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AACN PCCNFree Progressive Care Certified Nurse practice test
10 real AACN PCCN practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 650questions whenever you’re ready. The AACN PCCN passing score is Criterion-referenced cut score on 100 scored items (set by AACN psychometricians).
A 10-year-old Native American girl is admitted to the PCU for management of severe asthma. When her condition stabilizes, her grandmother brings herbal licorice tea, a remedy common in their community. The nurse worries that the family may not adhere to the prescribed medication plan at home. To demonstrate cultural respect while protecting the patient's wellbeing, which action is BEST for the nurse to take?
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Q1. A 10-year-old Native American girl is admitted to the PCU for management of severe asthma. When her condition stabilizes, her grandmother brings herbal licorice tea, a remedy common in their community. The nurse worries that the family may not adhere to the prescribed medication plan at home. To demonstrate cultural respect while protecting the patient's wellbeing, which action is BEST for the nurse to take?
Correct answer: D. Invite the grandmother to share the benefits she believes the herbal tea provides, then educate her about the importance of following the prescribed medication regimen
Every family system is shaped by culture, religion, values, socioeconomic background, health beliefs, and communication patterns. Inviting the grandmother to explain the family's remedy acknowledges cultural differences in health beliefs while simultaneously providing the education needed for optimal treatment outcomes.
Q2. A 15-year-old alert and developmentally appropriate female is admitted to the progressive care unit for treatment of acute osteomyelitis. During your initial assessment, you realize you are unsure how to pronounce her name correctly. Her mother is at the bedside. What is the MOST appropriate action to promote patient-centered care?
Correct answer: C. Ask the patient directly how she prefers her name to be pronounced.
Adolescents who are alert and capable should be actively involved in their own care. Asking the patient how she prefers her name pronounced demonstrates respect, cultural sensitivity, and recognition of her autonomy. It supports therapeutic communication and patient-centered care. Even when a parent is present, a capable adolescent should remain the primary participant. Bypassing her diminishes autonomy and may undermine rapport. Guessing risks repeated mispronunciation and may be perceived as dismissive. Using informal terms such as 'sweetheart' is unprofessional and does not reflect individualized care.
Q3. A 20-year-old woman with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus is preparing for discharge. She accurately describes insulin injection steps but appears anxious and hesitant when holding the syringe, stating 'I'm afraid I'll make a mistake at home.' Which nursing action BEST ensures safe self-administration after discharge?
Correct answer: D. Have the patient perform an insulin injection while the nurse directly observes
Return demonstration is the most dependable method for evaluating psychomotor competency before discharge. Verbal description confirms cognitive knowledge but does not verify technical skill or confidence. Direct observation allows the nurse to assess injection site selection, needle angle, dose preparation, and safe disposal, and provides an opportunity for immediate correction. Written materials and verbal demonstrations remain passive and do not confirm competency. Follow-up education is beneficial but does not replace pre-discharge validation of safe performance.
Q4. A 28-year-old patient recovering in the progressive care unit after a motor vehicle collision requests that her seven-year-old son be allowed to visit. She is concerned the medical equipment might frighten him. Unit policy permits pediatric visitation with preparation. What is the MOST appropriate nursing action?
Correct answer: B. Arrange a structured visit that includes developmentally appropriate preparation and support
Family presence is an important component of patient-centered care. School-age children benefit from honest, simple explanations tailored to their developmental level. Preparing the child before the visit and maintaining a calm environment reduces anxiety and promotes healthy coping. Automatically delaying visitation may undermine family-centered care when the patient is stable. Video communication may be useful but should not replace in-person visits when safe and desired. Children often experience greater fear without preparation; age-appropriate support reduces distress more effectively than avoiding discussion.
Q5. A 40-year-old PCU nurse with 16 years of experience cares for an 82-year-old male with end-stage renal disease, heart failure, and advanced dementia. The patient's family has requested aggressive treatment despite the nurse's belief that it may prolong suffering without meaningful benefit to his quality of life. The nurse feels conflicted and significantly distressed because the treatments seem contrary to the patient's best interest. Which term BEST describes the suffering experienced when a nurse feels compelled to act in ways she believes are unethical?
Correct answer: C. Moral distress
Moral distress occurs when a healthcare provider knows the ethically appropriate action but feels unable to act due to external constraints such as policies, laws, or family wishes, resulting in frustration, guilt, and powerlessness. Burnout involves emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion from prolonged stress and is associated with detachment and reduced sense of accomplishment rather than ethical conflict. Compassion fatigue is characterized by diminished ability to empathize due to cumulative caregiving stress but does not specifically involve ethical conflict. An ethical dilemma involves choosing between two equally undesirable options and does not necessarily involve the suffering of being forced to act against one's beliefs.
Q6. A 55-year-old female with heart failure and diabetes mellitus is admitted to the PCU for uncontrolled diabetes management. During shift handover, the outgoing nurse reports she promised the patient her evening medications would be given on time, but was unable to fulfill this due to an emergency with another patient. The patient is dissatisfied with the delay and expresses concerns about her trust in nursing care. Which ethical principle describes the obligation to be faithful to promises and commitments made to patients?
Correct answer: A. Fidelity
Fidelity is the obligation to be faithful to promises and commitments made to patients, maintaining trust and meeting patient expectations. Beneficence involves promoting patient well-being through effective treatment and safety but does not specifically address fulfillment of promises. Nonmaleficence is the principle of avoiding harm to patients, focusing on preventing injury rather than keeping commitments. Autonomy refers to respecting patients' rights to make their own care decisions, which does not encompass the concept of providers keeping promises.
Q7. A 55-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus and advanced dementia is being discharged from the progressive care unit on insulin therapy with blood glucose monitoring and sliding scale coverage. She has a full-time live-in caregiver who manages her medications. Her daughter, who holds medical power of attorney, lives out of state and is departing today. Home health nursing will visit three times weekly. To ensure safe diabetes management after discharge, who should the nurse PRIORITIZE for hands-on insulin administration education before discharge?
Correct answer: C. The live-in caregiver
Effective discharge planning requires identifying who will be responsible for daily care. This patient's advanced dementia prevents safe self-administration of insulin. Though the daughter holds medical power of attorney, she does not provide daily care and will not be present for glucose monitoring or insulin administration. Home health visits are intermittent and cannot replace consistent daily management. The live-in caregiver is physically present for every dose and glucose check. Medical power of attorney grants decision-making authority but does not imply responsibility for hands-on care. Relying solely on home health teaching would create a safety gap.
Q8. A 60-year-old female patient admitted to the PCU with pulmonary disease speaks very little English, as does her family. Which action is MOST appropriate to help the patient and family understand what an evaluation for hypoxemia will involve?
Correct answer: B. Show the patient and family a simple printed brochure describing the evaluation, which includes a picture of a treadmill, and provide written simple instructions
Using a visually illustrated brochure with simple written instructions incorporates individualized education into patient care, involves the family, and is based on their needs and level of understanding. Explaining the procedure in English will not adequately facilitate understanding even with short sentences. While requesting a respiratory therapist to demonstrate could be useful, beginning with a picture-based brochure and simple instructions is the most appropriate first intervention. Assuming another provider will explain the procedure is not acceptable.
Q9. A 62-year-old male is admitted to the PCU following a myocardial infarction. He expresses concern about the number of healthcare providers accessing his medical information and entering his room without knocking. He asks about his rights regarding privacy and access to his personal health information. Which term describes the right of an individual to be free from unjustified or unnecessary access by others?
Correct answer: C. Privacy
Privacy is the right of individuals to be free from unjustified or unnecessary access by others, including the right to control personal information and bodily access. Confidentiality is the responsibility of healthcare providers to keep patient information secure from unauthorized disclosure. Autonomy is the right of patients to make decisions about their own healthcare. Informed consent involves ensuring patients are fully informed about and agree to the procedures and treatments they will undergo.
Q10. A 66-year-old male with terminal cancer has expressed a wish to discontinue treatment. His family insists on continuing all possible interventions. Which ethical principles are MOST likely in conflict in this situation?
Correct answer: D. Autonomy and beneficence
The conflict is between the patient's autonomy (his desire to discontinue treatment) and beneficence (the family's intention to continue treatment for his benefit). The nurse must balance respect for the patient's own wishes with the family's goal of acting in his best interest. Nonmaleficence and justice do not apply because this situation does not center on avoiding harm or equitable resource distribution. Justice and autonomy would be relevant if concerns about equal treatment were present. Beneficence and nonmaleficence relate to doing good versus avoiding harm but do not capture the core conflict, which is the patient's right to decide.
Exam facts and objectives sourced from the official AACN Certification Corporation certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
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