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Created by Laura Williams, MSN, RN, CCRN-CMC-CSC, PCCN, and AACN Sepsis Micro-Credential — a critical care registered nurse with advanced cardiac certifications (CCRN-CMC-CSC) and broad clinical experience — this self-paced guide gives you rigorous, blueprint-aligned PCCN exam prep. OFFICIAL PCCN EXAM BLUEPRINT | AACN Certification Corporation | July 2026 Source: AACN Certification Corporation. (2026). Certification Exam Handbooks. https://www.aacn.org/certhandbooks FORMAT: 150 multiple-choice items | 3 hours | 125 scored + 25 unscored | Effective February 6, 2024 SECTION I: CLINICAL JUDGMENT — 80% 1A. CARDIOVASCULAR — 20%: Acute coronary syndromes (NSTEMI, STEMI, unstable angina) | Acute inflammatory disease (myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis) | Aneurysms | Cardiac surgery (post ICU care) | Cardiac tamponade | Cardiac/vascular catheterization | Cardiogenic shock | Cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, Takotsubo) | Dysrhythmias | Heart failure (acute and chronic) | Hypertension/hypertensive crisis | Structural heart procedures (TAVR, mitral clip) | Valvular heart disease | Vascular disease 2A. RESPIRATORY — 14%: ARDS | Severe asthma | COPD exacerbation | VATS | Sleep apnea (obstructive, central) | Pleural space complications | Pulmonary embolism | Pulmonary fibrosis | Pulmonary hypertension | Respiratory failure (acute, chronic, failure to wean) | Pneumonia | Thoracic surgery 3A. ENDOCRINE — 6%: DM | DKA | HHS | SIADH | DI | Hyperglycemia | Hypoglycemia | Thyroid disorders 3B. HEMATOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/ONCOLOGY — 3%: Anemia | Coagulopathies (medication-induced, HIT) | Autoimmune disorders (lupus, GBS, ALS, MS) 3C. NEUROLOGY — 7%: Encephalopathy | Seizure disorders | Stroke | TBI | Space-occupying lesions | Altered mental status | Delirium | Dementia 3D. GASTROINTESTINAL — 7%: GI motility disorders | GI bleed (upper/lower) | C. difficile | GI surgeries | Bariatric surgery | Hepatic disorders | Ischemic bowel | Malnutrition | Pancreatitis 3E. RENAL — 4%: AKI | CKD | Electrolyte imbalances | ESRD 4A. MUSCULOSKELETAL — 2%: Immobility/falls/gait | Compartment syndrome 4B. MULTISYSTEM — 15%: End-of-life | HAIs (CAUTI, CLABSI, SSI, HAP) | Infectious diseases (influenza, MRSA, VRE) | Pain | Palliative care | Pressure injuries | Rhabdomyolysis | Sepsis | Shock (anaphylactic, hypovolemic) | Toxic ingestion | Wounds | Alcohol/substance withdrawal 4C. BEHAVIORAL/PSYCHOSOCIAL — 3%: Disruptive behaviors | Anxiety/depression | Substance use disorder SECTION II: PROFESSIONAL CARING & ETHICAL PRACTICE — 20% Advocacy/Moral Agency | Caring Practices | Response to Diversity | Facilitation of Learning | Collaboration | Systems Thinking | Clinical Inquiry AACN SYNERGY MODEL: Synergy results when patient needs match nurse competencies. Patient characteristics: Resiliency, Vulnerability, Stability, Complexity, Resource Availability, Participation in Care, Participation in Decision-Making, Predictability. Nurse competencies: Clinical Judgment, Advocacy/Moral Agency, Caring Practices, Collaboration, Systems Thinking, Response to Diversity, Facilitation of Learning, Clinical Inquiry. EXAM POLICIES (Source: AACN Certification Exam Policy Handbook, 2026) Eligibility: Current unencumbered U.S. RN/APRN license. Two-year option: 1,750 hours direct care of acutely ill adults over 2 years (875 in most recent year). Five-year option: 2,000 hours over 5 years (144 in most recent year). Scheduling: At least 24 hours in advance. Cancel/reschedule up to 48 hours prior without penalty. Scoring: Results on-screen immediately. Score report emailed within 24 hours. Cut score is a raw number, not a percentage. Retakes: Up to 4 times in a rolling 12-month period. Certification Period: 3 years. Renewal options: 100 CERPs (categories A, B, C) | Renewal by exam | Inactive status (3 additional years). 90-day grace period to renew, but CERPs/hours must be earned during the 3-year period. Credential: Laura Williams, RN, PCCN PCCN EXAM BIBLIOGRAPHY (Selected references used for item validation) Burns SM, Delgado SA. AACN Essentials of Progressive Care Nursing. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2023. Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2023. Hardin SR, Kaplow R. Synergy for Clinical Excellence. 2nd ed. Jones & Bartlett; 2017. Hartjes TM, ed. Core Curriculum for Progressive and Critical Care Nursing. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. Helming MA et al. Dossey & Keegan's Holistic Nursing. 8th ed. Jones & Bartlett; 2020. Libby P et al. Braunwald's Heart Disease. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. Morton PG, Thurman P. Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach. 12th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2023. Sole ML, Klein DG, Moseley MJ. Introduction to Critical Care Nursing. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2020. Urden LD, Stacy KM, Lough ME. Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2021. Full bibliography: AACN Certification Corporation. (2026). PCCN Exam Handbook. https://www.aacn.org/certhandbooks Contact AACN: 800-899-2226 | certification@aacn.org | www.aacn.org/certification
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