1. Home
  2. AACN
  3. CCRN-Adult Exam Syllabus

AACN CCRN-Adult Exam Topics

AACN CCRN-Adult Exam Overview :

Exam Name: CCRN (Adult) – Direct Care Eligibility Pathway
Exam Code: CCRN-Adult
Certifications: AACN Certifications
Actual Exam Duration: 180 minutes
Expected no. of Questions in Actual Exam: 150
Exam Registration Price: $370
See Expected Questions: AACN CCRN-Adult Expected Questions in Actual Exam

AACN CCRN-Adult Exam Objectives :

Section Weight Objectives
I. CLINICAL JUDGMENT 80% A. Cardiovascular (17%)
1. Acute coronary syndrome:
a. NSTEMI
b. STEMI
c. Unstable angina
2. Acute peripheral vascular insufficiency:
a. Arterial/venous occlusion
b. Carotid artery stenosis
c. Endarterectomy
d. Fem-Pop bypass
3. Acute pulmonary edema
4. Aortic aneurysm
5. Aortic dissection
6. Aortic rupture
7. Cardiac surgery:
a. CABG
b. Valve replacement or repair
8. Cardiac tamponade
9. Cardiac trauma
10. Cardiac/vascular catheterization
11. Cardiogenic shock
12. Cardiomyopathies:
a. Dilated
b. Hypertrophic
c. Idiopathic
d. Restrictive
13. Dysrhythmias
14. Heart failure
15. Hypertensive crisis
16. Myocardial conduction system abnormalities
(e.g., prolonged QT interval, Wolff-ParkinsonWhite)
17. Papillary muscle rupture
18. Structural heart defects (acquired and
congenital, including valvular disease)
19. TAVR

B. Respiratory (15%)
1. Acute pulmonary embolus
2. ARDS
3. Acute respiratory failure
4. Acute respiratory infection (e.g., pneumonia)
5. Aspiration
6. Chronic conditions (e.g., COPD, asthma,
bronchitis, emphysema)
7. Failure to wean from mechanical ventilation
8. Pleural space abnormalities
(e.g., pneumothorax, hemothorax, empyema,
pleural effusions)
9. Pulmonary fibrosis
10. Pulmonary hypertension
11. Status asthmaticus
12. Thoracic surgery
13. Thoracic trauma (e.g., fractured rib, lung
contusion, tracheal perforation)
14. Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
C. Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/

Renal/Integumentary (20%)
1. Endocrine
a. Adrenal insufficiency
b. Diabetes insipidus (DI)
c. Diabetes mellitus, types 1 and 2
d. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
e. Hyperglycemia
f. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
g. Hyperthyroidism
h. Hypoglycemia (acute)
i. Hypothyroidism
j. SIADH
2. Hematology and Immunology
a. Anemia
b. Coagulopathies (e.g., ITP, DIC, HIT)
c. Immune deficiencies
d. Leukopenia
e. Oncologic complications (e.g., tumor lysis
syndrome, pericardial effusion)
f. Thrombocytopenia
g. Transfusion reactions
3. Gastrointestinal
a. Abdominal compartment syndrome
b. Acute abdominal trauma
c. Acute GI hemorrhage
d. Bowel infarction, obstruction, perforation
(e.g., mesenteric ischemia, adhesions)
e. GI surgeries (e.g., Whipple, esophagectomy
Endocrine/Hematology/Gastrointestinal/
Renal/Integumentary (cont.)
f. Hepatic failure/coma (e.g., portal
hypertension, cirrhosis, esophageal
varices, fulminant hepatitis, biliary atresia,
drug-induced)
g. Malnutrition and malabsorption
h. Pancreatitis
4. Renal and Genitourinary
a. Acute genitourinary trauma
b. Acute kidney injury (AKI)
c. Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
d. Infections (e.g., kidney, urosepsis)
e. Life-threatening electrolyte imbalances
5. Integumentary
a. Cellulitis
b. IV infiltration
c. Necrotizing fasciitis
d. Pressure injury
e. Wounds:
i. infectious
ii. surgical
iii. trauma
D. Musculoskeletal/Neurological/
Psychosocial (14%)
1. Musculoskeletal
a. Compartment syndrome
b. Fractures (e.g., femur, pelvic)
c. Functional issues (e.g., immobility, falls,
gait disorders)
d. Osteomyelitis
e. Rhabdomyolysis
2. Neurological
a. Acute spinal cord injury
b. Brain death
c. Delirium (e.g., hyperactive, hypoactive,
mixed)
d. Dementia
e. Encephalopathy
f. Hemorrhage:
i. intracranial (ICH)
ii. intraventricular (IVH)
iii. subarachnoid (traumatic or aneurysmal)
g. Increased intracranial pressure
(e.g., hydrocephalus)
h. Neurologic infectious disease (e.g., viral,
bacterial, fungal)
i. Neuromuscular disorders (e.g., muscular
dystrophy, CP, Guillain-Barré, myasthenia)
j. Neurosurgery (e.g., craniotomy, Burr holes)
k. Seizure disorders
l. Space-occupying lesions (e.g., brain
tumors)
m. Stroke:
i. hemorrhagic
ii. ischemic (embolic)
iii. TIA
n. Traumatic brain injury (TBI): epidural,
subdural, concussion
3. Behavioral and Psychosocial
a. Abuse/neglect
b. Aggression
c. Agitation
d. Anxiety
e. Suicidal ideation and/or behaviors
f. Depression
g. Medical non-adherence
h. PTSD
i. Risk-taking behavior
j. Substance use disorders (e.g., withdrawal,
chronic alcohol or drug dependence)

E. Multisystem (14%)
1. Acid-base imbalance
2. Bariatric complications
3. Comorbidity in patients with transplant history
4. End-of-life care
5. Healthcare-associated conditions (e.g., VAE,
CAUTI, CLABSI)
6. Hypotension
7. Infectious diseases:
a. Influenza (e.g., pandemic or epidemic)
b. Multi-drug resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA,
VRE, CRE)
8. Life-threatening maternal/fetal complications
(e.g., eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, postpartum
hemorrhage, amniotic embolism)
9. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
Multisystem (cont.)
10. Multisystem trauma
11. Pain: acute, chronic
12. Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS)
13. Sepsis
14. Septic shock
15. Shock states:
a. Distributive (e.g., anaphylactic, neurogenic)
b. Hypovolemic
16. Sleep disruption (including sensory overload)
17. Thermoregulation
18. Toxic ingestion/inhalations
(e.g., drug/alcohol overdose)
19. Toxin/drug exposure (including allergies)
II. PROFESSIONAL CARING & ETHICAL PRACTICE (20%) 20%  A. Advocacy/Moral Agency
B. Caring Practices
C. Response to Diversity
D. Facilitation of Learning
E. Collaboration
F. Systems Thinking
G. Clinical Inquiry
Official Information https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/ccrn-adult

Updates in the AACN CCRN-Adult Exam Topics:

AACN CCRN-Adult exam questions and practice test are the best ways to get fully prepared. Study4exam's trusted preparation material consists of both practice questions and practice test. To pass the actual  AACN Certifications CCRN-Adult  exam on the first attempt, you need to put in hard work on these questions as they cover all updated  AACN CCRN-Adult exam topics included in the official syllabus. Besides studying actual questions, you should take the  AACN CCRN-Adult practice test for self-assessment and actual exam simulation. Revise actual exam questions and remove your mistakes with the CCRN (Adult) – Direct Care Eligibility Pathway CCRN-Adult exam practice test. Online and Windows-based formats of the CCRN-Adult exam practice test are available for self-assessment.

Limited Time Offer

50%

Off

Get Premium CCRN-Adult Questions as Interactive Practice Test or PDF