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AACN CCRN-Adult Exam Syllabus

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Before starting your CCRN-Adult exam preparation, it is recommended to review the complete AACN CCRN (Adult) - Direct Care Eligibility Pathway exam syllabus and carefully go through the exam objectives listed below. Once you understand the exam structure and objectives, you should practice using our free CCRN-Adult questions. We also provide premium CCRN-Adult practice test, fully updated according to the latest exam objectives, to help you accurately assess your preparedness for the 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

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