The PCCN Exam – Actual Questions with Answers (2025/2026 Update)

THEPCCNEXAM(ACTUAL2025-2026)QUESTIONS
WITHANSWERS
Which electrolytes pose the most potential hazard if not within no
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rmal limits for the person with acute kidney failure?
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- <<<Answers>>>Potassium and calcium
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peaked T- I



waves and a widening of the QRS interval in a pt with AKI are indi
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cative of: - <<<Answers>>>d. hyperkalemia.
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A patient presents with the following: HR, 120 beats/min; BP, 80/
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44 mm Hg; urine output averaging 20 mL/hr over the last 4 hours; a
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febrile; moist rales in the lungs bilaterally; BUN, 84 mg/dL; creati
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nine, 3.4 mg/dL. What is the probable cause of this patient's acute
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kidney injury (AKI)? - I I I



<<<Answers>>>Left ventricular failure causing prerenal AKI I I I I I




To determine whether edema in a patient's hands is due to circulat
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ory compromise or another cause, the nurse might: -
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<<<Answers>>>elevate the patient's extremities for 1 hour and I I I I I I I I



observe the degree of edema still present. I I I I I I




Hypovolemia causes tachycardia and : - I I I I I



<<<Answers>>>hypotension.


To avoid the complications that can result from administering furo
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semide (Lasix) to stimulate urinary output, the nurse will carefull
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y monitor: -
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<<<Answers>>>levels of electrolytes, especially potassium.
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, THE PCCN EXAM (ACTUAL 2024- I I I I



2025) QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS I I I



Which dialysis method would be most appropriate for the hemody
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namically stable patient in the anuric phase of acute kidney injury (
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AKI)? - <<<Answers>>>Intermittent hemodialysis
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What are complications of continuous renal replacement therapy
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(CRRT)? - I



<<<Answers>>>Air embolism, decreased inflow pressure, elect
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rolyte imbalance I




What type of formula would be most appropriate for a patient with
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acute pancreatitis? - <<<Answers>>>Low fat
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A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 32 would be considered
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: - <<<Answers>>>obese
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Diet therapy for a hypertensive person 1 day after a myocardial in
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farction would include all the following except:I I I I I I



- <<<Answers>>>a fluid-restricted diet.
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Kwashiorkor malnutrition results in: - I I I I



<<<Answers>>>low levels of serum proteins, low lymphocyte c
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ount, and hair loss.I I I




Significant laboratory and clinical findings in the nutritional asses
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sment of patient with cardiovascular disease include: -
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<<<Answers>>>b. elevated low- I I



density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased subcutaneo
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us fat. I

, THE PCCN EXAM (ACTUAL 2024- I I I I



2025) QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS I I I




Serum proteins serve the function of: -
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<<<Answers>>>maintaining osmotic pressure. I I




A patient on mechanical ventilation is receiving total parenteral
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nutrition (TPN). Why is appropriate caloric intake important? -
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<<<Answers>>>Excessive calorie intake can cause an increase
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in PaCO2.
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How does AKI cause acidosis? -
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<<<Answers>>>Decreased urine output impairs potassium excr
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etion. The resulting hyperkalemia causes a shift in H+, the accumu
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lation results in acidosis I I I




A patient with severe abdominal pain for the last week presents w
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ith elevated amylase, lipase, and a rigid abdomen. What do you su
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spect? - <<<Answers>>>pancreatitis
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How is acute pancreatitis treated? -
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<<<Answers>>>hydration, electrolyte balance, nutrition and pai I I I I I



n control
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What procedure measures heart pressure and diagnoses pulmonar
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y hypertension? - <<<Answers>>>right-
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sided heart catheterization; provides measurements of right atriu
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m, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary artery occlus
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ive pressure I

, THE PCCN EXAM (ACTUAL 2024- I I I I



2025) QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS I I I



Why does lowering fever improve prognosis in stroke pts? -
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<<<Answers>>>Increased metabolic demands, enhanced I I I I



neurotransmitter release, and increased free radicals may in I I I I I I I



crease stroke mortality. I I




What is a contraindication to administer nitroglycerin to a pt with a
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right ventricular infarction? -
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<<<Answers>>>nitroglycerin reduces preload, and pts with a RV I I I I I I I



I are preload dependent
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What are six risk factors for delirium? -
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<<<Answers>>>cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, dehyd I I I I



ration, immobility, hearing impairment, vision impairment
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What does a pericardial friction rub sound like? -
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<<<Answers>>>grating sound with s1 and s2 Norm I I I I I I




al PR interval - <<<Answers>>>0.12-
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0.20 normal QRS - <<<Answers>>>0.04-0.10
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complications of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IAPB). - I I I I I I I



<<<Answers>>>Thrombocytopenia, aortic dissection and septic I I I I



emia