The nurse assesses a 63-year-old woman postoperatively following coronary artery bypass grafting. The patient is hypotensive and has weak peripheral pulses and an increased respiratory rate; laboratory results reveal increased blood urea nitrogen. The physician thinks the patient may be suffering from acute cardiac tamponade. Which of the following diagnostic procedures will the physician request?

The PCCN certification confirms your knowledge of care for acutely ill adult patients. The credential, which is valid for three years, is granted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation. To sit for the PCCN exam, you must meet these criteria:  - Do you have an RN or APRN license in good standing?  - Have you practiced as an RN or APRN for at least 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients in the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the year leading up to the exam application? OR - Have you practiced as an RN or... Show more

The PCCN certification confirms your knowledge of care for acutely ill adult patients. The credential, which is valid for three years, is granted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation.

To sit for the PCCN exam, you must meet these criteria: 

- Do you have an RN or APRN license in good standing? 
- Have you practiced as an RN or APRN for at least 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients in the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the year leading up to the exam application?
OR
- Have you practiced as an RN or APRN for five years or more and spent at least 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the year leading up to the exam application?

PCC exam topics:

Clinical Judgment: Cardiovascular Pulmonary Endocrine/Hematology/Neurology/Gastrointestinal/Renal Musculoskeletal/Multisystem/Psychosocial	80% 27% 17% 20% 16%
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice: Advocacy/Moral Agency; Caring Practices; Response to Diversity; Facilitation of Learning; Collaboration; Systems Thinking; Clinical Inquiry	20%

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