AACN Critical Care Exam 1 And
QUESTION
Professional organizations that support critical care practice - AnswerAmerican
Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? - Answerassisting acute and critical care nurses to
attain knowledge and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? - Answersupports 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? - Answeraccountability, 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? - AnswerCCRN - critically
ill adult, pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? - Answervalidates 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? - AnswerQuality 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? - AnswerSafety,
reduce infections, bundles of care
What is a bundle of care? Give an example. - AnswerSet 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? - Answerphysical
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? - AnswerSBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-
professional rounds? - AnswerD/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? - Answernoise level, environment different than surroundings causing
hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory
overload/deprivation? - AnswerNoise: 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? -
Answerdifficulty 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? -
Answerolder adults >65 yo
What types of situations contribute to family conflict being present? -
Answerfeelings/concerns of family; unresolved family issues
How can nurses best support the family members of patients and assist them in
coping? - Answerevaluate, plan, involve, communicate, support
family-centered interventions
see if family can help w care so they feel more in control
What is the main cause of emotional outbreak or inappropriate responses from
family members? - Answerlack of communication
What does research say about family visitation in the ICU? - Answerresults in better
patient outcomes, liberal visitation is encouraged
What are the benefits to allowing family presence during codes? - Answerpromotes
increased knowledge of pt condition/removes doubts
witness everything possible was done
decrease anxiety and fear about what is happening to their loved one
sense of closure
autonomy - Answerrespect for individual and ability of the individual to make
decisions with regard to their own health and future (informed consent)
QUESTION
Professional organizations that support critical care practice - AnswerAmerican
Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? - Answerassisting acute and critical care nurses to
attain knowledge and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? - Answersupports 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? - Answeraccountability, 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? - AnswerCCRN - critically
ill adult, pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? - Answervalidates 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? - AnswerQuality 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? - AnswerSafety,
reduce infections, bundles of care
What is a bundle of care? Give an example. - AnswerSet 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? - Answerphysical
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? - AnswerSBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-
professional rounds? - AnswerD/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? - Answernoise level, environment different than surroundings causing
hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory
overload/deprivation? - AnswerNoise: 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? -
Answerdifficulty 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? -
Answerolder adults >65 yo
What types of situations contribute to family conflict being present? -
Answerfeelings/concerns of family; unresolved family issues
How can nurses best support the family members of patients and assist them in
coping? - Answerevaluate, plan, involve, communicate, support
family-centered interventions
see if family can help w care so they feel more in control
What is the main cause of emotional outbreak or inappropriate responses from
family members? - Answerlack of communication
What does research say about family visitation in the ICU? - Answerresults in better
patient outcomes, liberal visitation is encouraged
What are the benefits to allowing family presence during codes? - Answerpromotes
increased knowledge of pt condition/removes doubts
witness everything possible was done
decrease anxiety and fear about what is happening to their loved one
sense of closure
autonomy - Answerrespect for individual and ability of the individual to make
decisions with regard to their own health and future (informed consent)
