AACN Adult CCRN® test plan
The blueprint, with coverage
The exam launched in its current form on November 12, 2025: 150 questions (125 scored), 80% Clinical Judgment and 20% Professional Caring & Ethical Practice. Weights and topic lists below are transcribed from the AACN test plan; topics link to the modules that cover them.
Source: AACN Adult CCRN Exam Handbook / test plan and the AACN announcement of the revised exams.
I. Clinical Judgment 80%
A. Cardiovascular 13%
- Acute coronary syndromeEKG
- Aortic aneurysm, dissection, rupture (thoracic, abdominal)queued
- Cardiac infection and inflammatory diseasesqueued
- Cardiac surgery & cardiac traumaqueued
- Cardiac tamponadequeued
- Cardiac / vascular catheterizationHemodynamics
- Cardiogenic shock & cardiomyopathyPressorsHemodynamics
- DysrhythmiasPressorsEKG
- Heart failure & hypertensive crisisPressorsHemodynamics
- Myocardial conduction system defects (e.g., prolonged QT, Wolff-Parkinson-White)EKG
- Structural heart defects (acquired and congenital, including valvular disease)EKG
- Vascular disorders and interventions (stents, fem-pop bypass, carotid endarterectomy)queued
B. Respiratory 12%
- Acute pulmonary edema & acute pulmonary embolusVentilation
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) & acute respiratory failureVentilation
- Acute respiratory infection (e.g., pneumonia)queued
- Chronic conditions (COPD, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema)Ventilation
- Mechanical ventilation complicationsVentilation
- Pleural space abnormalities (pneumothorax, hemothorax, empyema, pleural effusions)queued
- Pulmonary hemorrhage & pulmonary hypertensionqueued
- Status asthmaticusVentilation
- Thoracic / airway trauma & thoracic surgeryqueued
C. Endocrine, Hematology/Immunology, Gastrointestinal, Renal/Genitourinary, Integumentary 21%
- Endocrine: adrenal insufficiency, DI, DM types 1 & 2, DKA, hyperglycemia, HHS, SIADH, thyroid disordersqueued
- Hematology/Immunology: anemia, autoimmune disorders (lupus, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré), coagulopathies (ITP, DIC, HIT), myelosuppression, oncologic complications (tumor lysis syndrome), transfusion reactions (TRALI, TACO)queued
- Gastrointestinal: abdominal compartment syndrome, trauma, GI hemorrhage, bowel infarction/obstruction/perforation, GI surgeries, hepatic failure/coma, liver disease, malnutrition, pancreatitis, peritonitisqueued
- Renal / Genitourinary: AKI, ATN, CKD, infections (urosepsis)queued
- Integumentary: cellulitis, IV infiltration, necrotizing fasciitis, pressure injury, skin failure, woundsqueued
D. Musculoskeletal, Neurological, Behavioral/Psychosocial 18%
- Musculoskeletal: compartment syndrome, fractures, muscular deconditioning, traumaqueued
- Neurological: acute spinal cord injury, brain death, encephalopathy, stroke (hemorrhagic, ischemic), hydrocephalus, neurogenic shock, infectious disease, neurological storming, neuromuscular disorders, neurosurgery, neurovascular abnormalities, seizure disorders, space-occupying lesions, spinal surgeries, TBIqueued
- Behavioral/Psychosocial: agitation, anti-social behaviors/violence, delirium, medical non-adherence, mood disorders, PICS, PTSD, self-harm, substance use disorder, suicidal ideationqueued
E. Multisystem 16%
- Acid-base & fluid/electrolyte imbalancesHemodynamicsEKG
- Anoxic injury, burns, comorbidities in transplants, palliative / end-of-life care, failure to thrivequeued
- Healthcare-associated infections & infectious diseasesqueued
- Life-threatening maternal/fetal complications (eclampsia, HELLP, placental abruption/previa)queued
- MODS, obesity-related complications, pain, rhabdomyolysis, sepsis, shock states (distributive, obstructive)PressorsHemodynamics
- Sleep disruption, submersion injuries, SIRS, thermoregulation, toxic ingestion/exposuresqueued
II. Professional Caring and Ethical Practice 20%
A. Synergy Model nurse characteristics 20%
- Advocacy / moral agencyqueued
- Caring practicesqueued
- Clinical inquiryqueued
- Collaborationqueued
- Facilitation of learningqueued
- Response to diversityqueued
- Systems thinkingqueued