TEST#1 Critical Care questions and answers
2026
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework
to guide critical care nursing practice?
a.Evidence-based practice
b.Healthy work environment
c.National Patient Safety Goals
d.Nursing process - ANSWER d. Nursing Process
The family members of a critically ill patient bring a copy of the patient's living will to the
hospital, which identifies the patient's wishes regarding health care. You discuss
contents of the living will with the patient's physician. This is an example of
implementation of which of the AACN Standards of Professional Performance?
a.Acquires and maintains current knowledge of practice
b.Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
c.Considers factors related to safe patient care
d.Uses clinical inquiry and integrates research findings in practice - ANSWER B. Acts
ethically on behalf of the patient and the family
Which of the following nursing activities demonstrates implementation of the AACN
Standards of Professional Performance? (Select all that apply.)
a.Attending a meeting of the local chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses in which a continuing education program on sepsis is being taught
b.Collaborating with a pastoral services colleague to assist in meeting spiritual needs of
the patient and family
c.Participating on the unit's nurse practice council
d.Posting an article from Critical Care Nurse on the management of venous
thromboembolism for your colleagues to read
e.Using evidence-based strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia -
ANSWER A, B, C, D, E
The most important outcome of effective communication is to
a.demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b.ensure that patient teaching is done.
c.meet the diversity needs of patients.
d.reduce patient errors. - ANSWER D. Reduce patient errors
Comparing the patient's current (home) medications with those ordered during
hospitalization and communicating a complete list of medications to the next provider
,when the patient is transferred within an organization or to another setting are strategies
to:
a.improve accuracy of patient identification.
b.prevent errors related to look-alike and sound-alike medications.
c.reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
d.reduce harms associated with the administration of anticoagulants. - ANSWER C.
Reconcile medications across the continuum of care
You work in an intermediate care unit and have asked to be involved in developing new
guidelines to prevent pressure ulcers in your patient population. The nurse manager
tells you that you do not yet have enough experience to be on the prevention task force
and that your ideas will be rejected by others. This situation is an example
a. a barrier to handoff communication.
b. a work environment that is unhealthy.
c.ineffective decision making.
d.nursing practice that is not evidence-based. - ANSWER B. A work environment that is
unhealthy
Which scenarios contribute to effective handoff communication at change of shift?
(Select all that apply.)
a.The nephrology consultant physician is making rounds and asks you for an update on
the patient's status and to assist in placing a central line for hemodialysis.
b.The noise level is high because twice as many staff members are present and
everyone is giving report in the nurses' station.
c.The unit has decided to use a standardized checklist/tool for change-of-shift reports
and patient transfers.
d.You and the oncoming nurse conduct a standardized report at the patient's bedside
and review key assessment findings.
e.The off-going nurse is giving the patient medications at the same time as giving
handoff report to the oncoming nurse. - ANSWER C, D
Which of the following strategies will assist in creating a healthy work environment for
the critical care nurse? (Select all that apply.)
a.Celebrating improved outcomes from a nurse-driven protocol with a pizza party
b.Implementing a medication safety program designed by pharmacists
c.Modifying the staffing pattern to ensure a 1:1 nurse/patient ratio
d.Offering quarterly joint nurse-physician workshops to discuss unit issues
e.Using the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) technique for
handoff communication - ANSWER A, D, E
Family members have a need for information. Which interventions best assist in
meeting this need?
, A.Handing family members a pamphlet that explains all of the critical care equipment
B. Providing a daily update of the patient's progress and facilitating communication with
the intensivist
C. Telling them that you are not permitted to give them a status report but that they can
be present at 4:00 PM for family rounds with the intensivist
D. Writing down a list of all new medications and doses and giving the list to family
members during visitation - ANSWER B. Providing a daily update of the patient's
progress and facilitating communication with the intensivist
The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is a non-native English speaker. What is
the best way to communicate with the patient and family to provide updates and explain
procedures?
A. Conduct a Google search on the computer to identify resources for the patient and
family in their native language. Print these for their use.
B. Contact the hospital's interpreter service for someone to translate.
C. Get in touch with one of the residents who you know is fluent in the native language
and ask him if he can come up to the unit.
D. Use the patient's 8-year-old child who is fluent in both English and the native
language to translate for you. - ANSWER B. Contact the hospital's interpreter service for
someone to translate
The VALUE mnemonic is a helpful strategy to enhance communication with family
members of critically ill patients. Which of the following statements describes a VALUE
strategy?
A. View the family as guests on the unit.
B. Acknowledge family emotions.
C. Learn as much as you can about family structure and function.
D. Use a trained interpreter if the family does not speak English. - ANSWER B.
Acknowledge family emotions
Sleep often is disrupted for critically ill patients. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate to promote sleep and rest?
A. Consult with the pharmacist to adjust medication times to allow periods of sleep or
rest between intervals.
B. Encourage family members to talk with the patient whenever they are present in the
room.
C. Keep the television on to provide white noise and distraction.
D. Leave the lights on in the room so that the patient is not frightened of his or her
surroundings. - ANSWER A. Consult with the pharmacist to adjust medication times to
allow periods of sleep or rest between intervals
2026
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework
to guide critical care nursing practice?
a.Evidence-based practice
b.Healthy work environment
c.National Patient Safety Goals
d.Nursing process - ANSWER d. Nursing Process
The family members of a critically ill patient bring a copy of the patient's living will to the
hospital, which identifies the patient's wishes regarding health care. You discuss
contents of the living will with the patient's physician. This is an example of
implementation of which of the AACN Standards of Professional Performance?
a.Acquires and maintains current knowledge of practice
b.Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
c.Considers factors related to safe patient care
d.Uses clinical inquiry and integrates research findings in practice - ANSWER B. Acts
ethically on behalf of the patient and the family
Which of the following nursing activities demonstrates implementation of the AACN
Standards of Professional Performance? (Select all that apply.)
a.Attending a meeting of the local chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses in which a continuing education program on sepsis is being taught
b.Collaborating with a pastoral services colleague to assist in meeting spiritual needs of
the patient and family
c.Participating on the unit's nurse practice council
d.Posting an article from Critical Care Nurse on the management of venous
thromboembolism for your colleagues to read
e.Using evidence-based strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia -
ANSWER A, B, C, D, E
The most important outcome of effective communication is to
a.demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b.ensure that patient teaching is done.
c.meet the diversity needs of patients.
d.reduce patient errors. - ANSWER D. Reduce patient errors
Comparing the patient's current (home) medications with those ordered during
hospitalization and communicating a complete list of medications to the next provider
,when the patient is transferred within an organization or to another setting are strategies
to:
a.improve accuracy of patient identification.
b.prevent errors related to look-alike and sound-alike medications.
c.reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
d.reduce harms associated with the administration of anticoagulants. - ANSWER C.
Reconcile medications across the continuum of care
You work in an intermediate care unit and have asked to be involved in developing new
guidelines to prevent pressure ulcers in your patient population. The nurse manager
tells you that you do not yet have enough experience to be on the prevention task force
and that your ideas will be rejected by others. This situation is an example
a. a barrier to handoff communication.
b. a work environment that is unhealthy.
c.ineffective decision making.
d.nursing practice that is not evidence-based. - ANSWER B. A work environment that is
unhealthy
Which scenarios contribute to effective handoff communication at change of shift?
(Select all that apply.)
a.The nephrology consultant physician is making rounds and asks you for an update on
the patient's status and to assist in placing a central line for hemodialysis.
b.The noise level is high because twice as many staff members are present and
everyone is giving report in the nurses' station.
c.The unit has decided to use a standardized checklist/tool for change-of-shift reports
and patient transfers.
d.You and the oncoming nurse conduct a standardized report at the patient's bedside
and review key assessment findings.
e.The off-going nurse is giving the patient medications at the same time as giving
handoff report to the oncoming nurse. - ANSWER C, D
Which of the following strategies will assist in creating a healthy work environment for
the critical care nurse? (Select all that apply.)
a.Celebrating improved outcomes from a nurse-driven protocol with a pizza party
b.Implementing a medication safety program designed by pharmacists
c.Modifying the staffing pattern to ensure a 1:1 nurse/patient ratio
d.Offering quarterly joint nurse-physician workshops to discuss unit issues
e.Using the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) technique for
handoff communication - ANSWER A, D, E
Family members have a need for information. Which interventions best assist in
meeting this need?
, A.Handing family members a pamphlet that explains all of the critical care equipment
B. Providing a daily update of the patient's progress and facilitating communication with
the intensivist
C. Telling them that you are not permitted to give them a status report but that they can
be present at 4:00 PM for family rounds with the intensivist
D. Writing down a list of all new medications and doses and giving the list to family
members during visitation - ANSWER B. Providing a daily update of the patient's
progress and facilitating communication with the intensivist
The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is a non-native English speaker. What is
the best way to communicate with the patient and family to provide updates and explain
procedures?
A. Conduct a Google search on the computer to identify resources for the patient and
family in their native language. Print these for their use.
B. Contact the hospital's interpreter service for someone to translate.
C. Get in touch with one of the residents who you know is fluent in the native language
and ask him if he can come up to the unit.
D. Use the patient's 8-year-old child who is fluent in both English and the native
language to translate for you. - ANSWER B. Contact the hospital's interpreter service for
someone to translate
The VALUE mnemonic is a helpful strategy to enhance communication with family
members of critically ill patients. Which of the following statements describes a VALUE
strategy?
A. View the family as guests on the unit.
B. Acknowledge family emotions.
C. Learn as much as you can about family structure and function.
D. Use a trained interpreter if the family does not speak English. - ANSWER B.
Acknowledge family emotions
Sleep often is disrupted for critically ill patients. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate to promote sleep and rest?
A. Consult with the pharmacist to adjust medication times to allow periods of sleep or
rest between intervals.
B. Encourage family members to talk with the patient whenever they are present in the
room.
C. Keep the television on to provide white noise and distraction.
D. Leave the lights on in the room so that the patient is not frightened of his or her
surroundings. - ANSWER A. Consult with the pharmacist to adjust medication times to
allow periods of sleep or rest between intervals
