CCRN (ADULT) –QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*CORE DOMAINS*
*Cardiovascular: 18%*
*Respiratory: 17%*
*Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/Renal: 20%*
*Neurological/Musculoskeletal/Psychosocial: 13%*
*Multisystem: 14%*
*Professional Care and Ethical Practice: 18%*
*INTRODUCTION*
*The CCRN (Adult) assessment is designed to validate the knowledge, skills, a
judgment of nurses providing direct care to acutely and critically ill adult
The exam focuses on ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes through rigo
testing of pathophysiology, nursing interventions, and pharmacological manage
The structure utilizes both foundational multiple-choice questions and comple
scenario-based items to evaluate real-world application. Candidates are asses
on their ability to make rapid, evidence-based decisions under pressure, refl
the high-acuity environment of the intensive care unit. This comprehensive re
emphasizes critical thinking, ethical professional standards, and legal compl
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
, 1. A patient with a history of heart failure presents with acute onset shortness of
breath and pink frothy sputum. Which of the following is the priority intervention?
A. Administration of a beta-blocker
B. Initiation of fluid resuscitation
🟢 C. Administration of intravenous furosemide
D. Stat chest X-ray
🔴 RATIONALE: Pink frothy sputum and acute dyspnea are classic signs of acute
pulmonary edema. Diuretics are the first-line treatment to reduce preload and
alleviate pulmonary congestion.
2. Which hemodynamic parameter is most characteristic of early septic shock?
A. Increased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
🟢 B. Decreased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
C. Decreased Cardiac Output (CO)
D. Increased Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)
🔴 RATIONALE: Septic shock is a distributive shock characterized by massive
vasodilation, which results in a significantly decreased SVR.
, 3. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) shows: pH 7.25, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24.
What is the interpretation?
🟢 A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Compensated metabolic acidosis
C. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
D. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is normal, indicating no compensation has occurred yet.
4. When assessing a patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which of
the following represents Cushing’s Triad?
A. Tachycardia, hypotension, irregular respirations
B. Bradycardia, hypotension, tachypnea
🟢 C. Bradycardia, hypertension with widened pulse pressure, irregular respirations
D. Tachycardia, hypertension, Cheyne-Stokes respirations
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing’s Triad is a late sign of increased ICP and brainstem
herniation, consisting of bradycardia, hypertension with a widening pulse pressure,
and respiratory irregularity.
, 5. A patient on a mechanical ventilator suddenly develops absent breath sounds
on the right side and tracheal deviation to the left. What is the most likely
cause?
A. Right-sided pleural effusion
B. Right-sided pneumonia
🟢 C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Displaced endotracheal tube
🔴 RATIONALE: Tracheal deviation away from the affected side combined with
absent breath sounds is a hallmark sign of a life-threatening tension pneumothorax.
6. Which medication is the preferred initial treatment for a patient experiencing
status epilepticus?
A. Phenytoin
🟢 B. Lorazepam
C. Valproic Acid
D. Levetiracetam
🔴 RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines like lorazepam are the first-line treatment to stop
active seizure activity due to their rapid onset of action.
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*CORE DOMAINS*
*Cardiovascular: 18%*
*Respiratory: 17%*
*Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/Renal: 20%*
*Neurological/Musculoskeletal/Psychosocial: 13%*
*Multisystem: 14%*
*Professional Care and Ethical Practice: 18%*
*INTRODUCTION*
*The CCRN (Adult) assessment is designed to validate the knowledge, skills, a
judgment of nurses providing direct care to acutely and critically ill adult
The exam focuses on ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes through rigo
testing of pathophysiology, nursing interventions, and pharmacological manage
The structure utilizes both foundational multiple-choice questions and comple
scenario-based items to evaluate real-world application. Candidates are asses
on their ability to make rapid, evidence-based decisions under pressure, refl
the high-acuity environment of the intensive care unit. This comprehensive re
emphasizes critical thinking, ethical professional standards, and legal compl
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
, 1. A patient with a history of heart failure presents with acute onset shortness of
breath and pink frothy sputum. Which of the following is the priority intervention?
A. Administration of a beta-blocker
B. Initiation of fluid resuscitation
🟢 C. Administration of intravenous furosemide
D. Stat chest X-ray
🔴 RATIONALE: Pink frothy sputum and acute dyspnea are classic signs of acute
pulmonary edema. Diuretics are the first-line treatment to reduce preload and
alleviate pulmonary congestion.
2. Which hemodynamic parameter is most characteristic of early septic shock?
A. Increased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
🟢 B. Decreased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
C. Decreased Cardiac Output (CO)
D. Increased Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)
🔴 RATIONALE: Septic shock is a distributive shock characterized by massive
vasodilation, which results in a significantly decreased SVR.
, 3. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) shows: pH 7.25, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24.
What is the interpretation?
🟢 A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Compensated metabolic acidosis
C. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
D. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is normal, indicating no compensation has occurred yet.
4. When assessing a patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which of
the following represents Cushing’s Triad?
A. Tachycardia, hypotension, irregular respirations
B. Bradycardia, hypotension, tachypnea
🟢 C. Bradycardia, hypertension with widened pulse pressure, irregular respirations
D. Tachycardia, hypertension, Cheyne-Stokes respirations
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing’s Triad is a late sign of increased ICP and brainstem
herniation, consisting of bradycardia, hypertension with a widening pulse pressure,
and respiratory irregularity.
, 5. A patient on a mechanical ventilator suddenly develops absent breath sounds
on the right side and tracheal deviation to the left. What is the most likely
cause?
A. Right-sided pleural effusion
B. Right-sided pneumonia
🟢 C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Displaced endotracheal tube
🔴 RATIONALE: Tracheal deviation away from the affected side combined with
absent breath sounds is a hallmark sign of a life-threatening tension pneumothorax.
6. Which medication is the preferred initial treatment for a patient experiencing
status epilepticus?
A. Phenytoin
🟢 B. Lorazepam
C. Valproic Acid
D. Levetiracetam
🔴 RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines like lorazepam are the first-line treatment to stop
active seizure activity due to their rapid onset of action.
