Fundamental Concepts in Critical Care
Questions and Answers Updated 2026
Critical care nursing: - AnswerConcerned with human responses to life-threatening problems, such as
trauma, major surgery, or complications of illness.
-can be a physiologic or a psychologic
Focus of the critical care nurse: - AnswerIncludes patient's and the family's responses to illness and
involves prevention as well as cure.
Variety of settings (ICU): - Answer-Inpatient
-Outpatient
-Home care
-eICU
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Vision: - AnswerCreate a healthcare system
driven by patient's & family's needs in which critical care nurses make their optimum contributions
Society of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM): - AnswerA multiprofessional society representing all
members of the critical care team.
-Founded in 1970
-Multiprofessional membership
*Physicians
*Nursing section
*Other critical care team members
Purpose of Critical Care Certification - Answer-Validate knowledge
-Promote professional excellence
-Help nurses to maintain up-to-date knowledge
, CC Certification is based on - AnswerAACN synergy model for patient care:
-Needs of patients and families drive practice
AACN Critical Care Cert: Bedside Practice - AnswerCCRN: Adult, Neonatal, and Pediatric
PCCN: for those working in step-down units
AACN Critical Care Cert: Advanced practice - AnswerCCNS or ACCNS-AG: Critical Care Clinical Nurse
Specialist
ACNPC or ACNPC-AG: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
AACN Critical Care Cert: Subspecialty certification - AnswerCardiac medicine (CMC)
Cardiac surgery (CSC)
Standards: - Answer-Guide clinical practice
-Establish goals for patient care
-Provide assessment of outcomes
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process: -
Answercollect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care,
implement interventions, and evaluate progress toward goals.
Standards of Practice: - Answer-Act ethically
-Use clinical inquiry
-Evaluate own practice
-Use skilled communication
-Evaluate quality of nursing practice
-Provide leadership in clinical setting
-Acquire knowledge and maintain competency
Questions and Answers Updated 2026
Critical care nursing: - AnswerConcerned with human responses to life-threatening problems, such as
trauma, major surgery, or complications of illness.
-can be a physiologic or a psychologic
Focus of the critical care nurse: - AnswerIncludes patient's and the family's responses to illness and
involves prevention as well as cure.
Variety of settings (ICU): - Answer-Inpatient
-Outpatient
-Home care
-eICU
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Vision: - AnswerCreate a healthcare system
driven by patient's & family's needs in which critical care nurses make their optimum contributions
Society of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM): - AnswerA multiprofessional society representing all
members of the critical care team.
-Founded in 1970
-Multiprofessional membership
*Physicians
*Nursing section
*Other critical care team members
Purpose of Critical Care Certification - Answer-Validate knowledge
-Promote professional excellence
-Help nurses to maintain up-to-date knowledge
, CC Certification is based on - AnswerAACN synergy model for patient care:
-Needs of patients and families drive practice
AACN Critical Care Cert: Bedside Practice - AnswerCCRN: Adult, Neonatal, and Pediatric
PCCN: for those working in step-down units
AACN Critical Care Cert: Advanced practice - AnswerCCNS or ACCNS-AG: Critical Care Clinical Nurse
Specialist
ACNPC or ACNPC-AG: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
AACN Critical Care Cert: Subspecialty certification - AnswerCardiac medicine (CMC)
Cardiac surgery (CSC)
Standards: - Answer-Guide clinical practice
-Establish goals for patient care
-Provide assessment of outcomes
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process: -
Answercollect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care,
implement interventions, and evaluate progress toward goals.
Standards of Practice: - Answer-Act ethically
-Use clinical inquiry
-Evaluate own practice
-Use skilled communication
-Evaluate quality of nursing practice
-Provide leadership in clinical setting
-Acquire knowledge and maintain competency
