PCCN STUDY GUIDE 2026: 140 QUESTIONS AND
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS | GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED PASS!!
Absolute contraindications for rtPA
- answer-Acute intracranial hemorrhage (& H/O)
Severe uncontrolled HTN
Bleeding w/in 3 months
Surgeries w/in 3 months
Serious head trauma or stroke w/in 3 months
Thromboyctopenia (<100,000/mm3) or coagulopathy (prolonged aPTT)
LMWH use
Direct thrombin inhibitor use (dabigatran, argatroban)
Factor Xa inhibitors (Apixaban, rivaroxaban)
Severe hyper/hypoglycemia
Anion gap (how to calculate; normal range)
- answer-Difference between the concentrations of serum cations (Na, K) and
anions (Cl, HCO3).
5-15 mEq/L
ARDS criteria
- answer-Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on CXR
Crackles
P/F ratio </= 300
Decreased compliance
Refractory hypoxemia
Low expired minute volume
Beck's triad
- answer-(A major sign of cardiac tamponade)
JVD
HOTN
Muffled heart sounds
,Brudzinski's sign
- answer-Neck flexion --> pain and involuntary flexion of hip/knee when lying
supine.
Characteristics of psychogenic seizures
- answer-Prolonged (> 5 minutes)
Eyes closed
No cyanosis develops
Cullen's sign
- answer-Ecchymosis in umbilical area.
Seen with necrotizing pancreatitis, abdominal trauma, aortic rupture.
DIC treatment principles
- answer-Fix the underlying problem (i.e. sepsis, trauma, obstetric complications)
Replace clotting factors (platelet & cryoprecipitate transfusion) to mitigate
bleeding
ECG changes with hyperkalemia
- answer-Tall and peaked T waves
Prolonged PR intervals
Flat or absent P waves
Widened QRS
*Bradycardia, conduction blocks, ventricular fibrillation may occur
ECG changes with hypokalemia & hypomagnesemia
- answer-U waves
Depressed ST segment
Prolonged QT interval
Flattened T waves
PVCs (with risk for VT)
EKG axis deviation- how to determine normal, right, and left
- answer-Leads I and aVF form a perfect x and y axis to determine direction of
electrical axis.
I & aVF: QRS positive --> normal axis
I & aVF: QRS negative --> extreme right axis deviation
, I QRS negative, aVF QRS positive --> right axis deviation
I QRS positive, aVF QRS negative --> left axis deviation
Erikson's stages of development: middle adulthood (40-60)
- answer-Conflicts: generatively vs self-absorption & stagnation
Developmental tasks: develops new satisfaction as mate, supportive to/develops
unity with mate, raises offspring, takes pride in accomplishments of family,
balances work and other roles (assists aging parents), achieves social and civic
responsibility, accepts physical changes of middle age, makes an art of friendship,
blanches leisure with service pursuits, further develops personal philosophy.
Erikson's stages of development: older adulthood
- answer-Conflicts: integrity vs despair
Developmental tasks: continued self-development, adapts to family
responsibilities; maintains self-work, pride, usefulness; deals with loss of spouse,
friends, and upcoming end to life.
Erikson's stages of development: young adulthood (18-40)
- answer-Conflicts: intimacy vs self-isolation/self-absorption
Developmental tasks: accepts self, establishes independence, establishes a career,
learns to appraise/express love responsibly, establishes intimate bond with another,
establishes/manages a residence, develops a social group, makes decision on
option of a family, formulates philosophy on life, establishes role in community.
Grey-Turner's sign
- answer-Bruising in flank area (lower back area), indicative of a peritoneal bleed.
Hemodialysis is indicated for which medication ODs?
- answer-Aspirin
Lithium
Methanol
Ethylene glycol
How do ACE-I work?
- answer-They prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II --> reduces
aldosterone secretion --> water and sodium are excreted (potassium is preserved) --
> reduced circulating volume, intra-cardiac pressures and venous pressures.
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS | GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED PASS!!
Absolute contraindications for rtPA
- answer-Acute intracranial hemorrhage (& H/O)
Severe uncontrolled HTN
Bleeding w/in 3 months
Surgeries w/in 3 months
Serious head trauma or stroke w/in 3 months
Thromboyctopenia (<100,000/mm3) or coagulopathy (prolonged aPTT)
LMWH use
Direct thrombin inhibitor use (dabigatran, argatroban)
Factor Xa inhibitors (Apixaban, rivaroxaban)
Severe hyper/hypoglycemia
Anion gap (how to calculate; normal range)
- answer-Difference between the concentrations of serum cations (Na, K) and
anions (Cl, HCO3).
5-15 mEq/L
ARDS criteria
- answer-Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on CXR
Crackles
P/F ratio </= 300
Decreased compliance
Refractory hypoxemia
Low expired minute volume
Beck's triad
- answer-(A major sign of cardiac tamponade)
JVD
HOTN
Muffled heart sounds
,Brudzinski's sign
- answer-Neck flexion --> pain and involuntary flexion of hip/knee when lying
supine.
Characteristics of psychogenic seizures
- answer-Prolonged (> 5 minutes)
Eyes closed
No cyanosis develops
Cullen's sign
- answer-Ecchymosis in umbilical area.
Seen with necrotizing pancreatitis, abdominal trauma, aortic rupture.
DIC treatment principles
- answer-Fix the underlying problem (i.e. sepsis, trauma, obstetric complications)
Replace clotting factors (platelet & cryoprecipitate transfusion) to mitigate
bleeding
ECG changes with hyperkalemia
- answer-Tall and peaked T waves
Prolonged PR intervals
Flat or absent P waves
Widened QRS
*Bradycardia, conduction blocks, ventricular fibrillation may occur
ECG changes with hypokalemia & hypomagnesemia
- answer-U waves
Depressed ST segment
Prolonged QT interval
Flattened T waves
PVCs (with risk for VT)
EKG axis deviation- how to determine normal, right, and left
- answer-Leads I and aVF form a perfect x and y axis to determine direction of
electrical axis.
I & aVF: QRS positive --> normal axis
I & aVF: QRS negative --> extreme right axis deviation
, I QRS negative, aVF QRS positive --> right axis deviation
I QRS positive, aVF QRS negative --> left axis deviation
Erikson's stages of development: middle adulthood (40-60)
- answer-Conflicts: generatively vs self-absorption & stagnation
Developmental tasks: develops new satisfaction as mate, supportive to/develops
unity with mate, raises offspring, takes pride in accomplishments of family,
balances work and other roles (assists aging parents), achieves social and civic
responsibility, accepts physical changes of middle age, makes an art of friendship,
blanches leisure with service pursuits, further develops personal philosophy.
Erikson's stages of development: older adulthood
- answer-Conflicts: integrity vs despair
Developmental tasks: continued self-development, adapts to family
responsibilities; maintains self-work, pride, usefulness; deals with loss of spouse,
friends, and upcoming end to life.
Erikson's stages of development: young adulthood (18-40)
- answer-Conflicts: intimacy vs self-isolation/self-absorption
Developmental tasks: accepts self, establishes independence, establishes a career,
learns to appraise/express love responsibly, establishes intimate bond with another,
establishes/manages a residence, develops a social group, makes decision on
option of a family, formulates philosophy on life, establishes role in community.
Grey-Turner's sign
- answer-Bruising in flank area (lower back area), indicative of a peritoneal bleed.
Hemodialysis is indicated for which medication ODs?
- answer-Aspirin
Lithium
Methanol
Ethylene glycol
How do ACE-I work?
- answer-They prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II --> reduces
aldosterone secretion --> water and sodium are excreted (potassium is preserved) --
> reduced circulating volume, intra-cardiac pressures and venous pressures.
