AACN CRITICAL CARE NURSING EXAM (2025/2026 LATEST
VERSION) CURRENTLY TESTING RATIONALES GRADED A+
(with solutions)
Mission of AACN:
in 1975, AACN certification corp was est. as independent 501(c)(3) corp to promote and
enhance consumer health and safety by est. and maintaining high standard of professional
practice excellence through certifying and re-certifying nurse in care of acutely and C.I. pts
and their fams
What is CCRN?
critical care registered nurse
CCRNS ...
-treat critically ill and unstable pts
-staffed at 1:2 pts
-work in critical care intensive care, ER, PACU, RR, trauma unit, transport/flight nurses
PCCN are?
progressive Care nurses (PCCN)
,PCCN ....
work with acutely ill & mod stable pts w/ potential to become unstable
-stagged at 1:3-4 pts
-work in progressive care, telemetry, step-down, intermediate care, observation units,
cardiac Cath labs, cardiac rehab, and interventional radiology units
license for AACN?
current unencumbered US RN or APRN
Hours to qualify for AACN via 2 year option?
-practice as RN or APRN for 1750 hrs in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult to during
past 2 yrs. with 8745 hrs gathered over last year
Hours to qualify for AACN via 5 year option?
-practice as RN or APRN for at least 5 yrs with min 2000 hrs in direct care of
acutely/critically ill adult pts, with 144 of those hours gathered last year
other qualifications for AACN:
-must be completed in a US or Canada based facility, or facility comparable to US
standards of acute care nursing practice
-hrs must be verifiable by clinical supervisor or professional colleague
,-need to apply first to get hrs verified by AACN prior to registering for exam
CCRN app + exam:
-3 hr exam 150 Qs
-125 Q scored; 25 for stat data
-clinical judgement 80%
-professional caring & ethical practice 20%
Fee for CCRN:
AACN members: 245
non-AACN members: 360
PCCN app + exam:
-2.5 hr exam + 125 Qs
-100 Q graded; 25 Q for stat data
-clinical judgement 80%
-professional caring 20%
PCCN exam FEE:
AACN members: 195
non-AACN members: 300
, renewal of CCRN license:
-ccrn granted for 3 years beginning same month exam taken/passed
-eligibilty upon completion of 432 hrs of direct acute care as RN or APRN, with 144 of hrs in
last yr from scheduled renewal
-option 2: completion of required CERPs or pass CCRN exam again
PPCCN license renewal:
-pccn given for 3 years
-eligibility upon completion of 432 hrs as direct acute RN or APRN, 144 hrs over last year
-opt 2: completion of 100 continuing edu or pass PCCN exam again
Cellular respiration cannot be directly measured but is estimated by the amount of -
correct answer CO2 produced (V ̇ CO2)
̇ O2).
and the amount of O2 consumed (V
̇ CO2 - correct answer CO2 produced in celluar respiration
V
̇ O2 - correct answer and the amount of O2 consumed in cellular respiration
V
external respiration - correct answer The Exchange of O2 and CO2 at the alveolar-capillary
level. It is the ratio of the CO2 produced to the O2 taken up per minute.
̇ CO2/min : V
V ̇ O2/min
VERSION) CURRENTLY TESTING RATIONALES GRADED A+
(with solutions)
Mission of AACN:
in 1975, AACN certification corp was est. as independent 501(c)(3) corp to promote and
enhance consumer health and safety by est. and maintaining high standard of professional
practice excellence through certifying and re-certifying nurse in care of acutely and C.I. pts
and their fams
What is CCRN?
critical care registered nurse
CCRNS ...
-treat critically ill and unstable pts
-staffed at 1:2 pts
-work in critical care intensive care, ER, PACU, RR, trauma unit, transport/flight nurses
PCCN are?
progressive Care nurses (PCCN)
,PCCN ....
work with acutely ill & mod stable pts w/ potential to become unstable
-stagged at 1:3-4 pts
-work in progressive care, telemetry, step-down, intermediate care, observation units,
cardiac Cath labs, cardiac rehab, and interventional radiology units
license for AACN?
current unencumbered US RN or APRN
Hours to qualify for AACN via 2 year option?
-practice as RN or APRN for 1750 hrs in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult to during
past 2 yrs. with 8745 hrs gathered over last year
Hours to qualify for AACN via 5 year option?
-practice as RN or APRN for at least 5 yrs with min 2000 hrs in direct care of
acutely/critically ill adult pts, with 144 of those hours gathered last year
other qualifications for AACN:
-must be completed in a US or Canada based facility, or facility comparable to US
standards of acute care nursing practice
-hrs must be verifiable by clinical supervisor or professional colleague
,-need to apply first to get hrs verified by AACN prior to registering for exam
CCRN app + exam:
-3 hr exam 150 Qs
-125 Q scored; 25 for stat data
-clinical judgement 80%
-professional caring & ethical practice 20%
Fee for CCRN:
AACN members: 245
non-AACN members: 360
PCCN app + exam:
-2.5 hr exam + 125 Qs
-100 Q graded; 25 Q for stat data
-clinical judgement 80%
-professional caring 20%
PCCN exam FEE:
AACN members: 195
non-AACN members: 300
, renewal of CCRN license:
-ccrn granted for 3 years beginning same month exam taken/passed
-eligibilty upon completion of 432 hrs of direct acute care as RN or APRN, with 144 of hrs in
last yr from scheduled renewal
-option 2: completion of required CERPs or pass CCRN exam again
PPCCN license renewal:
-pccn given for 3 years
-eligibility upon completion of 432 hrs as direct acute RN or APRN, 144 hrs over last year
-opt 2: completion of 100 continuing edu or pass PCCN exam again
Cellular respiration cannot be directly measured but is estimated by the amount of -
correct answer CO2 produced (V ̇ CO2)
̇ O2).
and the amount of O2 consumed (V
̇ CO2 - correct answer CO2 produced in celluar respiration
V
̇ O2 - correct answer and the amount of O2 consumed in cellular respiration
V
external respiration - correct answer The Exchange of O2 and CO2 at the alveolar-capillary
level. It is the ratio of the CO2 produced to the O2 taken up per minute.
̇ CO2/min : V
V ̇ O2/min
