CSC (CARDIAC SURGERY CERTIFICATION) –
100+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES
SECTION 1: EXAM ADMINISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY
Question 1
What is the target patient population for the AACN Cardiac
Surgery Certification (CSC) exam?
A) Patients with chronic heart failure in the outpatient
setting
B) Acutely/critically ill adult cardiac surgery patients in the
first 48 hours postoperatively
C) Pediatric patients with congenital heart defects
D) Patients with acute myocardial infarction in the emergency
department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CSC exam is specifically designed for certified
nurses caring for adult cardiac surgery patients during the
first 48 hours postoperatively. This acute postoperative
period requires specialized knowledge of hemodynamic
,monitoring, complication management, and therapeutic
interventions unique to cardiac surgical patients.
Question 2
Which of the following is a prerequisite for taking the CSC
exam?
A) A valid unencumbered RN license only
B) A current nationally accredited clinical nursing specialty
certification
C) 5 years of nursing experience in any setting
D) A master's degree in nursing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Candidates must hold a current, nationally
accredited (ABSNC or NCCA) clinical nursing specialty
certification, such as CCRN, PCCN, or CNOR. This ensures
that candidates have foundational acute/critical care
knowledge before pursuing the cardiac surgery subspecialty
certification.
Question 3
How many clinical practice hours are required for CSC
eligibility under Option 1?
,A) 1,000 hours in the past 5 years
B) 1,750 hours in the past 2 years, with 875 hours in cardiac
surgery patients
C) 2,000 hours in the past 2 years
D) 500 hours in the past year
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option 1 requires 1,750 hours of direct care in
acutely/critically ill adult patients in the past 2 years, with
875 hours specifically in cardiac surgery patients within the
first 48 hours postoperatively.
Question 4
How much time is allotted to complete the CSC exam?
A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
C) 3 hours
D) 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the CSC
examination. Effective time management during preparation is
essential to ensure all questions can be answered within the
allotted timeframe.
, Question 5
What is the largest content category on the CSC exam?
A) Procedures (11%)
B) Complications (33%)
C) Therapeutic Interventions (43%)
D) Monitoring and Diagnostics (13%)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Therapeutic Interventions account for 43% of the
CSC exam content, followed by Complications at 33%,
Monitoring and Diagnostics at 13%, and Procedures at 11%.
Candidates should allocate the majority of their study time to
therapeutic interventions.
Question 6
How often must CSC certification be renewed?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C
100+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES
SECTION 1: EXAM ADMINISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY
Question 1
What is the target patient population for the AACN Cardiac
Surgery Certification (CSC) exam?
A) Patients with chronic heart failure in the outpatient
setting
B) Acutely/critically ill adult cardiac surgery patients in the
first 48 hours postoperatively
C) Pediatric patients with congenital heart defects
D) Patients with acute myocardial infarction in the emergency
department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CSC exam is specifically designed for certified
nurses caring for adult cardiac surgery patients during the
first 48 hours postoperatively. This acute postoperative
period requires specialized knowledge of hemodynamic
,monitoring, complication management, and therapeutic
interventions unique to cardiac surgical patients.
Question 2
Which of the following is a prerequisite for taking the CSC
exam?
A) A valid unencumbered RN license only
B) A current nationally accredited clinical nursing specialty
certification
C) 5 years of nursing experience in any setting
D) A master's degree in nursing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Candidates must hold a current, nationally
accredited (ABSNC or NCCA) clinical nursing specialty
certification, such as CCRN, PCCN, or CNOR. This ensures
that candidates have foundational acute/critical care
knowledge before pursuing the cardiac surgery subspecialty
certification.
Question 3
How many clinical practice hours are required for CSC
eligibility under Option 1?
,A) 1,000 hours in the past 5 years
B) 1,750 hours in the past 2 years, with 875 hours in cardiac
surgery patients
C) 2,000 hours in the past 2 years
D) 500 hours in the past year
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option 1 requires 1,750 hours of direct care in
acutely/critically ill adult patients in the past 2 years, with
875 hours specifically in cardiac surgery patients within the
first 48 hours postoperatively.
Question 4
How much time is allotted to complete the CSC exam?
A) 1 hour
B) 2 hours
C) 3 hours
D) 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the CSC
examination. Effective time management during preparation is
essential to ensure all questions can be answered within the
allotted timeframe.
, Question 5
What is the largest content category on the CSC exam?
A) Procedures (11%)
B) Complications (33%)
C) Therapeutic Interventions (43%)
D) Monitoring and Diagnostics (13%)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Therapeutic Interventions account for 43% of the
CSC exam content, followed by Complications at 33%,
Monitoring and Diagnostics at 13%, and Procedures at 11%.
Candidates should allocate the majority of their study time to
therapeutic interventions.
Question 6
How often must CSC certification be renewed?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Correct Answer: C
