AACN Cardiac Surgery (CSC) exam (Adult) — Information & Free Practice

About AACN Cardiac Surgery (CSC) exam (Adult)

AACN Cardiac Surgery (CSC) exam (Adult) · US

Key exam facts

Provider

AACN Certification Corporation develops and governs CSC certification; PSI is its testing-service partner.

Format

Multiple-choice examination, delivered by computer at a testing center or through live remote proctoring.

Exam questions

Total questions: 90; Scored questions: 75; Unscored questions: 15; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.

Time limit

2 hours of examination time.

Passing score

A criterion-referenced raw-number cut score established by AACN's Score Evaluation Committee using modified Angoff standard setting; the November 19, 2026 revision's numerical cut score is not listed in the reviewed current score table.

Exam fee

Initial computer-based examination: USD 150 for AACN members or USD 240 for nonmembers; payable in US funds and subject to change.

Topics covered

• Procedures (9%)

  • Cardiovascular
  • Coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass
  • Coronary artery bypass graft surgery, off pump
  • Surgical valve repair or replacement
  • Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
  • Percutaneous structural heart interventions
  • Repair of non-congenital heart defects
  • Left atrial appendage closure (surgical)
  • Maze procedures
  • Pericardial window
  • Cardiothoracic
  • Endovascular repair of the aorta
  • Open repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection

• Complications (37%)

  • Cardiovascular
  • Cardiogenic shock
  • Hypotension and hypertension
  • Hypovolemia and hypervolemia
  • Bleeding
  • Myocardial infarction or ischemia
  • Myocardial stunning
  • Delayed sternal closure (open chest)
  • Pericarditis
  • Dysrhythmias
  • Right heart failure
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Vascular complications
  • Graft complications
  • Systolic anterior motion
  • Vasoplegia
  • Air embolus
  • Respiratory
  • Acute respiratory failure
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Transfusion reactions
  • Pleural space injury
  • Air-leak syndromes
  • Aspiration
  • Atelectasis
  • Pleural effusion
  • Prolonged mechanical ventilation (failure to wean)
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Hematologic / Immunologic
  • Protamine reactions
  • Coagulopathies
  • Anemia
  • Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
  • Thrombus and embolus
  • Neurologic
  • Postoperative impaired cognition
  • Cerebrovascular accident
  • Lower limb deficits
  • Delirium
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Ischemic bowel
  • Paralytic ileus
  • Renal
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Electrolyte imbalances
  • Multisystem
  • Multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome
  • Acute pain
  • Chronic pain
  • Acid-base imbalances
  • Malignant hyperthermia
  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
  • Behavioral / Psychosocial
  • Pre-existing behavioral health disorder
  • Substance use and withdrawal

• Therapeutic Interventions (43%)

  • Cardiovascular
  • Fluid volume management specific to cardiac surgery
  • Defibrillation and cardioversion
  • Emergent resternotomy
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac surgery patients
  • Temporary pacing
  • Intra-aortic balloon pump
  • Temporary ventricular assist devices
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
  • Pericardial and mediastinal drain
  • Pharmacology
  • Platelet inhibitors
  • Thrombolytics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Vasoactive agents
  • Antidysrhythmics
  • Inotropes
  • Diuretics
  • Beta-blockers
  • Antidyslipidemic agents
  • Agents to control bleeding
  • Pulmonary vasodilators
  • Sedatives
  • Neuromuscular blockade agents
  • Reversal agents
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Analgesics
  • Respiratory
  • Pleural chest tubes and drains
  • Invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation
  • Oxygen therapy delivery devices
  • Post-extubation care
  • Endocrine
  • Glycemic control
  • Hematologic
  • Blood and blood products
  • Neurologic
  • Multimodal pain management
  • Renal
  • Renal replacement therapy
  • Standards of Care
  • Deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis
  • Early mobility protocols
  • Gastrointestinal prophylaxis
  • Surgical site protocols
  • Recovery from anesthesia
  • Temperature management
  • Pneumonia prevention
  • Graft care and maintenance

• Monitoring and Diagnostics (11%)

  • Hemodynamic monitoring
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography (ECG)
  • Laboratory testing
  • Arterial blood gas (ABG)
  • Mixed venous gas
  • Pulse oximetry
  • End-tidal capnography (EtCO2)
  • Radiography

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• AACN CSC Test Plan

  p. 1, applicability

• AACN CSC Test Plan

  p. 1, Procedures heading

• AACN CSC Test Plan

  p. 1, Complications heading

• AACN CSC Test Plan

  p. 2, Therapeutic Interventions heading

• AACN CSC Test Plan

  p. 2, Monitoring and Diagnostics heading

• AACN Executive Summary of CSC Exam Development

  Executive Summary, Score Evaluation Committee

• AACN CSC Exam Handbook

  p. 1, Passing Point/Cut Score

• AACN Certification Exam Statistics and Cut Scores

  Exam Cut Scores, definition

• AACN CSC Exam Handbook

  p. 1, CSC Exam Content

• AACN Scheduling Your Exam

  Scheduling Your Exam, opening paragraph

• AACN Scheduling Your Exam

  Making Your Appointment

• AACN CSC Exam Handbook

  p. 3, CSC Fees, initial computer-based exam

• AACN CSC Exam Handbook

  p. 3, fee currency and conditions

• AACN Executive Summary of CSC Exam Development

  Executive Summary, passing standard

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