PCCN COMPREHENSIVE STUDY PAPER
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉The nurse has a 32 year old female patient with a diagnosis of
major depressive disorder. The patient tells the nurse that she
wishes every night that she could go to sleep and never wake up. She
also tells the nurse that she has been thinking that it would be easy
to take a whole bottle of Tylenol "to end my pain forever." What is
the MOST appropriate intervention for the nurse to take?
A. Encourage the patient to engage in psychotherapy when she is
ready to talk about her feelings.
B. Ensure that the patient's physical environment is safe and free of
objects that could be used to harm herself
C. Remind the patient to take her scheduled medications
D. Tell the patient to take some time alone to process her thoughts
and feelings. Answer: B. Ensure that the patient's physical
environment is safe and free of objects that could be used to harm
herself
Feedback
The nurse should identify that the most important thing when
working with a patient who is expressing suicidal ideology is patient
,safety; this begins with the patient's physical environment and
ensuring that there is nothing that the patient can access that can be
used to harm themselves.
◉A telemetry nurse is caring for a 59-year-old male patient who is
being evaluated for non-specific cardiac symptoms. Just after the
nurse arrives in the patient's room to administer the morning
medications, the patient loses consciousness. The cardiac monitor
reveals third-degree AV heart block with ventricular escape beats at
38 beats per minute (bpm). The nurse should:
A. Prepare to initiate transcutaneous pacing
B. Administer atropine 0.5 mg IV
C. Prepare the patient for cardioversion
D. Administer adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IV push. Answer:
A. Prepare to initiate transcutaneous pacing
Feedback
Third-degree heart block with a slow ventricular escape rhythm that
is not sufficient to keep a patient alert should be immediately
addressed by transcutaneous pacing to provide adequate brain
perfusion (and perfusion of other organs). Medications should be
administered per ACLS protocols or as directed by a health care
practitioner.
◉The nurse is educating a 24 year old patient who has been
diagnosed with diabetic gastroparesis. The nurse teaches the patient
,that which of the following lifestyle modifications will be helpful and
appropriate?
A. Drink carbonated beverages regularly
B. Eat a diet high in insoluble fiber
C. Eat fewer, larger meals every day
D. Ensure well-controlled blood glucose levels. Answer: D. Ensure
well-controlled blood glucose levels
Feedback
The nurse should know that ensuring well-controlled blood glucose
levels is one of the most helpful strategies for diabetic gastroparesis.
The other three strategies listed are all contraindicated and can
make the condition worse.
◉The nurse is providing discharge education to a 47 year old male
patient who was admitted for acute alcohol withdrawal. The patient
tells the nurse that his intent is to pursue outpatient treatment for
alcohol use disorder. Which of the following teaching points is
appropriate for this patient?
A. Alcoholics Anonymous is the only support group that will really
help a "true" alcoholic
B. Eat a diet rich in leafy greens, legumes, citrus, and whole grains
C. It is important to continue to spend time with old friends and
social circles to establish a pattern of familiarity
, D. Stop any new therapy or medication right away if the patient does
not feel that it is beneficial. Answer: B. Eat a diet rich in leafy greens,
legumes, citrus, and whole grains
Feedback
The nurse should recall that patients who chronically abuse alcohol
are usually deficient in folate, and the listed foods are rich in folate
and will help the patient replenish their nutrients.
◉A nurse is caring for a patient with a recent history of an ischemic
(embolic) stroke. To evaluate the patient's current status, the nurse
uses the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). This
scale evaluates eleven separate items, which include all of the
following EXCEPT:
A. Language skills
B. Hearing response
C. Limb ataxia
D. Horizontal eye movements. Answer: B. Hearing response
Feedback
The eleven items evaluated on the NIHSS include level of
consciousness, horizontal eye movement, visual field test, facial
palsy, motor arm, motor leg, limb ataxia, sensory loss, language
skills, speech, and extinction/inattention. Hearing is not directly
tested, although several items require the patient to follow verbal
directions. The scale advises certain point levels for patients who are
normally deaf or mute, and suggests alternate methods of testing
certain items on the scale.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉The nurse has a 32 year old female patient with a diagnosis of
major depressive disorder. The patient tells the nurse that she
wishes every night that she could go to sleep and never wake up. She
also tells the nurse that she has been thinking that it would be easy
to take a whole bottle of Tylenol "to end my pain forever." What is
the MOST appropriate intervention for the nurse to take?
A. Encourage the patient to engage in psychotherapy when she is
ready to talk about her feelings.
B. Ensure that the patient's physical environment is safe and free of
objects that could be used to harm herself
C. Remind the patient to take her scheduled medications
D. Tell the patient to take some time alone to process her thoughts
and feelings. Answer: B. Ensure that the patient's physical
environment is safe and free of objects that could be used to harm
herself
Feedback
The nurse should identify that the most important thing when
working with a patient who is expressing suicidal ideology is patient
,safety; this begins with the patient's physical environment and
ensuring that there is nothing that the patient can access that can be
used to harm themselves.
◉A telemetry nurse is caring for a 59-year-old male patient who is
being evaluated for non-specific cardiac symptoms. Just after the
nurse arrives in the patient's room to administer the morning
medications, the patient loses consciousness. The cardiac monitor
reveals third-degree AV heart block with ventricular escape beats at
38 beats per minute (bpm). The nurse should:
A. Prepare to initiate transcutaneous pacing
B. Administer atropine 0.5 mg IV
C. Prepare the patient for cardioversion
D. Administer adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IV push. Answer:
A. Prepare to initiate transcutaneous pacing
Feedback
Third-degree heart block with a slow ventricular escape rhythm that
is not sufficient to keep a patient alert should be immediately
addressed by transcutaneous pacing to provide adequate brain
perfusion (and perfusion of other organs). Medications should be
administered per ACLS protocols or as directed by a health care
practitioner.
◉The nurse is educating a 24 year old patient who has been
diagnosed with diabetic gastroparesis. The nurse teaches the patient
,that which of the following lifestyle modifications will be helpful and
appropriate?
A. Drink carbonated beverages regularly
B. Eat a diet high in insoluble fiber
C. Eat fewer, larger meals every day
D. Ensure well-controlled blood glucose levels. Answer: D. Ensure
well-controlled blood glucose levels
Feedback
The nurse should know that ensuring well-controlled blood glucose
levels is one of the most helpful strategies for diabetic gastroparesis.
The other three strategies listed are all contraindicated and can
make the condition worse.
◉The nurse is providing discharge education to a 47 year old male
patient who was admitted for acute alcohol withdrawal. The patient
tells the nurse that his intent is to pursue outpatient treatment for
alcohol use disorder. Which of the following teaching points is
appropriate for this patient?
A. Alcoholics Anonymous is the only support group that will really
help a "true" alcoholic
B. Eat a diet rich in leafy greens, legumes, citrus, and whole grains
C. It is important to continue to spend time with old friends and
social circles to establish a pattern of familiarity
, D. Stop any new therapy or medication right away if the patient does
not feel that it is beneficial. Answer: B. Eat a diet rich in leafy greens,
legumes, citrus, and whole grains
Feedback
The nurse should recall that patients who chronically abuse alcohol
are usually deficient in folate, and the listed foods are rich in folate
and will help the patient replenish their nutrients.
◉A nurse is caring for a patient with a recent history of an ischemic
(embolic) stroke. To evaluate the patient's current status, the nurse
uses the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). This
scale evaluates eleven separate items, which include all of the
following EXCEPT:
A. Language skills
B. Hearing response
C. Limb ataxia
D. Horizontal eye movements. Answer: B. Hearing response
Feedback
The eleven items evaluated on the NIHSS include level of
consciousness, horizontal eye movement, visual field test, facial
palsy, motor arm, motor leg, limb ataxia, sensory loss, language
skills, speech, and extinction/inattention. Hearing is not directly
tested, although several items require the patient to follow verbal
directions. The scale advises certain point levels for patients who are
normally deaf or mute, and suggests alternate methods of testing
certain items on the scale.
