NUR 253 Situational Awareness Questions with
Verified Correct Answers
What is the definition of Situational Awareness and what is the relevance in nursing?
Definition – continuous process of gathering, interpreting, and anticipating information in
order to make safe & effective clinical decisions
Relevance in Nursing – it is critical for ensuring patient safety, preventing, errors, &
responding effectively to rapidly changing clinical conditions
What are the three levels of Situational Awareness?
Perception of Cues – noticing critical information in the environment (i.e., vital signs, facial
expressions, alarms)
Comprehension of Meaning – understanding what the cues indicate about the patient’s
current condition
Projection of Future Status – predicting what may happen if no intervention is made
The first level of situational awareness involves what?
Perception of Cues
First level of situational awareness – it involves noticing & collecting relevant information
from the environment & patient, both obvious & subtle signs, that may indicate a change in
patient status or potential risk
The first level of situational awareness in regards to nursing practice involves what?
Vital signs – changes in blood pressure, HR, O2, etc.
Physical signs – cyanosis, sweating, pallor, respiratory effort, level of consciousness
Verified Correct Answers
What is the definition of Situational Awareness and what is the relevance in nursing?
Definition – continuous process of gathering, interpreting, and anticipating information in
order to make safe & effective clinical decisions
Relevance in Nursing – it is critical for ensuring patient safety, preventing, errors, &
responding effectively to rapidly changing clinical conditions
What are the three levels of Situational Awareness?
Perception of Cues – noticing critical information in the environment (i.e., vital signs, facial
expressions, alarms)
Comprehension of Meaning – understanding what the cues indicate about the patient’s
current condition
Projection of Future Status – predicting what may happen if no intervention is made
The first level of situational awareness involves what?
Perception of Cues
First level of situational awareness – it involves noticing & collecting relevant information
from the environment & patient, both obvious & subtle signs, that may indicate a change in
patient status or potential risk
The first level of situational awareness in regards to nursing practice involves what?
Vital signs – changes in blood pressure, HR, O2, etc.
Physical signs – cyanosis, sweating, pallor, respiratory effort, level of consciousness
