PCCN
Exam Prep 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
✓ PCCN Certification Exam 2026 preparation
✓ PCCN practice questions and answers
✓ Detailed answer rationales
, PCCN Exam Prep 2026 |
Practice Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A 49-year-old male was recently admitted with an inferior wall MI
resulting from 100% occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). The
12-Lead ECG reveals ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. You would
expect to see reciprocal changes in which leads?
A. I, aVR
B. V1, V2
C. V5, V6
D. I, aVL
Answer: D. I, aVL
Rationale: The RCA perfuses the inferior wall and the mirror image or
reciprocal change will be seen in the high lateral wall, which is reflected
,in leads I and aVL on the 12-Lead ECG. Leads V1 and V2 correlate with
the septal area, leads V3 and V4 correlate with the anterior area of the
heart. The aVR lead does not provide much diagnostic value as all
energy is depolarizing away from this lead.
Question 2
You are summoned to the room of a 30-year-old female who is
experiencing sustained tonic-clonic convulsions while sitting in a chair.
A family member states: "She was just talking to us and suddenly she
let out a shriek and started flopping like a fish out of water." What is
your initial priority of care?
A. Call for help and safely guide the patient to the floor
B. Call for help and administer a prescribed antiepileptic
C. Call for help and administer a prescribed benzodiazepine
D. Call for help and monitor the course of the seizure
Answer: A. Call for help and safely guide the patient to the floor
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. During a seizure, the patient
should be protected from injury by guiding them to the floor and
removing nearby objects that could cause harm.
, Question 3
A 46-year-old patient presents with pneumonia and sepsis. He was
treated with 4 days of antibiotics and IV fluids. He is increasingly short
of breath and is now on 100% FiO2 via non-rebreather mask. You
obtain an ABG with the following results: pH 7.20 / PaCO2 68 / PaO2
102 / HCO3 28. A chest x-ray reveals bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. The
patient is likely developing:
A. Worsening pneumonia
B. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Atelectasis
Answer: B. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates,
severe hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy, and an underlying
predisposing condition such as sepsis or pneumonia. The patient's
presentation is consistent with ARDS.
Question 4
A 56-year-old male is admitted to the PCU with a hypertensive crisis.
His blood pressure is now 205/125 mm Hg and he is complaining of a
Exam Prep 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
✓ PCCN Certification Exam 2026 preparation
✓ PCCN practice questions and answers
✓ Detailed answer rationales
, PCCN Exam Prep 2026 |
Practice Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A 49-year-old male was recently admitted with an inferior wall MI
resulting from 100% occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA). The
12-Lead ECG reveals ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. You would
expect to see reciprocal changes in which leads?
A. I, aVR
B. V1, V2
C. V5, V6
D. I, aVL
Answer: D. I, aVL
Rationale: The RCA perfuses the inferior wall and the mirror image or
reciprocal change will be seen in the high lateral wall, which is reflected
,in leads I and aVL on the 12-Lead ECG. Leads V1 and V2 correlate with
the septal area, leads V3 and V4 correlate with the anterior area of the
heart. The aVR lead does not provide much diagnostic value as all
energy is depolarizing away from this lead.
Question 2
You are summoned to the room of a 30-year-old female who is
experiencing sustained tonic-clonic convulsions while sitting in a chair.
A family member states: "She was just talking to us and suddenly she
let out a shriek and started flopping like a fish out of water." What is
your initial priority of care?
A. Call for help and safely guide the patient to the floor
B. Call for help and administer a prescribed antiepileptic
C. Call for help and administer a prescribed benzodiazepine
D. Call for help and monitor the course of the seizure
Answer: A. Call for help and safely guide the patient to the floor
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. During a seizure, the patient
should be protected from injury by guiding them to the floor and
removing nearby objects that could cause harm.
, Question 3
A 46-year-old patient presents with pneumonia and sepsis. He was
treated with 4 days of antibiotics and IV fluids. He is increasingly short
of breath and is now on 100% FiO2 via non-rebreather mask. You
obtain an ABG with the following results: pH 7.20 / PaCO2 68 / PaO2
102 / HCO3 28. A chest x-ray reveals bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. The
patient is likely developing:
A. Worsening pneumonia
B. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Atelectasis
Answer: B. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates,
severe hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy, and an underlying
predisposing condition such as sepsis or pneumonia. The patient's
presentation is consistent with ARDS.
Question 4
A 56-year-old male is admitted to the PCU with a hypertensive crisis.
His blood pressure is now 205/125 mm Hg and he is complaining of a
