• PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
PCCN EXAM NEW 2025/ 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST
BANK| 2 VERSIONS (VERSION A & B) WITH
COMPLETE 650 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+| PROGRESSIVE
CARE CERTIFIED NURSE EXAM PREP (MOST
RECENT!!)
A 55 year old male postoperative patient is demonstrating signs of pain; tachycardia, hypertension, abdominal
guarding and increased respiratory rate. The patient refuses pain medication because he believes he will become
addicted to the narcotics. What is the nurse's best response?
A. Acknowledge that the patient is entitled to refuse pain medications
B. Tell the patient that opioids have a low addiction rate when used for postoperative pain while in the hospital
P 1
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
C. Admire the patient's stoicism
D. Acknowledge opioid addiction potential, and offer a back rub –
Correct Answer :B. Tell the patient that opioids have a low addiction rate when used for postoperative pain
while in the hospital
Many people are concerned about addiction rates of narcotics; however, the use of narcotics for postoperative
pain while in the hospital has a very low addiction rate. The risk for abuse increases when patients go home with
narcotics. Explaining to the patient that limited use in the hospital will increase his recovery and reduce
inflammation is the correct response. Any patient may refuse medications after an explanation of the facts are
given. A back rub or alternative care is a way to treat the patient if they absolutely refuse medications; however,
the best answer is to correct the patient's misinformation about the use of narcotics during the immediate
postoperative period.
The extended family of an acutely ill patient wants to stay at his bedside around the clock. Hospital policy limits
visiting times and the number of visitors. The best response from the nurse is to:
A. Explain the policy and ask them to leave
B. Bring in cots and chairs for the family to stay
C. Find a local hotel for the family
D. Allow one or two family members to stay –
Correct Answer :D. Allow one or two family members to stay
Allowing one or two family members to stay is the best answer in this situation. Although the hospital policy
limits visitors, it may be to the patient's benefit to have family members present. The nurse is always the
patient's advocate and should try to establish guidelines individually. Explaining the policy may explain that
visitors are not usually allowed to stay; however, with the individual circumstances of this patient, the nurse may
make a decision about amending the rules. Bringing in cots and chairs for all the family members may be too far
out of the alignment of patient care, but finding a hotel room for the remainder of the family as a secondary
action is a thoughtful approach to the members who cannot stay.
A family-centered approach to patient care recognizes that families:
A. may be harmful to patient's recovery
B. should be allowed to visit the patient anytime
C. are team members in the patient's healing process
P 2
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
D. should be included in all decisions about patient care –
Correct Answer :C. are team members in the patient's healing process
Family-centered care is a philosophy that includes families as team members in the care of the patient. The
patient remains the center of the staff's efforts. Family involvement has been shown to be beneficial, not
harmful. Open visiting hours are common in the ICU; however, there may be times that the patient needs
privacy, quiet and rest. Family members do not have to be included in all decisions if the patient is awake and
able to make decisions.
A patient with neurologic dysfunction requires a lumbar puncture, which has been scheduled by the physician. At
the time of the procedure, the patient has acute abdominal pain and becomes anxious and upset. Although the
physician insists on continuing with the LP, in the best interest of the patient care, the nurse should:
A. Reassure the patient that the procedure will be quick
B. Suggest rescheduling when the patient's abdominal pain has been investigated and stabilized
C. Continue preparing the patient
D. Recommend pain relief and continue with the procedure. –
Correct Answer :B
. Suggest rescheduling when the patient's abdominal pain has been investigated and stabilized
The patient has pain and anxiety before a procedure. Investigating the pain and pain relief are patient=centered
activities that should take priority. The other answers are physician-centered, not patient-centered activities.
The nursing staff is resisting being assigned to a disruptive, aggressive male patient. An appropriate resolution
would be to:
A. Ask the physician to remove the patient
B. Rotate the patient assignment among the staff members
C. Confront the family, and demand an end to the disruptive behavior
D. Holding a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives –
Correct Answer :D. Holding a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives
P 3
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
With a difficult situation as a disruptive, aggressive male patient, it is a best practice to involve all staff members
in a team conference for input into a treatment plan. Asking the physician to remove the patient is extreme and
unusual since the patient requires acute nursing care. Since this behavior has probably been occurring for a
period of time, staff rotation has been unsuccessful in resolving the problem. Since the family is not the issue,
the ideal action is to involve all the nursing staff in preparing a plan of care for the patient.
Which of the following statements illustrates the nurse as the patient advocate?
A. "was interested in me as a person"
B. "took a long time to respond to my request"
C. "answered my questions"
D. "appeared like to his or her job" –
Correct Answer :C. "answered my questions"
Answering questions is a direct reflection of the nurse acting as an advocate for the patient. The American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses definition of patient advocate is. "working on another's behalf and
representing the concerns of the patient/family and nursing staff." The nurse's interest in the patient and
appearing of liking his or her job is a reflection of caring practice, and taking too long to respond reflects poor
clinical judgement.
An ICU patient is 4 days postoperative. For the past three days, the patient has been disengaged and quiet. Now
he is becoming restless, argumentative and now hostile saying the nursing staff is trying to kill him and is asking
for the police. All vital signs and labs are within normal limits. What pharmacologic agent would be appropriate?
A. midazolam (Versed)
B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
C. propofol (Diprivan)
D. sertraline (Zoloft)
- Correct Answer :B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
The patient's change in behavior with no other physiological factors indicates possible delirium. The drug of
choice is haloperidol. Midazolam is not the drug of choice since it is a tranquilizer. Propofol is an anesthetic
agent, and the patient is not intubated. Sertraline is a SSRI for depression.
What should the nurse do if they suspect that their caregiver has abused an elderly patient?
P 4
PCCN EXAM NEW 2025/ 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST
BANK| 2 VERSIONS (VERSION A & B) WITH
COMPLETE 650 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+| PROGRESSIVE
CARE CERTIFIED NURSE EXAM PREP (MOST
RECENT!!)
A 55 year old male postoperative patient is demonstrating signs of pain; tachycardia, hypertension, abdominal
guarding and increased respiratory rate. The patient refuses pain medication because he believes he will become
addicted to the narcotics. What is the nurse's best response?
A. Acknowledge that the patient is entitled to refuse pain medications
B. Tell the patient that opioids have a low addiction rate when used for postoperative pain while in the hospital
P 1
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
C. Admire the patient's stoicism
D. Acknowledge opioid addiction potential, and offer a back rub –
Correct Answer :B. Tell the patient that opioids have a low addiction rate when used for postoperative pain
while in the hospital
Many people are concerned about addiction rates of narcotics; however, the use of narcotics for postoperative
pain while in the hospital has a very low addiction rate. The risk for abuse increases when patients go home with
narcotics. Explaining to the patient that limited use in the hospital will increase his recovery and reduce
inflammation is the correct response. Any patient may refuse medications after an explanation of the facts are
given. A back rub or alternative care is a way to treat the patient if they absolutely refuse medications; however,
the best answer is to correct the patient's misinformation about the use of narcotics during the immediate
postoperative period.
The extended family of an acutely ill patient wants to stay at his bedside around the clock. Hospital policy limits
visiting times and the number of visitors. The best response from the nurse is to:
A. Explain the policy and ask them to leave
B. Bring in cots and chairs for the family to stay
C. Find a local hotel for the family
D. Allow one or two family members to stay –
Correct Answer :D. Allow one or two family members to stay
Allowing one or two family members to stay is the best answer in this situation. Although the hospital policy
limits visitors, it may be to the patient's benefit to have family members present. The nurse is always the
patient's advocate and should try to establish guidelines individually. Explaining the policy may explain that
visitors are not usually allowed to stay; however, with the individual circumstances of this patient, the nurse may
make a decision about amending the rules. Bringing in cots and chairs for all the family members may be too far
out of the alignment of patient care, but finding a hotel room for the remainder of the family as a secondary
action is a thoughtful approach to the members who cannot stay.
A family-centered approach to patient care recognizes that families:
A. may be harmful to patient's recovery
B. should be allowed to visit the patient anytime
C. are team members in the patient's healing process
P 2
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
D. should be included in all decisions about patient care –
Correct Answer :C. are team members in the patient's healing process
Family-centered care is a philosophy that includes families as team members in the care of the patient. The
patient remains the center of the staff's efforts. Family involvement has been shown to be beneficial, not
harmful. Open visiting hours are common in the ICU; however, there may be times that the patient needs
privacy, quiet and rest. Family members do not have to be included in all decisions if the patient is awake and
able to make decisions.
A patient with neurologic dysfunction requires a lumbar puncture, which has been scheduled by the physician. At
the time of the procedure, the patient has acute abdominal pain and becomes anxious and upset. Although the
physician insists on continuing with the LP, in the best interest of the patient care, the nurse should:
A. Reassure the patient that the procedure will be quick
B. Suggest rescheduling when the patient's abdominal pain has been investigated and stabilized
C. Continue preparing the patient
D. Recommend pain relief and continue with the procedure. –
Correct Answer :B
. Suggest rescheduling when the patient's abdominal pain has been investigated and stabilized
The patient has pain and anxiety before a procedure. Investigating the pain and pain relief are patient=centered
activities that should take priority. The other answers are physician-centered, not patient-centered activities.
The nursing staff is resisting being assigned to a disruptive, aggressive male patient. An appropriate resolution
would be to:
A. Ask the physician to remove the patient
B. Rotate the patient assignment among the staff members
C. Confront the family, and demand an end to the disruptive behavior
D. Holding a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives –
Correct Answer :D. Holding a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives
P 3
, • PCCN EXAM 09/12/2026
With a difficult situation as a disruptive, aggressive male patient, it is a best practice to involve all staff members
in a team conference for input into a treatment plan. Asking the physician to remove the patient is extreme and
unusual since the patient requires acute nursing care. Since this behavior has probably been occurring for a
period of time, staff rotation has been unsuccessful in resolving the problem. Since the family is not the issue,
the ideal action is to involve all the nursing staff in preparing a plan of care for the patient.
Which of the following statements illustrates the nurse as the patient advocate?
A. "was interested in me as a person"
B. "took a long time to respond to my request"
C. "answered my questions"
D. "appeared like to his or her job" –
Correct Answer :C. "answered my questions"
Answering questions is a direct reflection of the nurse acting as an advocate for the patient. The American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses definition of patient advocate is. "working on another's behalf and
representing the concerns of the patient/family and nursing staff." The nurse's interest in the patient and
appearing of liking his or her job is a reflection of caring practice, and taking too long to respond reflects poor
clinical judgement.
An ICU patient is 4 days postoperative. For the past three days, the patient has been disengaged and quiet. Now
he is becoming restless, argumentative and now hostile saying the nursing staff is trying to kill him and is asking
for the police. All vital signs and labs are within normal limits. What pharmacologic agent would be appropriate?
A. midazolam (Versed)
B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
C. propofol (Diprivan)
D. sertraline (Zoloft)
- Correct Answer :B. Haloperidol (Haldol)
The patient's change in behavior with no other physiological factors indicates possible delirium. The drug of
choice is haloperidol. Midazolam is not the drug of choice since it is a tranquilizer. Propofol is an anesthetic
agent, and the patient is not intubated. Sertraline is a SSRI for depression.
What should the nurse do if they suspect that their caregiver has abused an elderly patient?
P 4
