AACN EXAM 2026/2027 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | GRADED A+
Professional organizations that support critical care practice - ANSWER American Association of
Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? - ANSWER assisting acute and critical care nurses to attain knowledge
and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? - ANSWER supports creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of
patients and families in which critical care nurses make their optimal contributions...synergy
What are the values of AACN? - ANSWER accountability, advocacy, integrity, collaboration,
leadership, stewardship, lifelong learning, quality, innovation, commitment
Explain the synergy model and recognize how it is used in practice - ANSWER - framework that aligns
patient needs w nurse competencies
- needs of patient drive nurse competencies for patient care
What types of certifications are available for ICU nurses? - ANSWER CCRN - critically ill adult,
pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? - ANSWER validates knowledge of critical care nursing, promotes
professional excellence, helps nurses to maintain current knowledge base
What are three specific projects/organizations in place to assist nurses in providing safe care? -
ANSWER Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Rapid response teams/joint commission (?)
What types of measures do safe care organizations implement? - ANSWER Safety, reduce infections,
bundles of care
, What is a bundle of care? Give an example. - ANSWER Set of 3-5 EBPs that when put together
significantly improve pt outcomes
ex - ventilator bundle -- HOB elevated, DVT prophylaxis, holding a sedative to determine pt readiness
to get off vent
What are some barriers to effective handoff communication? - ANSWER physical setting, social
setting, language, communication medium
ex - background noise, different languages, email vs text vs paper, status issues
What standardized measures have been implemented to help prevent communication breakdown at
shift change? - ANSWER SBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-professional rounds? -
ANSWER D/C needs, greatest safety risk, assessment and followup, implementation of bundles,
assess need for all ordered meds, identify whether central lines & catheters can be removed, code
status, family needs, advance directives, when to call MD, tx goals
What types of things contribute to sensory overload/deprivation in a critical care environment? -
ANSWER noise level, environment different than surroundings causing hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory overload/deprivation? -
ANSWER Noise: place pt in private room, soundproof ceiling tiles, sedative music, quickly assess
alarms
Hallucinations: post family photos, encourage visitation, interact w pt
Use natural lighting
help design optimal and safe environment
What types of stressors do patients identify from their critical care experience? - ANSWER difficulty
communicating, pain, thirst, difficulty swallowing, anxiety, lack of control, depression/fear, lack of
family/friends, physical restraint, feelings of dread, inability to get comfortable, difficulty sleeping,
loneliness, thoughts of death
What age-related demographic is at high risk for negative outcomes in the ICU? - ANSWER older
adults >65 yo
ANSWERS | GRADED A+
Professional organizations that support critical care practice - ANSWER American Association of
Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? - ANSWER assisting acute and critical care nurses to attain knowledge
and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? - ANSWER supports creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of
patients and families in which critical care nurses make their optimal contributions...synergy
What are the values of AACN? - ANSWER accountability, advocacy, integrity, collaboration,
leadership, stewardship, lifelong learning, quality, innovation, commitment
Explain the synergy model and recognize how it is used in practice - ANSWER - framework that aligns
patient needs w nurse competencies
- needs of patient drive nurse competencies for patient care
What types of certifications are available for ICU nurses? - ANSWER CCRN - critically ill adult,
pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? - ANSWER validates knowledge of critical care nursing, promotes
professional excellence, helps nurses to maintain current knowledge base
What are three specific projects/organizations in place to assist nurses in providing safe care? -
ANSWER Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Rapid response teams/joint commission (?)
What types of measures do safe care organizations implement? - ANSWER Safety, reduce infections,
bundles of care
, What is a bundle of care? Give an example. - ANSWER Set of 3-5 EBPs that when put together
significantly improve pt outcomes
ex - ventilator bundle -- HOB elevated, DVT prophylaxis, holding a sedative to determine pt readiness
to get off vent
What are some barriers to effective handoff communication? - ANSWER physical setting, social
setting, language, communication medium
ex - background noise, different languages, email vs text vs paper, status issues
What standardized measures have been implemented to help prevent communication breakdown at
shift change? - ANSWER SBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-professional rounds? -
ANSWER D/C needs, greatest safety risk, assessment and followup, implementation of bundles,
assess need for all ordered meds, identify whether central lines & catheters can be removed, code
status, family needs, advance directives, when to call MD, tx goals
What types of things contribute to sensory overload/deprivation in a critical care environment? -
ANSWER noise level, environment different than surroundings causing hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory overload/deprivation? -
ANSWER Noise: place pt in private room, soundproof ceiling tiles, sedative music, quickly assess
alarms
Hallucinations: post family photos, encourage visitation, interact w pt
Use natural lighting
help design optimal and safe environment
What types of stressors do patients identify from their critical care experience? - ANSWER difficulty
communicating, pain, thirst, difficulty swallowing, anxiety, lack of control, depression/fear, lack of
family/friends, physical restraint, feelings of dread, inability to get comfortable, difficulty sleeping,
loneliness, thoughts of death
What age-related demographic is at high risk for negative outcomes in the ICU? - ANSWER older
adults >65 yo
