PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for CMC

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
Exam pass rate: 71.31% (2025, first-time)
170+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More AACN Nursing Certifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

CCRN Adult Critical Care Nurse

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards1 video3 blogs

PCCN Progressive Care Certified Nurse

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards2 blogs

AACN CCRN Pediatric Critical Care Nurse

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards1 blog

AACN CCRN Neonatal Critical Care Nurse

Practice Questions

AACN ACCNS-AG Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS

Practice Questions

AACN ACCNS-N Acute Care CNS Neonatal

Practice Questions

More From This Family

Videos and articles for deeper review.

VideoFREE CCRN Study Guide 2026: AACN Exam Plan + 10-Week ICU PlanArticleFREE CCRN (Pediatric) Exam Guide 2026: Pass AACN PICU Cert26 min readArticleFREE CCRN Study Guide 2026: AACN Exam Plan + 10-Week ICU Plan16 min readArticlePCCN Pass Rate 2026: 70.10% (2025) + Free Study Plan13 min readArticleCCRN Hardest Topics Ranked: What to Study First + 8-Week Plan (2026)15 min read
Exam Review

Key Facts: CMC Exam

90

Questions

AACN

50

Passing Score

AACN

2 hours

Time Limit

AACN

$230

Member Fee

AACN

$340

Non-Member Fee

AACN

The CMC exam is for experienced cardiac nurses. It has 90 questions, and you need a score of 50 to pass. The exam fee is $230 for AACN members and $340 for non-members.

Sample CMC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CMC exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 170+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A patient with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is receiving intravenous nitroglycerin. Which of the following is a primary goal of this therapy?
A.Increase myocardial oxygen demand
B.Reduce myocardial oxygen demand
C.Increase ventricular preload
D.Increase systemic vascular resistance
Explanation: Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator that reduces myocardial oxygen demand by decreasing both preload (venous return to the heart) and afterload (systemic vascular resistance). This helps to alleviate ischemic chest pain.
2What is the most common presenting symptom of a patient experiencing a myocardial infarction (MI)?
A.Sudden, severe headache
B.Sharp, pleuritic chest pain
C.Crushing, substernal chest pain
D.Tingling in the lower extremities
Explanation: The classic symptom of an MI is crushing, substernal chest pain, often described as a pressure or squeezing sensation. It may radiate to the jaw, neck, arms, or back.
3A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of heart failure. Which of the following laboratory values would be most indicative of this condition?
A.Elevated serum creatinine
B.Elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
C.Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit
D.Increased international normalized ratio (INR)
Explanation: BNP is a hormone secreted by the ventricles of the heart in response to stretching caused by increased ventricular blood volume. An elevated BNP level is a key diagnostic marker for heart failure.
4Which of the following is a common side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors?
A.Hypokalemia
B.Persistent dry cough
C.Bradycardia
D.Peripheral edema
Explanation: A persistent dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors, caused by the accumulation of bradykinin. It can be bothersome enough to necessitate a change in medication.
5A patient with atrial fibrillation is at an increased risk for which of the following complications?
A.Ventricular tachycardia
B.Complete heart block
C.Thromboembolic stroke
D.Hypertensive crisis
Explanation: In atrial fibrillation, the chaotic electrical activity in the atria can lead to blood stasis and the formation of thrombi (blood clots). If a clot travels to the brain, it can cause a thromboembolic stroke.
6What is the primary purpose of cardiac catheterization in a patient with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD)?
A.To measure cardiac output
B.To visualize the coronary arteries
C.To perform an endomyocardial biopsy
D.To assess for valvular heart disease
Explanation: The primary purpose of cardiac catheterization in CAD is to perform coronary angiography, which involves injecting contrast dye into the coronary arteries to visualize any blockages or narrowing.
7A patient is receiving a continuous infusion of dopamine. The nurse should monitor for which of the following potential side effects?
A.Hypotension
B.Bradycardia
C.Tachycardia and arrhythmias
D.Hypoglycemia
Explanation: Dopamine is a vasopressor that can cause tachycardia and arrhythmias, especially at higher doses. The nurse should closely monitor the patient's heart rate and rhythm.
8Which of the following is a hallmark of right-sided heart failure?
A.Pulmonary edema
B.Orthopnea
C.Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention (JVD)
D.Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Explanation: Right-sided heart failure leads to systemic venous congestion, causing peripheral edema (swelling in the legs and ankles) and JVD (distention of the jugular veins in the neck).
9A patient is being treated with a beta-blocker. The nurse should instruct the patient to report which of the following symptoms?
A.Dry mouth
B.Increased energy
C.Dizziness and fatigue
D.Increased appetite
Explanation: Beta-blockers can cause dizziness and fatigue due to their effects on heart rate and blood pressure. Patients should be instructed to report these symptoms, as they may indicate a need for a dosage adjustment.
10What is the primary mechanism of action of statin medications?
A.They block the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine
B.They increase the excretion of bile acids
C.They inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase
D.They block the reabsorption of bile acids
Explanation: Statins work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that plays a key role in the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver. This leads to a decrease in LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels.

About the CMC Exam

The CMC (Cardiac Medicine Certification) is a subspecialty certification for certified nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult cardiac patients. The exam is administered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Exam sponsor: AACN. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

90 questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

50

Exam / Certification Fees

$150 (AACN members), $240 (non-members); retest $125 / $170

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: 71.31% (2025, first-time). AACN Certification Corporation exam statistics: first-time pass rate 71.31% (2025), 71.50% (2024), 82.80% (2023) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

23% (21% from November 19, 2026)

Cardiovascular Conditions

Acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, valvular disease, dysrhythmias, aortic disease, cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular patient problems.

23% (21% from November 19, 2026)

Non-Cardiovascular Conditions

Pulmonary, renal, endocrine, hematologic, neurologic, gastrointestinal and multisystem conditions seen in acutely ill cardiac patients, including shock, sepsis, delirium and substance-related emergencies.

39% (44% from November 19, 2026)

Therapeutic Interventions

Cardiac and vascular procedures, mechanical circulatory support, pharmacology, electrophysiologic and respiratory interventions, renal and multisystem therapies.

16% (14% from November 19, 2026)

Monitoring and Diagnostics

Hemodynamic monitoring, ECG and telemetry interpretation, laboratory and imaging diagnostics.

Preparing for the CMC Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 50
  • Exam length: 90 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $150 (AACN members), $240 (non-members); retest $125 / $170 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 170 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CMC: Suggested Study Strategy

1Review the CMC exam blueprint to understand the content areas and their weightings.
2Use a variety of study materials, including textbooks, review courses, and practice questions.
3Focus on your areas of weakness.
4Take practice exams to assess your readiness and identify areas for improvement.
5Get a good night's sleep before the exam and eat a healthy breakfast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CMC exam?

The CMC (Cardiac Medicine Certification) is a subspecialty certification for certified nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult cardiac patients.

How many questions are on the CMC exam?

The CMC exam has 90 questions, 15 of which are unscored.

What is the passing score for the CMC exam?

The passing score for the CMC exam is a cut score of 50 correct out of 75 scored items (effective June 1, 2022).

How much does the CMC exam cost?

The CMC exam costs $230 for AACN members and $340 for non-members.