive airway disease
- Chronic lung disease (e.g.- COPD exacerbation-interstitial pulmonary fibrosis- cystic fibrosis)
- Chronic respiratory failure (e.g.- ventilatordependency)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Pulmonary hemorrhage
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary infections (e.g.- pneumonia-tuberculosis)
- Thoracic surgery (e.g.- lung reduction-pneumonectomy- lobectomy- tracheal- lungtransplant)
- Thoracic and pulmonary trauma andinjuries (e.g.- lung contusions- fractured ribs-hemothorax)
- Restrictive lung disease (e.g.- obesityhypoventilation- tumor metastasis- pulmonaryfibrosis)
- Pleural effusion
Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/Renal/Integumentary
- Endocrine
- Adrenal disorders
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemichyperosmolar state (HHS)
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypoglycemia
- 6Pituitary disorders
- Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
- Diabetes insipidus (DI)
- Thyroid disorders
- Hematology/Immunology/Oncology
- AIDS and HIV
- Anemias (e.g.- microcytic- macrocytic)
- Autoimmune diseases
- Coagulopathies (e.g.- VTE- DIC-hypercoagulable states)
- Congenital and acquired immunosuppression
- HELLP syndrome
- Myelosuppression (e.g.- neutropenia- anemia-thrombocytopenia)
- Sickle cell disease
- Gastrointestinal
- Abdominal trauma
- GI hemorrhage
- Bowel infarction/obstruction/perforation
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Gastrointestinal infectious disorders
- GI motility disorders (e.g.- constipation-diarrhea- ileus- gastroparesis)
- GI surgeries
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Liver disease (e.g.- hepatitis- hepatic failure)
- Malnutrition
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Renal/Genitourinary
- Acute kidney injury (AKI)
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Contrast-induced nephropathy
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Fluid volume imbalances
- Incontinence
- Infections (e.g.- UTI- PID- STIs)
- GU Trauma
- Integumentary
- Exfoliative skin disorders (e.g.- StevensJohnson syndrome)
- Extravasation
- Pressure injuries
- Wounds (surgical and nonsurgical)
Musculoskeletal/Neurology/Psychosocial
- Musculoskeletal
- Mobility disorders (e.g.- immobility- debilitysecondary to acute- chronic or critical illness)
- Infections (e.g.- necrotizing fasciitis-osteomyelitis)
- Neuromuscular dysfunction related to illness
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal disease (e.g.- scoliosis- kyphosis- discdisease)
- Musculoskeletal trauma
- Neurology
- Brain death
- Cerebral salt wasting
- Encephalopathy
- Head and brain trauma/injury
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracranial hypertension
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Neurologic infectious diseases
- Seizure disorders
- Space-occupying lesions
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Vascular malformation
Psychosocial/Behavioral/Cognitive Health Issues
- Aggression
- Agitation
- Anxiety disorders (e.g.- PTSD- OCD- fears-phobias)
- Capacity for decision-making
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Maltreatment
- Medical nonadherence
- Mood disorders (e.g.- depression)
- Personality disorders (e.g.- anti-socialbehaviors- schizophrenia)
- Post-ICU syndrome
- Substance use disorder
- Suicidal behavior
Factors Influencing Health Status (risk assessment- prevention and wellness)
- Advance care planning
- Cancer prevention (e.g.- tobacco cessation-sunscreen)
- Caregiver burden
- Life stage transitions
- Immunizations
- Mental health screenings (e.g.- depression-suicidal ideation- eating disorders)
- Nutrition and weight management
- Pain prevention and management
- Prudent heart living
- Risk-taking behaviors (e.g.- substance use-unprotected sex)
- Secondary prevention (e.g.- cardiac rehab-pulmonary rehab)
- Sleep hygiene
- Vulnerable population screens(e.g.- intimate partner violence- human trafficking)
- Social determinants of health (e.g.- access to care- socioeconomic factors- health literacy)
- Population health
- Team-based care
Multisystem
- Acid-base imbalances
- Bariatric care issues
- Burns
- Compartment syndrome
- Distributive shock (e.g.- anaphylaxis-neurogenic)
- End-of-life issues
- Failure to thrive
- Hospital-acquired conditions (e.g.- CAUTI-CLABSI- falls- pressure injuries)
- Hypovolemic shock
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- Infectious diseases (e.g.- viral- bacterial)
- Methemoglobinemia
- Multisystem trauma
- Nonfatal drowning
- Pain
- Palliative care issues
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Sensory impairment (e.g.- hearing loss)
- Sepsis/septic shock and MODS
- Toxic exposures- ingestions and inhalations(e.g.- overdose- carbon monoxide- lead-asbestos)
- Transgender care issues
- Withdrawal (e.g.- alcohol- opioids-benzodiazepines)
- Antimicrobial stewardship