2025 Adult CCRN® Exam Blueprint Updates
Adult CCRN® Exam Premium
The AACN has announced changes for the Adult CCRN Exam blueprint, beginning in November 2025. The test makers note that current test preparation materials remain “relevant and useful” for those taking this exam on or after November 2025. Barron’s Adult CCRN Exam Premium remains an invaluable resource, providing detailed content review and practice that largely reflects the updated exam blueprint and focuses on topics most likely to be seen on the Adult CCRN exam.
Please see below for more detailed information regarding the blueprint changes. For the latest information, please visit the AACN website.
Note: The exam format, as well as the application process, have not changed.
The updated exam blueprint sections and percentages are as follows:
Section | % of Test |
|---|---|
Clinical Judgement | 80% |
Cardiovascular | 13% |
Respiratory | 12% |
Multisystem | 16% |
Neurological | ~12% |
Gastrointestinal | ~7% |
Renal/Genitourinary | ~5% |
Endocrine | ~5% |
Hematology/Immunology | ~2% |
Behavioral/Psychosocial | ~3% |
Integumentary | ~2% |
Musculoskeletal | ~3% |
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice | 20% |
Advocacy/Moral Agency | ~3% |
Caring Practices | ~4% |
Clinical Inquiry | ~4% |
Collaboration | ~4% |
Facilitation of Learning | ~2% |
Response to Diversity | ~1% |
Systems Thinking | ~2% |
* The number of Cardiovascular questions and Respiratory questions have both decreased.
** The number of Multisystem questions and Neurological questions have both increased slightly.
***Hemodynamics is a part of the Cardiovascular section on the Adult CCRN exam blueprint. However, since Respiratory Concepts and Multisystem Concepts also include hemodynamics, hemodynamics is often studied as a separate chapter.
****The percentages and number of questions in each category may vary slightly from test to test. (For a more detailed breakdown of the specific topics covered within each section of the blueprint, go to www.aacn.org.)
Exam Update Details
- The AACN is transitioning to the use of only generic drugs and will soon no longer use trade names in test questions.
- New Cardiovascular topics: cardiac infection, inflammatory diseases, and pericardiocentesis.
- New Multisystem topics: fluid imbalances, electrolyte imbalances (covered in the Renal/Genitourinary chapter of the Barron’s book), rhabdomyolysis (covered in the Musculoskeletal chapter of the Barron’s book), adult failure to thrive, and obesity-related complications
- Multisystem topic that has been removed: severe sepsis
- New Neurological topics: neurogenic shock, neurological storming, and ALS
- New Hematology/Immunology topic: tumor lysis syndrome
- New Behavioral/Psychosocial topics: mini-mental status tool (dementia) and PICS
- New Integumentary topic: skin failure
CCRN® is a registered trademark of AACN Certification Corporation, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.