,Chapter 01: Overview of Critical Care Nursing
Sole-Introduction to Critical Care Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care
nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine
ANS: A
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization
that supports and represents critical care nurses. The American Heart
Association supports cardiovascular initiatives. The American Nurses
Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care Medicine
represents the multiprofessional critical care team under the direction of an
intensivist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 5
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that
support critical care practice. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit
for 2 years and is interested in certification. Which credential would be most
applicable for the nurse to seek?
a. ACNPC-AG
b. CNML
c. CCRN
d. PCCN
ANS: C
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care
for critically ill patients. The ACNPC-AG certification is for acute care nurse
practitioners. The CNML is for critical care nurse managers or leaders. The
PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in progressive care,
intermediate care, or step-down unit settings.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process
Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. The main purpose of certification is to
, a. assure the consumer that you will
not make a mistake.
b. prepare for graduate school.
c. promote magnet status for your
facility.
d. validate knowledge of critical care
nursing.
ANS: D
Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence
in the profession, and helps nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical
care nursing. Certification helps to assure the consumer that the nurse has a
minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not ensure that care will be
mistake-free. Certification does not prepare one for graduate school;
however, achieving certification demonstrates motivation for achievement
and professionalism. Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified
nurses; however, that is not the purpose of certification.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process
Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. The synergy model of practice focuses on
a. allowing unrestricted visiting for the
patient 24 hours a day.
b. holistic and alternative therapies.
c. the needs of patients and their
families, which drive nursing
competency.
d. patients’ needs for energy and
support.
ANS: C
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families
influence and drive competencies of nurses. Nursing practice based on the
synergy model would involve tailored visiting to meet the patient’s and
family’s needs and the application of alternative therapies if desired by the
patient, but that is not the primary focus of the model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken
with the physician in over 24 hours and that they have some questions they
want clarified. During morning rounds, you convey this concern to the
, attending intensivist and arrange a meeting with the family at 4:00 PM.
Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
a. Advocacy and moral agency in
solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical
reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families,
and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients,
families, and team members
ANS: C
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being
addressed, communication and collaboration with the family and physician
best exemplify the competency of collaboration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze/Analysis REF: p. 6 | Fig 1-3 | Box
1-1
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
6. The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what
framework to guide critical care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process
ANS: D
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate
the nursing process as applied to critically ill patients: collect data, determine
diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care, implement
interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy work
environment, but this is not included in its standards. The Joint Commission
has established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are not the AACN
standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
7. The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the
critical care unit. An experienced, certified nurse is assigned to care for the
acutely ill patient with sepsis who also requires continuous renal replacement
therapy and mechanical ventilation. The nurse with less than 1 year of
experience is assigned to two patients who are more stable. This assignment
Sole-Introduction to Critical Care Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care
nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care
Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine
ANS: A
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization
that supports and represents critical care nurses. The American Heart
Association supports cardiovascular initiatives. The American Nurses
Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care Medicine
represents the multiprofessional critical care team under the direction of an
intensivist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 5
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that
support critical care practice. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit
for 2 years and is interested in certification. Which credential would be most
applicable for the nurse to seek?
a. ACNPC-AG
b. CNML
c. CCRN
d. PCCN
ANS: C
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care
for critically ill patients. The ACNPC-AG certification is for acute care nurse
practitioners. The CNML is for critical care nurse managers or leaders. The
PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in progressive care,
intermediate care, or step-down unit settings.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process
Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. The main purpose of certification is to
, a. assure the consumer that you will
not make a mistake.
b. prepare for graduate school.
c. promote magnet status for your
facility.
d. validate knowledge of critical care
nursing.
ANS: D
Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence
in the profession, and helps nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical
care nursing. Certification helps to assure the consumer that the nurse has a
minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not ensure that care will be
mistake-free. Certification does not prepare one for graduate school;
however, achieving certification demonstrates motivation for achievement
and professionalism. Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified
nurses; however, that is not the purpose of certification.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process
Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. The synergy model of practice focuses on
a. allowing unrestricted visiting for the
patient 24 hours a day.
b. holistic and alternative therapies.
c. the needs of patients and their
families, which drive nursing
competency.
d. patients’ needs for energy and
support.
ANS: C
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families
influence and drive competencies of nurses. Nursing practice based on the
synergy model would involve tailored visiting to meet the patient’s and
family’s needs and the application of alternative therapies if desired by the
patient, but that is not the primary focus of the model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken
with the physician in over 24 hours and that they have some questions they
want clarified. During morning rounds, you convey this concern to the
, attending intensivist and arrange a meeting with the family at 4:00 PM.
Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
a. Advocacy and moral agency in
solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical
reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families,
and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients,
families, and team members
ANS: C
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being
addressed, communication and collaboration with the family and physician
best exemplify the competency of collaboration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze/Analysis REF: p. 6 | Fig 1-3 | Box
1-1
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
6. The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what
framework to guide critical care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process
ANS: D
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate
the nursing process as applied to critically ill patients: collect data, determine
diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care, implement
interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy work
environment, but this is not included in its standards. The Joint Commission
has established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are not the AACN
standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember/Knowledge REF: p. 6
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment
7. The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the
critical care unit. An experienced, certified nurse is assigned to care for the
acutely ill patient with sepsis who also requires continuous renal replacement
therapy and mechanical ventilation. The nurse with less than 1 year of
experience is assigned to two patients who are more stable. This assignment
