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PCCN Practice Test 1
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The Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) exam is administered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), which is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. The PCCN examination tests applicants' knowledge of caring for acutely ill adult patients.

PCCN is a specialty certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely ill adult patients regardless of their physical location. Nurses interested in this certification may work in areas such as intermediate care, direct observation, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care or emergency departments.

PCCN Practice Test 1
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25 Questions

1. A 48-year-old female patient has been admitted for investigation of impaired vision, fatigue, muscle weakness, and poor coordination. A lumbar puncture is scheduled, prior to which the patient becomes upset and reports abdominal pain. The physician insists on continuing with the lumbar puncture. In the best interests of the patient, the nurse should
2. The family of a patient who has had surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm asks the nurse to explain the condition to them. The nurse should tell the family that an abdominal aortic aneurysm is
3. Which of the following laboratory results would the nurse expect to find with a patient who has heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
4. What life-threatening reaction is associated with sickle cell anemia treatment agents?
5. Which of the following adventitious breath sounds are associated with fluid in the small airways?
6. A 61-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis and a sacral pressure ulcer is to be discharged following treatment for pneumonia. She lives alone. Which of the following strategies is a systems thinking approach to the patient's discharge?
7. Following reperfusion after an episode of cardiogenic shock, the nurse is reviewing laboratory results and notices that blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels for the patient are elevated. Normal values for BUN are
8. A 68-year-old male patient with supraventricular tachycardia of recent onset is scheduled for pharmacologic cardioversion. Which of the following is NOT a contraindication for pharmacologic cardioversion?
9. On auscultation of the heart, a high-pitched blowing murmur typically indicates
10. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is administered to a 35-year-old man with acute chest pain, but his ECG complex is normal. In a normal ECG complex, the nurse should NOT see
11. A 69-year-old woman with angina complains of chest discomfort and shortness of breath. The nurse places the patient in a semi-Fowler position. This involves
12. A patient with a history of pulmonary disease needs to be evaluated for hypoxemia. She asks the nurse what this will involve. Which of the following should the nurse tell the patient?
13. When the nurse is assessing a patient for respiratory disease, the nurse should FIRST
14. A 35-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive man is admitted for investigation of recurrent epistaxis. On assessment, the patient is pale, has purpura, and laboratory tests show a platelet count of 45,000/mm3 and hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL. Which is the following is a common hematological complication of HIV?
15. A 57-year-old man is admitted with left-sided ischemic stroke and is considered a good candidate for tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), which is started via IV. At shift change, the nurse caring for this patient observes that his blood pressure is 185/100 mmHg, and his pupils are poorly reactive. For which of the following events is this patient at risk?
16. Following the onset of acute myocardial infarction, a 70-year-old male patient has a blood pressure of 75/48 mmHg and oliguria. The most appropriate pharmacologic intervention to manage cardiogenic shock in this case would be
17. A family-centered approach to patient care recognizes that families
18. The respiratory generator is located in the
19. A 61-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis and a sacral pressure ulcer is being treated for pneumonia. During a dressing change, she becomes short of breath. On assessment, her blood pressure is low, pulse is rapid, and her skin is pale and moist. If these symptoms indicate acute respiratory failure, which of the following should the nurse do FIRST?
20. A busy progressive care unit often has staffing problems. Which of the following approaches effectively supports systems thinking?
21. An unconscious patient with hypoglycemia is being treated with IV glucose (50 mL of 50% dextrose IV bolus) to correct serum glucose levels of 40 mg/dL. Which of the following is a possible complication of administering hypertonic dextrose?
22. Complications associated with long-term transfusions for sickle cell anemia patients include
23. Which of the following is NOT an indication of complications from hypertensive crisis?
24. A 62-year-old African American male patient is being monitored following treatment for myocardial infarction. The nurse assigned to his care cannot pronounce his name. Which of the following actions by the nurse respects the patient's identity?
25. Minute ventilation (VE) is composed of

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