PCCN
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales | PCCN Exam Prep
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
✓ PCCN Certification Exam 2026 preparation
✓ PCCN practice questions and answers
✓ Detailed answer rationales
, PCCN Practice Exam 2026 | Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | PCCN
Exam Prep
Question 1
Exam Coverage for PCCN Practice Exam includes progressive care
nursing concepts aligned with certification through:
A. American Nurses Association (ANA)
B. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
C. National League for Nursing (NLN)
D. American Heart Association (AHA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The PCCN Practice Exam covers progressive care nursing
concepts aligned with certification through the American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This organization establishes the standards
and certification requirements for progressive care nursing. The exam
focuses on care of acutely ill adult patients in step-down or progressive
care units, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
,endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and multisystem conditions. ANA (A)
is a broader nursing organization, NLN (C) focuses on nursing education,
and AHA (D) focuses on cardiovascular care and resuscitation
guidelines.
Question 2
The nurse notes the following when analyzing a patient's telemetry
strip: HR 65/min and regular; PR interval 0.22 seconds; QRS complex
0.10 seconds; QTc 0.52 seconds. Which of the following dysrhythmias
is the patient at risk for?
A. Atrial fibrillation because the PR interval is wide
B. Sinus arrhythmia because the QRS complex is narrow
C. Torsades de pointes because the QTc is wide
D. Third-degree heart block because the PR interval is narrow
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: QT measurements reflect the duration of ventricular
repolarization. Lengthening of the QT interval is associated with
arrhythmias, adverse cardiac events, and increased mortality because a
longer QT duration places the vulnerable ventricular repolarization
phase close to the next depolarization, increasing the likelihood of R-
, on-T phenomenon. The most common arrhythmia that occurs with
prolonged QTc is torsades de pointes. A normal QTc is less than 0.44-
0.46 seconds; this patient's QTc of 0.52 seconds is significantly
prolonged. Atrial fibrillation (A) is not typically associated with
prolonged QT, sinus arrhythmia (B) is a normal variant related to
respiratory cycles, and third-degree heart block (D) is related to AV
node dysfunction, not QT prolongation.
Question 3
A patient is on V-tach, HR 135, RR 32, BP 90/48, conscious but
complains of dizziness, recent K+ level is 3.4. What action would you
do first?
A. Emergent defibrillation
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IVP
C. Emergent cardioversion
D. Hang 10 mEq KCL/50mL D5W
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This patient has unstable ventricular tachycardia evidenced
by hypotension (BP 90/48), dizziness, and tachycardia (HR 135). The
patient is conscious but symptomatic, indicating hemodynamic
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales | PCCN Exam Prep
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
✓ PCCN Certification Exam 2026 preparation
✓ PCCN practice questions and answers
✓ Detailed answer rationales
, PCCN Practice Exam 2026 | Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | PCCN
Exam Prep
Question 1
Exam Coverage for PCCN Practice Exam includes progressive care
nursing concepts aligned with certification through:
A. American Nurses Association (ANA)
B. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
C. National League for Nursing (NLN)
D. American Heart Association (AHA)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The PCCN Practice Exam covers progressive care nursing
concepts aligned with certification through the American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This organization establishes the standards
and certification requirements for progressive care nursing. The exam
focuses on care of acutely ill adult patients in step-down or progressive
care units, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
,endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and multisystem conditions. ANA (A)
is a broader nursing organization, NLN (C) focuses on nursing education,
and AHA (D) focuses on cardiovascular care and resuscitation
guidelines.
Question 2
The nurse notes the following when analyzing a patient's telemetry
strip: HR 65/min and regular; PR interval 0.22 seconds; QRS complex
0.10 seconds; QTc 0.52 seconds. Which of the following dysrhythmias
is the patient at risk for?
A. Atrial fibrillation because the PR interval is wide
B. Sinus arrhythmia because the QRS complex is narrow
C. Torsades de pointes because the QTc is wide
D. Third-degree heart block because the PR interval is narrow
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: QT measurements reflect the duration of ventricular
repolarization. Lengthening of the QT interval is associated with
arrhythmias, adverse cardiac events, and increased mortality because a
longer QT duration places the vulnerable ventricular repolarization
phase close to the next depolarization, increasing the likelihood of R-
, on-T phenomenon. The most common arrhythmia that occurs with
prolonged QTc is torsades de pointes. A normal QTc is less than 0.44-
0.46 seconds; this patient's QTc of 0.52 seconds is significantly
prolonged. Atrial fibrillation (A) is not typically associated with
prolonged QT, sinus arrhythmia (B) is a normal variant related to
respiratory cycles, and third-degree heart block (D) is related to AV
node dysfunction, not QT prolongation.
Question 3
A patient is on V-tach, HR 135, RR 32, BP 90/48, conscious but
complains of dizziness, recent K+ level is 3.4. What action would you
do first?
A. Emergent defibrillation
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IVP
C. Emergent cardioversion
D. Hang 10 mEq KCL/50mL D5W
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This patient has unstable ventricular tachycardia evidenced
by hypotension (BP 90/48), dizziness, and tachycardia (HR 135). The
patient is conscious but symptomatic, indicating hemodynamic
