PCCN-K Progressive Care Certified Nurse–
Knowledge Professional practice Test exam
with answers and rationales
1. What is the primary focus of the progressive care certified nurse?
A. Operating room care
B. Care of acutely ill patients who require close monitoring but do not need intensive care
C. Newborn care
D. Psychiatric care
Answer: B
Rationale: The PCCN cares for acutely ill adult patients who require intermediate or progressive
care, often between intensive care and general medical-surgical units.
2. Which organization offers the PCCN certification?
A. American Nurses Credentialing Center
B. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
C. National Certification Corporation
D. Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Answer: B
Rationale: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers the PCCN certification.
3. What distinguishes progressive care from intensive care?
A. Progressive care patients require less intensive monitoring and interventions
,B. Progressive care patients are healthier than general medical-surgical patients
C. Progressive care patients require mechanical ventilation
D. Progressive care patients require surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: Progressive care patients require close monitoring and frequent assessment but
generally do not need the intensive interventions of critical care.
4. What is the normal resting heart rate for an adult?
A. 40 to 60 beats per minute
B. 60 to 100 beats per minute
C. 100 to 120 beats per minute
D. 120 to 140 beats per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
5. What is the normal range for respiratory rate in an adult?
A. 6 to 10 breaths per minute
B. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
C. 20 to 24 breaths per minute
D. 24 to 28 breaths per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for an adult is 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
,6. What is the normal range for oxygen saturation?
A. 85 to 90 percent
B. 90 to 94 percent
C. 95 to 100 percent
D. 100 to 105 percent
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal oxygen saturation is 95 to 100 percent.
7. What is the normal range for systolic blood pressure?
A. 70 to 90 mmHg
B. 90 to 120 mmHg
C. 120 to 140 mmHg
D. 140 to 160 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure is 90 to 120 mmHg.
8. What is the normal range for diastolic blood pressure?
A. 40 to 60 mmHg
B. 60 to 80 mmHg
C. 80 to 100 mmHg
D. 100 to 120 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal diastolic blood pressure is 60 to 80 mmHg.
, 9. What is the normal range for mean arterial pressure?
A. 50 to 60 mmHg
B. 70 to 100 mmHg
C. 100 to 120 mmHg
D. 120 to 140 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal mean arterial pressure is 70 to 100 mmHg.
10. What is the normal range for central venous pressure?
A. 0 to 2 mmHg
B. 2 to 8 mmHg
C. 8 to 12 mmHg
D. 12 to 16 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal central venous pressure is 2 to 8 mmHg.
11. What is the normal range for urine output in an adult?
A. 10 to 20 mL per hour
B. 30 to 50 mL per hour
C. 50 to 70 mL per hour
D. 70 to 90 mL per hour
Answer: B
Knowledge Professional practice Test exam
with answers and rationales
1. What is the primary focus of the progressive care certified nurse?
A. Operating room care
B. Care of acutely ill patients who require close monitoring but do not need intensive care
C. Newborn care
D. Psychiatric care
Answer: B
Rationale: The PCCN cares for acutely ill adult patients who require intermediate or progressive
care, often between intensive care and general medical-surgical units.
2. Which organization offers the PCCN certification?
A. American Nurses Credentialing Center
B. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
C. National Certification Corporation
D. Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Answer: B
Rationale: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers the PCCN certification.
3. What distinguishes progressive care from intensive care?
A. Progressive care patients require less intensive monitoring and interventions
,B. Progressive care patients are healthier than general medical-surgical patients
C. Progressive care patients require mechanical ventilation
D. Progressive care patients require surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: Progressive care patients require close monitoring and frequent assessment but
generally do not need the intensive interventions of critical care.
4. What is the normal resting heart rate for an adult?
A. 40 to 60 beats per minute
B. 60 to 100 beats per minute
C. 100 to 120 beats per minute
D. 120 to 140 beats per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
5. What is the normal range for respiratory rate in an adult?
A. 6 to 10 breaths per minute
B. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
C. 20 to 24 breaths per minute
D. 24 to 28 breaths per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for an adult is 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
,6. What is the normal range for oxygen saturation?
A. 85 to 90 percent
B. 90 to 94 percent
C. 95 to 100 percent
D. 100 to 105 percent
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal oxygen saturation is 95 to 100 percent.
7. What is the normal range for systolic blood pressure?
A. 70 to 90 mmHg
B. 90 to 120 mmHg
C. 120 to 140 mmHg
D. 140 to 160 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure is 90 to 120 mmHg.
8. What is the normal range for diastolic blood pressure?
A. 40 to 60 mmHg
B. 60 to 80 mmHg
C. 80 to 100 mmHg
D. 100 to 120 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal diastolic blood pressure is 60 to 80 mmHg.
, 9. What is the normal range for mean arterial pressure?
A. 50 to 60 mmHg
B. 70 to 100 mmHg
C. 100 to 120 mmHg
D. 120 to 140 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal mean arterial pressure is 70 to 100 mmHg.
10. What is the normal range for central venous pressure?
A. 0 to 2 mmHg
B. 2 to 8 mmHg
C. 8 to 12 mmHg
D. 12 to 16 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal central venous pressure is 2 to 8 mmHg.
11. What is the normal range for urine output in an adult?
A. 10 to 20 mL per hour
B. 30 to 50 mL per hour
C. 50 to 70 mL per hour
D. 70 to 90 mL per hour
Answer: B
