PCCN Exam prep practice Questions || Most Recent
Exam 2026-2027 Actual Complete Real Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Expertly Verified Answers)
Already Graded A+ | Guaranteed Success!! Newest Exam
| Just Released!!
Which of the following findings is consistent with Pulsus
paradoxus?
A. Increase in SBP > 10 mm Hg during expiration
B. Decrease in SBP > 10 mm Hg during inspiration
C. Increase in SBP < 10 mm Hg during inspiration
D. Decrease in SBP < 10 mm Hg during expiration - ANSWER-B.
Decrease in SBP > 10 mm Hg during inspiration
A 50-year-old male patient presents with acute upper Gl
bleeding caused by H pylori. He also states a history of
coronary artery disease, Type Il diabetes mellitus, and
hypercholesterolemia. The provider has prescribed a
vasopressin infusion to control the bleeding. What potential
complications should the nurse anticipate?
A Hypokalemia and cerebral thrombosis
B. Microcytic anemia and tachycardia
C. Myocardial ischemia and hypertension
,D. Respiratory distress and hyperglycemia - ANSWER-C.
Myocardial ischemia and hypertension
A patient is admitted to the unit with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease complicated by acute pneumonia. The initial
ABG reveals a pH 7.34, PaCO, 49, and PaO, 63. The patient is on
oxygen at 40% via aerosol mask, Sao, is 91 %, the respiratory
rate is 28 and appears mildly labored. What is the most
appropriate action?
A. Titrate FiO, to maintain SaO, > 90%
B. Increase O, to 60% and recheck the ABG in 10 minutes
C. Phone the physician to request emergent intubation
D. Set up for continuous positive airway pressure - ANSWER-A.
Titrate FiOS, to maintain SaO2 > 90%
The patient is mildly acidotic, but PaCO2 remains <50 and
oxygenation is sufficient at this point. In a patient with COPD,
the goal is to maintain a PaO2
>60 and SpO2 around 90%
You've been caring for a 43-year-old male s/p colectomy for
colon cancer. You notice when his family comes to visit, he
stops conversing with you and doesn't engage or look at his
family.
Which psychological defense mechanism is he displaying?
A. Withdrawal
B. Repression
C. Regression
D. Sublimation - ANSWER-A. Withdrawal
,You are caring for a patient with a chest tube drain s/p thoracic
surgery. Upon assessing the system, you notice there are no
fluctuations with respirations occurring in the water seal
chamber.
What do suspect has happened?
A. Chest tube has pulled out
B. Suction tubing is disconnected from the system
C. Air has accumulated in the pleural space
D The chest tube is occluded or kinked - ANSWER-D. The chest
tube is occluded or kinked
Your newly admitted patient is experiencing increasing anxiety
after being told she would need to stay overnight in the
PCU. Which of the following interventions might help reduce
the patient's anxiety?
A• Foster dependent activities
B• Orient the patient to the unit and discuss the plan of care
C• Discourage problem solving
D• Seclude the patient from external stimulus - ANSWER-B•
Orient the patient to the unit and discuss the plan of care
The chance of regaining a pulse after ventricular fibrillation
depends on:
A• How quickly the patient was intubated
B• The cause of the arrest
C• How quickly the patient received defibrillation
, D• The amount of epinephrine administered - ANSWER-C• How
quickly the patient received defibrillation
A patient with pneumonia and no significant medical history
was extubated 12 hours ago and is currently on 4 L 0, via nasal
cannula. The patient complains of minor dizziness and the
nurse notes that the cardiac monitor is showing a regular
narrow complex tachycardia in Lead II & V,; heart rate is 182
bpm, blood pressure 94/62 (73), and SaO, 93%. The best
response is to:
A• Administer 1 mg epinephrine
B• Prepare the patient for sedation and cardioversion
C • Administer 6 mg adenosine rapidly IVP
D • Page the respiratory therapist STAT for reintubation
A - ANSWER-C • Administer 6 mg adenosine rapidly IVP
You are about to receive a patient with an acute Gl hemorrhage.
Which medication do you anticipate initiating first to help
decrease blood loss?
A - ANSWER-B. Octreotide
A patient who overdosed on metformin (Glucophage) was
admitted to the PCU for a dextrose infusion. The RN expects
the medication-induced hypoglycemia to begin resolving in:
A • 3 hours
B • 6 hours
C • 12 hours
Exam 2026-2027 Actual Complete Real Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Expertly Verified Answers)
Already Graded A+ | Guaranteed Success!! Newest Exam
| Just Released!!
Which of the following findings is consistent with Pulsus
paradoxus?
A. Increase in SBP > 10 mm Hg during expiration
B. Decrease in SBP > 10 mm Hg during inspiration
C. Increase in SBP < 10 mm Hg during inspiration
D. Decrease in SBP < 10 mm Hg during expiration - ANSWER-B.
Decrease in SBP > 10 mm Hg during inspiration
A 50-year-old male patient presents with acute upper Gl
bleeding caused by H pylori. He also states a history of
coronary artery disease, Type Il diabetes mellitus, and
hypercholesterolemia. The provider has prescribed a
vasopressin infusion to control the bleeding. What potential
complications should the nurse anticipate?
A Hypokalemia and cerebral thrombosis
B. Microcytic anemia and tachycardia
C. Myocardial ischemia and hypertension
,D. Respiratory distress and hyperglycemia - ANSWER-C.
Myocardial ischemia and hypertension
A patient is admitted to the unit with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease complicated by acute pneumonia. The initial
ABG reveals a pH 7.34, PaCO, 49, and PaO, 63. The patient is on
oxygen at 40% via aerosol mask, Sao, is 91 %, the respiratory
rate is 28 and appears mildly labored. What is the most
appropriate action?
A. Titrate FiO, to maintain SaO, > 90%
B. Increase O, to 60% and recheck the ABG in 10 minutes
C. Phone the physician to request emergent intubation
D. Set up for continuous positive airway pressure - ANSWER-A.
Titrate FiOS, to maintain SaO2 > 90%
The patient is mildly acidotic, but PaCO2 remains <50 and
oxygenation is sufficient at this point. In a patient with COPD,
the goal is to maintain a PaO2
>60 and SpO2 around 90%
You've been caring for a 43-year-old male s/p colectomy for
colon cancer. You notice when his family comes to visit, he
stops conversing with you and doesn't engage or look at his
family.
Which psychological defense mechanism is he displaying?
A. Withdrawal
B. Repression
C. Regression
D. Sublimation - ANSWER-A. Withdrawal
,You are caring for a patient with a chest tube drain s/p thoracic
surgery. Upon assessing the system, you notice there are no
fluctuations with respirations occurring in the water seal
chamber.
What do suspect has happened?
A. Chest tube has pulled out
B. Suction tubing is disconnected from the system
C. Air has accumulated in the pleural space
D The chest tube is occluded or kinked - ANSWER-D. The chest
tube is occluded or kinked
Your newly admitted patient is experiencing increasing anxiety
after being told she would need to stay overnight in the
PCU. Which of the following interventions might help reduce
the patient's anxiety?
A• Foster dependent activities
B• Orient the patient to the unit and discuss the plan of care
C• Discourage problem solving
D• Seclude the patient from external stimulus - ANSWER-B•
Orient the patient to the unit and discuss the plan of care
The chance of regaining a pulse after ventricular fibrillation
depends on:
A• How quickly the patient was intubated
B• The cause of the arrest
C• How quickly the patient received defibrillation
, D• The amount of epinephrine administered - ANSWER-C• How
quickly the patient received defibrillation
A patient with pneumonia and no significant medical history
was extubated 12 hours ago and is currently on 4 L 0, via nasal
cannula. The patient complains of minor dizziness and the
nurse notes that the cardiac monitor is showing a regular
narrow complex tachycardia in Lead II & V,; heart rate is 182
bpm, blood pressure 94/62 (73), and SaO, 93%. The best
response is to:
A• Administer 1 mg epinephrine
B• Prepare the patient for sedation and cardioversion
C • Administer 6 mg adenosine rapidly IVP
D • Page the respiratory therapist STAT for reintubation
A - ANSWER-C • Administer 6 mg adenosine rapidly IVP
You are about to receive a patient with an acute Gl hemorrhage.
Which medication do you anticipate initiating first to help
decrease blood loss?
A - ANSWER-B. Octreotide
A patient who overdosed on metformin (Glucophage) was
admitted to the PCU for a dextrose infusion. The RN expects
the medication-induced hypoglycemia to begin resolving in:
A • 3 hours
B • 6 hours
C • 12 hours
