SOLE’S INTRODUCTION TO
CRITICAL CARE NURSING
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARY MAKIC
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — INTRODUCTION / Critical care nursing role
Stem: A 58-year-old post-op CABG patient in the ICU has
intermittent PVCs on telemetry, BP 98/56 mm Hg, HR 110 bpm,
and urine output 20 mL over the past hour. The oncoming nurse
asks for prioritization. Which nursing action is the highest
priority?
A. Increase IV crystalloid infusion rate.
B. Assess surgical chest tube drainage and dressing.
C. Perform a focused cardiovascular assessment (lung sounds,
capillary refill, peripheral pulses).
,D. Administer IV amiodarone for PVC suppression.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct: Focused cardiovascular assessment
integrates vital signs and output to identify causes of
tachycardia and oliguria (hypovolemia, tamponade, bleeding).
Immediate assessment guides targeted interventions and
prevents premature medication or fluid administration. This
aligns with the critical care nurse role in rapid problem
recognition and data synthesis.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Increasing fluids without assessment risks volume overload
or worsening a surgical bleed.
B. Chest tube check is important but secondary to the rapid
cardiovascular assessment that will detect hemodynamic
compromise.
D. Giving antiarrhythmics before assessing underlying cause
(e.g., hypovolemia, ischemia) may mask deterioration and is
premature.
Teaching Point: Always assess hemodynamics and perfusion
before initiating therapies.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS /
Certification
,Stem: An ICU nurse preparing for CCRN certification asks which
benefit most directly improves bedside practice. Which is the
best response?
A. Networking opportunities with industry vendors.
B. Validation of specialty knowledge and evidence-based
practice application.
C. Employer tuition reimbursement eligibility.
D. Discounted conference registration fees.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Specialty certification validates
competency and encourages application of evidence-based
practice at the bedside, improving patient outcomes and clinical
judgment—core aims of professional organizations. Certification
reflects mastery of critical-care knowledge and standards.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Networking has value but is less direct for bedside practice
improvement.
C. Tuition reimbursement is an institutional benefit, not the
primary practice impact of certification.
D. Discounted fees aid professional development but don’t
directly change bedside care quality.
Teaching Point: Certification demonstrates validated specialty
knowledge that improves clinical care.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — CLINICAL JUDGMENT MEASUREMENT
MODEL
Stem: A new graduate nurse struggles to prioritize tasks in the
ICU. Which teaching strategy best develops clinical judgment
according to the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model?
A. Assign reading chapters about pathophysiology.
B. Conduct simulation-based scenarios with guided debriefing.
C. Require completion of multiple-choice quizzes weekly.
D. Observe a senior nurse without active participation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Simulation with debriefing supports
pattern recognition, hypothesis generation, and reflection —
key elements of clinical judgment measurement. Active,
contextual practice builds application and analytic skills faster
than passive methods.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Reading aids knowledge but lacks application and feedback
for judgement development.
C. Quizzes test recall, not complex decision-making in dynamic
contexts.
D. Passive observation has limited impact on active clinical
judgment development.
Teaching Point: Use simulation and debriefing to strengthen
clinical judgment and decision-making.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
CRITICAL CARE NURSING
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARY MAKIC
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — INTRODUCTION / Critical care nursing role
Stem: A 58-year-old post-op CABG patient in the ICU has
intermittent PVCs on telemetry, BP 98/56 mm Hg, HR 110 bpm,
and urine output 20 mL over the past hour. The oncoming nurse
asks for prioritization. Which nursing action is the highest
priority?
A. Increase IV crystalloid infusion rate.
B. Assess surgical chest tube drainage and dressing.
C. Perform a focused cardiovascular assessment (lung sounds,
capillary refill, peripheral pulses).
,D. Administer IV amiodarone for PVC suppression.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct: Focused cardiovascular assessment
integrates vital signs and output to identify causes of
tachycardia and oliguria (hypovolemia, tamponade, bleeding).
Immediate assessment guides targeted interventions and
prevents premature medication or fluid administration. This
aligns with the critical care nurse role in rapid problem
recognition and data synthesis.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Increasing fluids without assessment risks volume overload
or worsening a surgical bleed.
B. Chest tube check is important but secondary to the rapid
cardiovascular assessment that will detect hemodynamic
compromise.
D. Giving antiarrhythmics before assessing underlying cause
(e.g., hypovolemia, ischemia) may mask deterioration and is
premature.
Teaching Point: Always assess hemodynamics and perfusion
before initiating therapies.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS /
Certification
,Stem: An ICU nurse preparing for CCRN certification asks which
benefit most directly improves bedside practice. Which is the
best response?
A. Networking opportunities with industry vendors.
B. Validation of specialty knowledge and evidence-based
practice application.
C. Employer tuition reimbursement eligibility.
D. Discounted conference registration fees.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Specialty certification validates
competency and encourages application of evidence-based
practice at the bedside, improving patient outcomes and clinical
judgment—core aims of professional organizations. Certification
reflects mastery of critical-care knowledge and standards.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Networking has value but is less direct for bedside practice
improvement.
C. Tuition reimbursement is an institutional benefit, not the
primary practice impact of certification.
D. Discounted fees aid professional development but don’t
directly change bedside care quality.
Teaching Point: Certification demonstrates validated specialty
knowledge that improves clinical care.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — CLINICAL JUDGMENT MEASUREMENT
MODEL
Stem: A new graduate nurse struggles to prioritize tasks in the
ICU. Which teaching strategy best develops clinical judgment
according to the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model?
A. Assign reading chapters about pathophysiology.
B. Conduct simulation-based scenarios with guided debriefing.
C. Require completion of multiple-choice quizzes weekly.
D. Observe a senior nurse without active participation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Simulation with debriefing supports
pattern recognition, hypothesis generation, and reflection —
key elements of clinical judgment measurement. Active,
contextual practice builds application and analytic skills faster
than passive methods.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Reading aids knowledge but lacks application and feedback
for judgement development.
C. Quizzes test recall, not complex decision-making in dynamic
contexts.
D. Passive observation has limited impact on active clinical
judgment development.
Teaching Point: Use simulation and debriefing to strengthen
clinical judgment and decision-making.
Citation: Makic, M. B. F. (2025). Sole’s Introduction to Critical
Care Nursing (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
