PCCN EXAM QUESTION BANK 2025 ACTUAL o o o o o
EXAM 120+ QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIF o o o o o
IED ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+ |GUAR
o o o o o o o
ANTEED PASS o
Which of the following heart sounds is most suggestive of mitral regurgitation
o o o o o o o o o o o
A. diastolic murmur o
B. extra heart sound heard late in diastole
o o o o o o
C. pansystolic murmur o
D. snap heard after S2 -o o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > C. The type of systolic murmur isholosystolic (also called
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
pansystolic), because the amplitude is high throughout systole. This type of mur
o o o o o o o o o o o
mur is caused by mitral or tricuspid regurgitation. In pt with hemodynamically si
o o o o o o o o o o o o
gnificant primary mitral regurgitation, the left ventricular pressure remains high
o o o o o o o o o
er than the left atrial pressure throughout systole. This explains the onset of a pa
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
nsystolic murmur with an S3 gallop.
o o o o o
A pt reports chest pain that is sharp, constant, worse when lying down and alleviate
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
d with sitting up and leaning forward. The most likely cause of thesefindings is
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. ACS
B. pericarditis
C. PE
D. AAA - o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardialsac. The
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
damaged epicardium becomes rough and inflamed and irritates the pericardium
o o o o o o o o o
lying adjacent to it, precipitating pericarditis. Pain is the most
o o o o o o o o o o
,common symptom of pericarditis. The pain is sharp, constant and is alleviated
o o o o o o o o o o o o
when sitting up and leaning forward.
o o o o o
A pt with a history of IV drug abuse is admitted with a fever and a grade III/VI sys
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
tolic murmur. The patient develops sudden dyspnea and anxiety. Chest ausculta
o o o o o o o o o o
tion reveals a loud holosystolic murmur and crackles. Which of the ff isthe most li
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
kely cause o
A. Mitral valve insufficiency o o
B. ventricular aneurysm formation o o
C. Heart failure o
D. hemopericardium with tamponade - o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. This pt has a risk factor (IV drug abuse) and symptoms
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
of endocarditis, which is common in IVdrug abusers because of the nonsterile inj
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ection into the nervous system. Whilethe tricuspid valve is most typically affecte
o o o o o o o o o o o o
d, involvement of the mitral and aortic valves can occur.
o o o o o o o o o
A pt tells a nurse, "I don't know how I'm going to pay for this hospitalization." Then
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
urse should o
A. arrange a meeting with hospital social services staff
o o o o o o o
B. Notify the business office so a payment plan can be designed
o o o o o o o o o o
C. redirect the pt toward meeting psychologic needs
o o o o o o
D. give the pt applications for public assistance medical coverage -
o o o o o o o o o
o✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. Collaboration with a social worker is indicated in this c
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ase the socialworker can assist the pt in identifying ways to address the financial
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
implications of this hospitalization and help identify methods of payments.
o o o o o o o o o
A cardiac pt with with DNR status is being managed medically. The nurse notes anew
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
cough, thick yellow sputum and a temperature of 101.4 (38.4) Coarse
o o o o o o o o o o o
,crackles are present in the right upper field. The nurse should most immediatelyanti
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
cipate
A. blood and sputum cultures followed by a broad spectrum abx
o o o o o o o o o
B. mucolytics and judicious IV fluid administration o o o o o
C. an antyipyretic and conservative management
o o o o
D. NPO status and encouragement of frequent activity - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
o o o o o o o o o o o
A. This pt symptoms are consistent with pneumonia. Management should includ
o o o o o o o o o o
e abx therapy, oxygen therapy for hypoxemia, mechanical ventilation if acute re
o o o o o o o o o o o
spiratory failure develops, fluid management for hydration, nutritionalsupport, a
o o o o o o o o o
nd treatment of associated medical problems and complications.
o o o o o o o
Which of the ff findings is most indicative of a ruptured aortic aneurysm
o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. Back pain o
B. bounding peripheral pulses o o
C. intermittent claudication o
D. warm, flushed skin - o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. An aneurysm is the localized dilation of an artery. Sho
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
uld an aneurysm rupture, blood will build up under pressure in the tissues surrou
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
nding the aorta, which can result in acute pain andtenderness in these areas. Thi
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
s is particularly the case if the aneurysm leaks from the back of the aorta. Ruptur
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ed AAA presents with a classic triad of pain inthe flank or back, hypotension and
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
a pulsatile abdominal mass; however, only about half of the full triad. The pt will
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
complain of the pain and may feel cold, sweaty and faint on standing. The pt ma
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
y also report abdominal pain. A small percentage may have vomiting
o o o o o o o o o o
According to recommendations based on research findings, pain assessment
o o o o o o o o o
should occur o
A. based on changes in vital signs o o o o o
, B. only when the pt movements indicate the pt is seeking attention
o o o o o o o o o o
C. routinely, regardless of physical findings o o o o
D. only when the presence of pain can be validated -
o o o o o o o o o
o✔✔✔ Correct Answer > C.Pain is considered the fifth vital sign and must be as
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
sessed regularly. Presenceof physical findings may be part of the comprehensi
o o o o o o o o o o o
ve assessment of pain. However, physical findings may not be present in all pat
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ients with pain o o
A pt with a tracheostomy requires frequent suctioning for thick sputum, A nurse fin
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ds a colleague instilling saline in the endotracheal tube prior to suctioning. Themost
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
appropriate response by the nurse would be to o o o o o o o
A. report the colleague to the charge nurse or manager
o o o o o o o o
B. noted the practice on the pt chart to ensure consistency of suctioningt
o o o o o o o o o o o o
echniques
C. ask the attending physician to review the suctioning policy.
o o o o o o o o
D. collaborate with the colleague to review the evidence about this practice. -
o o o o o o o o o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > D. In addition to an unappreciable increase in sputum re
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
covery, use of NS adversely affects arterial and global tissue oxygenation and disl
o o o o o o o o o o o o
odges bacterial colonies, thus contributing to lower airway contamination. Other
o o o o o o o o o
oharmful pt outcomes have been reported in the nursing literature, including del
o o o o o o o o o o o
ays in return to baseline vital signs, Spo2 and intracranial pressure. Because no s
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
olid scientifically based benefits for routine use of normal saline have been show
o o o o o o o o o o o o
n, it is highly recommended that this potentially harmful practice be abandoned.
o o o o o o o o o o o o
Instead, treatment considerations should center on ways to prevent the develop
o o o o o o o o o o
ment of thick tenacious secretions. A review of these data should take place with
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
othe colleague to help mitigate continuation ofthis dangerous practice
o o o o o o o o o
Upon admission to the PCU, you screen a pt to determine whether to administera
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
n influenza vaccine. Which of the following is a contraindication to the vaccine?
o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. Guillian-Barre syndrome o
EXAM 120+ QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIF o o o o o
IED ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+ |GUAR
o o o o o o o
ANTEED PASS o
Which of the following heart sounds is most suggestive of mitral regurgitation
o o o o o o o o o o o
A. diastolic murmur o
B. extra heart sound heard late in diastole
o o o o o o
C. pansystolic murmur o
D. snap heard after S2 -o o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > C. The type of systolic murmur isholosystolic (also called
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
pansystolic), because the amplitude is high throughout systole. This type of mur
o o o o o o o o o o o
mur is caused by mitral or tricuspid regurgitation. In pt with hemodynamically si
o o o o o o o o o o o o
gnificant primary mitral regurgitation, the left ventricular pressure remains high
o o o o o o o o o
er than the left atrial pressure throughout systole. This explains the onset of a pa
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
nsystolic murmur with an S3 gallop.
o o o o o
A pt reports chest pain that is sharp, constant, worse when lying down and alleviate
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
d with sitting up and leaning forward. The most likely cause of thesefindings is
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. ACS
B. pericarditis
C. PE
D. AAA - o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardialsac. The
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
damaged epicardium becomes rough and inflamed and irritates the pericardium
o o o o o o o o o
lying adjacent to it, precipitating pericarditis. Pain is the most
o o o o o o o o o o
,common symptom of pericarditis. The pain is sharp, constant and is alleviated
o o o o o o o o o o o o
when sitting up and leaning forward.
o o o o o
A pt with a history of IV drug abuse is admitted with a fever and a grade III/VI sys
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
tolic murmur. The patient develops sudden dyspnea and anxiety. Chest ausculta
o o o o o o o o o o
tion reveals a loud holosystolic murmur and crackles. Which of the ff isthe most li
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
kely cause o
A. Mitral valve insufficiency o o
B. ventricular aneurysm formation o o
C. Heart failure o
D. hemopericardium with tamponade - o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. This pt has a risk factor (IV drug abuse) and symptoms
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
of endocarditis, which is common in IVdrug abusers because of the nonsterile inj
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ection into the nervous system. Whilethe tricuspid valve is most typically affecte
o o o o o o o o o o o o
d, involvement of the mitral and aortic valves can occur.
o o o o o o o o o
A pt tells a nurse, "I don't know how I'm going to pay for this hospitalization." Then
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
urse should o
A. arrange a meeting with hospital social services staff
o o o o o o o
B. Notify the business office so a payment plan can be designed
o o o o o o o o o o
C. redirect the pt toward meeting psychologic needs
o o o o o o
D. give the pt applications for public assistance medical coverage -
o o o o o o o o o
o✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. Collaboration with a social worker is indicated in this c
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ase the socialworker can assist the pt in identifying ways to address the financial
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
implications of this hospitalization and help identify methods of payments.
o o o o o o o o o
A cardiac pt with with DNR status is being managed medically. The nurse notes anew
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
cough, thick yellow sputum and a temperature of 101.4 (38.4) Coarse
o o o o o o o o o o o
,crackles are present in the right upper field. The nurse should most immediatelyanti
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
cipate
A. blood and sputum cultures followed by a broad spectrum abx
o o o o o o o o o
B. mucolytics and judicious IV fluid administration o o o o o
C. an antyipyretic and conservative management
o o o o
D. NPO status and encouragement of frequent activity - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
o o o o o o o o o o o
A. This pt symptoms are consistent with pneumonia. Management should includ
o o o o o o o o o o
e abx therapy, oxygen therapy for hypoxemia, mechanical ventilation if acute re
o o o o o o o o o o o
spiratory failure develops, fluid management for hydration, nutritionalsupport, a
o o o o o o o o o
nd treatment of associated medical problems and complications.
o o o o o o o
Which of the ff findings is most indicative of a ruptured aortic aneurysm
o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. Back pain o
B. bounding peripheral pulses o o
C. intermittent claudication o
D. warm, flushed skin - o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. An aneurysm is the localized dilation of an artery. Sho
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
uld an aneurysm rupture, blood will build up under pressure in the tissues surrou
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
nding the aorta, which can result in acute pain andtenderness in these areas. Thi
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
s is particularly the case if the aneurysm leaks from the back of the aorta. Ruptur
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ed AAA presents with a classic triad of pain inthe flank or back, hypotension and
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
a pulsatile abdominal mass; however, only about half of the full triad. The pt will
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
complain of the pain and may feel cold, sweaty and faint on standing. The pt ma
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
y also report abdominal pain. A small percentage may have vomiting
o o o o o o o o o o
According to recommendations based on research findings, pain assessment
o o o o o o o o o
should occur o
A. based on changes in vital signs o o o o o
, B. only when the pt movements indicate the pt is seeking attention
o o o o o o o o o o
C. routinely, regardless of physical findings o o o o
D. only when the presence of pain can be validated -
o o o o o o o o o
o✔✔✔ Correct Answer > C.Pain is considered the fifth vital sign and must be as
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
sessed regularly. Presenceof physical findings may be part of the comprehensi
o o o o o o o o o o o
ve assessment of pain. However, physical findings may not be present in all pat
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ients with pain o o
A pt with a tracheostomy requires frequent suctioning for thick sputum, A nurse fin
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
ds a colleague instilling saline in the endotracheal tube prior to suctioning. Themost
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
appropriate response by the nurse would be to o o o o o o o
A. report the colleague to the charge nurse or manager
o o o o o o o o
B. noted the practice on the pt chart to ensure consistency of suctioningt
o o o o o o o o o o o o
echniques
C. ask the attending physician to review the suctioning policy.
o o o o o o o o
D. collaborate with the colleague to review the evidence about this practice. -
o o o o o o o o o o o
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > D. In addition to an unappreciable increase in sputum re
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
covery, use of NS adversely affects arterial and global tissue oxygenation and disl
o o o o o o o o o o o o
odges bacterial colonies, thus contributing to lower airway contamination. Other
o o o o o o o o o
oharmful pt outcomes have been reported in the nursing literature, including del
o o o o o o o o o o o
ays in return to baseline vital signs, Spo2 and intracranial pressure. Because no s
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
olid scientifically based benefits for routine use of normal saline have been show
o o o o o o o o o o o o
n, it is highly recommended that this potentially harmful practice be abandoned.
o o o o o o o o o o o o
Instead, treatment considerations should center on ways to prevent the develop
o o o o o o o o o o
ment of thick tenacious secretions. A review of these data should take place with
o o o o o o o o o o o o o
othe colleague to help mitigate continuation ofthis dangerous practice
o o o o o o o o o
Upon admission to the PCU, you screen a pt to determine whether to administera
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
n influenza vaccine. Which of the following is a contraindication to the vaccine?
o o o o o o o o o o o o
A. Guillian-Barre syndrome o
