PCCN Certification

Progressive Care Certified Nursing (PCCN) is a certification in acute care nursing that is granted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

The exam that must be taken to obtain the PCCN certification consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and is timed at 2.5 hours; the test focuses on acutely ill adult patients. PCCN certification demonstrates to the general public a distinct knowledge of acute care nursing. The final score is tallied by the total number of questions answered correctly, but testers do not lose points for answering incorrectly. Of the 125 questions, 25 do not count towards the scoring of the exam but are used to develop future versions of the exam.

Take the Practice Tests:

• PCCN Certification Practice Test 1
• PCCN Certification Practice Test 2
• PCCN Certification Practice Test 3
• PCCN Certification Practice Test 4

The exam is divided into two main sections: the clinical judgment and the professional caring and ethical practice sections, weighted at 80 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

These two sections are further divided into more specific sections. The clinical judgment section is broken down into eight sections:

1. Cardiovascular (37 percent)
2. Pulmonary (13 percent)
3. Multisystem (6 percent)
4. Renal (6 percent)
5. Hematology / Immunology (5 percent)
6. Gastrointestinal (5 percent)
7. Endocrine (4 percent)
8. Neurology (4 percent).

The professional caring and ethical practice section has seven sections:

1. Caring practices (4 percent)
2. Collaboration (4 percent)
3. Facilitation of learning (4 percent)
4. Advocacy / Moral agency (2 percent)
5. Systems thinking (2 percent)
6. Response to diversity (2 percent)
7. Clinical inquiry (2 percent).

The PCCN exam is given both through a traditional paper and pencil method and through a computer-based test and is available to be taken five days a week, all through the year. The computer test is offered at Applied Measurement Professional, Inc. (AMP) assessment centers, which are located around the world, while the paper and pencil version can be taken through the National Teaching Institute (NTI).

Upon completion of the exam, test takers will be provided with an immediate computerized score, and a hard copy will be mailed in six to eight weeks. When a person has passed the exam, proof of PCCN certification will accompany the hard copy of the tests results.

Last Updated: 02/27/2013

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