This free PCCN cheat sheet squeezes the AACN Progressive Care Certified Nurse test plan into a printable rundown of what examiners test most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Back it with the rest of your free PCCN toolkit: the practice questions, study guide, and flashcards.
PCCN exam at a glance
- Questions: 150 items (125 scored + 25 unscored pretest)
- Time: 3 hours (computer-based)
- Passing standard: Pass/fail scaled score against a criterion-referenced cut score (modified Angoff); no fixed %
- Cost: ≈ $255 AACN member / $370 nonmember (verify on aacn.org)
- Certifying body: AACN Certification Corporation (recertify every 3 years)
What’s on the PCCN cheat sheet
- Cardiovascular (20%) — the single largest domain — ACS localization, lethal telemetry rhythms, heart failure, tamponade (Beck's triad), and hypertensive emergency.
- Multisystem (15%) & Respiratory (14%) — sepsis and shock states, the Hour-1 bundle, HAIs, plus ABG interpretation (ROME), ARDS, and impending respiratory failure.
- Neuro, GI, Endocrine, Renal & more — Neurology and GI (7% each), Endocrine (6%), Renal (4%), Heme/Immun/Onc and Behavioral (3% each), Musculoskeletal (2%) — DKA/HHS, stroke, hyperkalemia, GI bleed.
- Professional Caring & Ethical Practice (20%) — the eight AACN Synergy Model competencies — advocacy, caring practices, collaboration, systems thinking, and clinical inquiry.
How to use it in your final week
- Front-load Cardiovascular and Multisystem — together they are 35% of the exam, so ACS, telemetry rhythms, sepsis, and shock give you the most points per hour.
- Pair every review pass with timed practice: read one content-area block on the sheet, then drill that area so recognition-to-action stays fast.
- Drill the 20% Professional Caring and Ethical Practice category — the Synergy Model competencies are easy points most nurses skip.
- Do a final morning-of scan of the memory hooks — Beck's triad, the Hour-1 sepsis bundle order, ROME for ABGs, and the critical lab ranges.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your PCCN practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
PCCN cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the PCCN cheat sheet downloads as a PDF with no sign-up and no payment. It sits alongside Career Employer's free PCCN practice questions, study guide, and flashcards, so you can cram from the sheet and immediately drill what you review.
It condenses the AACN test plan into a quick reference: the 80% Clinical Judgment body-system weights led by Cardiovascular (20%) and Multisystem (15%), the 20% Professional Caring and Ethical Practice category, the eight Synergy Model competencies, telemetry rhythm recognition, sepsis and shock red flags, and the critical lab and ABG ranges.
It reflects the revised PCCN test plan that took effect February 6, 2024 — the current domain weights and the Synergy Model framework the exam is built on. We check it against the published AACN handbook so the facts match what you will actually be tested on.
No — the PCCN is 150 scenario-based items scored against a criterion-referenced cut score, so it rewards applied clinical judgment over memorized facts. Use the sheet to lock in the high-yield recall, then build reasoning with full-length, explained practice questions.
Click the download button or the preview card at the top of this page and the PDF opens instantly. Bookmark the page so it is easy to find again the week before your AACN exam date.
References
- 1.AACN Certification Corporation. “PCCN Adult Exam Handbook & Test Plan (effective Feb 6, 2024).” American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 2026. ↑
- 2.AACN Certification Corporation. “PCCN (Adult) — Get Certified.” American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 2026. ↑
- 3.American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. “AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care.” AACN, 2026. ↑
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