Progressive Care · AACN

PCCN practice questions, built for nurses.

Prepare for the Progressive Care Certified Nurse exam with 700 expert-written questions across all eleven AACN domains — weighted to the official AACN test plan, with a dashboard that shows exactly where to focus and a full exam simulation when you're ready.

Start practicing free See sample questions

Free quizzes to start · one-time unlock for the full bank · no subscription

700QUESTIONS

11DOMAINS

100%EXPERT-WRITTEN

FullEXAM SIM

About the PCCN exam

The PCCN certifies registered nurses who provide direct care to acutely ill adult progressive-care (step-down) patients — covering cardiovascular, pulmonary, and multisystem care plus professional caring and ethical practice.

Exam at a glance

Credentialing bodyAACN Certification Corporation

Format150 items (125 scored)

Time3 hours

DeliveryPSI centers / online proctored

Official detailsAACN ↗

What CertifyRN gives you

Question bank700 questions

Blueprint matchAll 11 domains, weighted

Weak-spot dashboardPer-domain tracking

Exam simulationReal timing + conditions

PricingFree to start · pay once

Domain breakdown

Your practice mix mirrors the official AACN PCCN test plan, so you study in the same proportions the exam tests.

Cardiovascular20%

Respiratory14%

Endocrine6%

Hematology / Immunology / Oncology3%

Neurology7%

Gastrointestinal7%

Renal4%

Musculoskeletal2%

Multisystem15%

Behavioral / Psychosocial3%

Professional Caring & Ethical Practice20%

Why nurses choose CertifyRN

Target your weak spots

A domain dashboard shows exactly where you're losing points, so study time goes where it counts.

Practice like the real thing

Full exam simulation mirrors the real PCCN timing and conditions — no surprises on test day.

Study anywhere

Progress syncs across all your devices instantly, so you can practice on any break.

Pay once.

No monthly subscription, no auto-renew. Unlock the full PCCN bank with a single one-time purchase — and keep it.

Try a couple of PCCN questions

Tap an answer to check it. Want more? See the full sample set ›

1. A progressive-care patient with a COPD exacerbation has increasing work of breathing, a pH of 7.31, and a PaCO2 of 58 mmHg. Which intervention is most appropriate before considering intubation?

Non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation (BiPAP)

Deep sedation to reduce the patient's anxiety

Immediate chest physiotherapy

Increasing oxygen to keep the saturation at 100%

A is correct. BiPAP reduces work of breathing and helps clear CO2 in a COPD exacerbation and can prevent intubation. Targeting 100% saturation risks worsening hypercapnia, and sedation depresses the respiratory drive.

2. A step-down patient develops new atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 150 and a stable blood pressure. What is the priority nursing action?

Prepare for immediate synchronized cardioversion

Administer a rate-controlling agent as ordered and monitor

Begin chest compressions

Withhold all cardiac medications until the rhythm resolves

B is correct. Stable atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response is managed with rate control and monitoring. Immediate cardioversion is reserved for hemodynamically unstable patients.

PCCN prep — frequently asked

Are these PCCN practice questions free?

Yes. You can practice PCCN questions for free to start. Unlocking the full 700-question bank and exam simulation is a one-time purchase — there is no subscription and no auto-renewal.

How many PCCN practice questions are included?

The PCCN bank has 700 expert-written questions distributed across all eleven AACN domains in line with the official test plan, so your practice mix mirrors the real exam blueprint.

Do the questions follow the current AACN PCCN test plan?

Yes. Questions are weighted to the official test plan: Cardiovascular 20%, Respiratory 14%, Endocrine 6%, Hematology / Immunology / Oncology 3%, Neurology 7%, Gastrointestinal 7%, Renal 4%, Musculoskeletal 2%, Multisystem 15%, Behavioral / Psychosocial 3%, and Professional Caring and Ethical Practice 20%.

Is CertifyRN affiliated with AACN?

No. CertifyRN is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by AACN Certification Corporation. PCCN is a registered trademark of its respective owner.

How does the weak-spot dashboard work?

As you practice, CertifyRN tracks performance by domain and shows which areas need the most work, so your study targets your weakest domains first. Full exam simulation mirrors real testing conditions.

CertifyRN is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or the AACN Certification Corporation. PCCN® is a registered trademark of its respective owner, used here for identification only. CertifyRN provides original practice materials and does not reproduce official exam content.