PCCN Certification Review Course Syllabus

This in-depth exploration of content areas identified on the most current PCCN test plan supports progressive care nurses in preparing for their certification exam. The course includes test-taking strategies, case studies and practice questions with rationales, plus CEs upon completion.

Module 1: Test-Taking Tips
  • Test-taking strategies
  • Applying for the exam
  • Taking the exam
Module 2: Respiratory
  • Pulmonary anatomy and physiology review
  • Basic assessment
  • Respiratory monitoring
  • Acid-base balance
  • Respiratory depression
  • Respiratory failure
  • Airway management and oxygen therapies
  • Restrictive lung disorders
  • Pneumonia
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Connective tissue lung disorders
  • Obstructive lung disorders
  • Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
  • Asthma
  • Sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea
  • Pulmonary emboli (PE)
  • Thoracic surgery
    • Postoperative care and concerns
  • Pleural space complications
Module 3: Endocrine
  • Endocrine anatomy and physiology review
  • Diabetes mellitus type I and type II
  • Acute hypoglycemia
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
  • Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
  • Diabetes insipidus
  • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
  • Thyroid disorders
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Hyperthyroidism
Module 4: Hematology
  • Hematology
    • Hematopoietic system review
    • Anemia
    • Blood product refusal
    • Drug-induced coagulopathies
    • Coagulation
    • Bleeding disorders
    • Anticoagulants
    • Antiplatelets
    • Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
    • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
  • Immunology
    • Autoimmune disorders
      • Lupus
      • Immunosuppression
      • Guillain-Barre syndrome
      • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
      • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Oncology
    • Oncologic emergencies
      • Tumor lysis syndrome
      • Pericardial effusion
Module 5: Neurology
  • Neurological anatomy and physiology review
  • Assessment
  • Delirium
  • Dementia
  • Stroke
    • Ischemic stroke
    • Hemorrhagic stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Penumbra
  • Encephalopathy
  • Seizures
  • Brain tumors
  • Brain abscess
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Neurological drains and common neurological procedures
    • Postoperative care and concerns
Module 6: Gastrointestinal
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) anatomy and physiology review
  • Assessment
  • GI bleeding
    • Lower GI bleeding
    • Upper GI bleeding
  • Organ dysfunction
    • Liver
      • Function and enzymes
      • Liver function tests (LFTs)
      • Liver dysfunction
      • Liver failure
    • Pancreas
      • Function and enzymes
      • Acute pancreatitis
  • Malnutrition
  • Disorders of the bowel
  • Functional GI disorders
  • GI surgery
    • Postoperative care and concerns
  • Care of the bariatric patient
Module 7: Renal
  • Renal anatomy and physiology review
  • Assessment
  • Acute kidney injury (AKI)
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • Renal replacement therapy (RRT)
  • Electrolyte imbalances
    • Sodium
      • Hyponatremia
      • Hypernatremia
    • Potassium
      • Hypokalemia
      • Hyperkalemia
    • Calcium
      • Hypocalcemia
      • Hypercalcemia
    • Magnesium
      • Hypomagnesemia
      • Hypermagnesemia
Module 8: Multisystem and Musculoskeletal
  • Multisystem
    • Pain
    • Wound management and healing
    • Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs)
    • Toxic exposure
    • Shock
      • Classifications
        • Hypovolemic
        • Anaphylactic
        • Cardiogenic (see Module:12 Cardiac Complications section)
        • Septic
      • Stages of shock
  • Musculoskeletal
    • Musculoskeletal structure and function review
    • Falls
    • Rhabdomyolysis
  • Palliative care
  • End-of-life care
  • Pandemic management
Module 9: Heart Failure
  • Cardiac anatomy and function review
  • Assessment
  • Heart failure (HF)
    • Signs and symptoms
    • Classifications
    • Management of HF
  • Cardiomyopathy
Module 10: Acute Coronary Syndromes
  • Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
  • Chest pain
    • Cardiac assessment
    • Noncardiac causes
    • Nonischemic causes
  • ACS Continuum
  • Biochemical cardiac markers
  • Unstable angina
  • Acute myocardial infarctions (MIs)
    • NSTEMI
    • STEMI
    • Diagnostics, management and treatment
Module 11: CV Pharmacology and Hemodynamic Monitoring
  • Hemodynamic monitoring
    • Determinants of cardiac output (CO)
    • Monitoring equipment
      • Invasive vs noninvasive
    • CV Pharmacology
      • Autonomic regulation
        • Sympathetic vs parasympathetic
      • Vasoactive agents
      • Inotropic agents
Module 12: Cardiac Complications
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Fluid dynamics
    • Cardiogenic
    • Noncardiogenic
  • Aortic aneurysms
  • Acute aortic dissection
  • Hypertensive crisis
    • Hypertensive emergency
    • Hypertensive urgency
  • Valvular heart disease
    • Aortic valve abnormalities
    • Mitral valve abnormalities
  • Vascular disease
    • Peripheral vascular disease
    • Peripheral vascular insufficiency
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Dysrhythmias
Module 13: Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
  • AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care
  • Caring and ethical practices
    • Ethical principles
      • Patient autonomy
      • Justice
      • Veracity
      • Fidelity
      • Beneficence
      • Nonmaleficence
      • Paternalism
    • Moral concepts
      • Respect for persons
      • Justice
      • Values
      • Rights
    • Family theories
      • Nancy C. Molter
      • Margaret Epperson
Module 14: Behavioral and Psychosocial
  • Psychosocial assessment
  • Behavioral issues
    • Disruptive behaviors
      • Aggression
      • Violence
    • Psychological disorders
      • Depression
      • Anxiety disorders
    • Suicidal ideation
    • Substance use disorder
      • Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
    • Nursing considerations when caring for patients with mental illness or substance use disorder