CRRN® TEST 1 (CERTIFICATION TEST) 200 Practice Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales Based on the Official 2026 CRRN®
Exam Content Outline
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DOMAIN 1: REHABILITATION NURSING MODELS AND THEORIES (Questions 1–20)
1. The rehabilitation nurse is caring for a patient who has sustained a spinal cord injury. The
patient states, "I will never be able to live a normal life again." Which nursing action best
reflects the principles of rehabilitation nursing?
A) Tell the patient that many people with similar injuries live full lives
B) Ask the patient to describe what a "normal life" means to him
C) Explain that the focus will be on achieving the highest possible level of function
D) Review the patient's previous life roles and assist in setting realistic goals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing focuses on helping individuals with disabilities achieve their
optimal level of physical, psychological, social, and vocational functioning. The core philosophy
is not about returning to a pre‑morbid "normal," but about maximizing function and quality of
life within the context of the disability. Option C directly reflects this principle, while option D,
though important, is a later step in the goal‑setting process.
2. A rehabilitation nurse is using Orem's Self‑Care Deficit Theory to guide care. Which
intervention is most consistent with this theoretical framework?
,A) Performing all self‑care tasks for the patient to conserve energy
B) Encouraging the patient to participate in self‑care activities as much as possible
C) Focusing exclusively on the patient's medical diagnoses and treatments
D) Delegating all self‑care teaching to the physical therapist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orem's Self‑Care Deficit Theory posits that nursing care is required when individuals
are unable to perform self‑care actions necessary to maintain life, health, and well‑being. The
goal is to help the patient overcome deficits and achieve as much self‑care independence as
possible. Encouraging active participation (B) is directly aligned with this model. Performing
tasks for the patient (A) would increase dependency and is not consistent with Orem's theory.
3. A patient with a traumatic brain injury is being discharged home with family caregivers. The
rehabilitation nurse applies the Roy Adaptation Model. Which intervention best demonstrates
this model in practice?
A) Teaching the family to modify the home environment to reduce stimuli
B) Providing a list of community resources for financial assistance
C) Administering prescribed medications for spasticity
D) Consulting with the physical therapist about a gait training plan
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Roy Adaptation Model views the person as an adaptive system who responds to
environmental stimuli. The goal of nursing is to promote adaptation in four modes:
physiological, self‑concept, role function, and interdependence. Modifying the home
environment (A) addresses the environmental stimuli (focal, contextual, and residual) to
,promote the patient's adaptation. Options B, C, and D are important interventions but are not
uniquely tied to the Roy model.
4. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the rehabilitation process as
defined by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)?
A) To cure the underlying disease or condition
B) To prevent the progression of chronic illness
C) To help individuals achieve the highest possible level of function and quality of life
D) To provide palliative care for terminal conditions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The ARN defines the goal of rehabilitation as assisting individuals with disabilities and
chronic health conditions to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health. The focus is on
maximizing function and quality of life, not on curing the underlying condition. This aligns with
the core philosophy of rehabilitation nursing.
5. A rehabilitation nurse is caring for a patient following a stroke. The nurse uses the Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) to assess the patient's level of disability. The FIM measures:
A) The patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
B) The patient's cognitive status and memory function
C) The patient's social support system and community integration
D) Both motor and cognitive aspects of patient performance
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is a comprehensive tool that assesses
18 items across both motor (13 items) and cognitive (5 items) domains. It quantifies the degree
of assistance required for a person to perform daily activities, making it a standard outcome
measure in rehabilitation settings. Options A and B each describe only one component, while C
is not part of the FIM.
6. A patient with a spinal cord injury is learning to perform intermittent self‑catheterization.
Which nursing action best reflects the principles of the rehabilitation model?
A) Performing the catheterization for the patient to ensure it is done correctly
B) Teaching the patient the steps and then observing while he performs the procedure
C) Delegating the teaching responsibility to the nursing assistant
D) Asking the patient to watch a video about self‑catheterization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rehabilitation model emphasizes patient education and self‑management.
Teaching the patient the steps and then observing while he performs the procedure (B)
promotes independence and mastery. Doing it for the patient (A) would foster dependence.
Delegation to an unlicensed assistive person (C) is inappropriate for this complex teaching task.
7. A rehabilitation nurse is applying the nursing process to a patient with a new diagnosis of
multiple sclerosis. In which phase does the nurse evaluate the effectiveness of the patient's
bowel and bladder retraining program?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answers with Detailed Rationales Based on the Official 2026 CRRN®
Exam Content Outline
---
DOMAIN 1: REHABILITATION NURSING MODELS AND THEORIES (Questions 1–20)
1. The rehabilitation nurse is caring for a patient who has sustained a spinal cord injury. The
patient states, "I will never be able to live a normal life again." Which nursing action best
reflects the principles of rehabilitation nursing?
A) Tell the patient that many people with similar injuries live full lives
B) Ask the patient to describe what a "normal life" means to him
C) Explain that the focus will be on achieving the highest possible level of function
D) Review the patient's previous life roles and assist in setting realistic goals
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing focuses on helping individuals with disabilities achieve their
optimal level of physical, psychological, social, and vocational functioning. The core philosophy
is not about returning to a pre‑morbid "normal," but about maximizing function and quality of
life within the context of the disability. Option C directly reflects this principle, while option D,
though important, is a later step in the goal‑setting process.
2. A rehabilitation nurse is using Orem's Self‑Care Deficit Theory to guide care. Which
intervention is most consistent with this theoretical framework?
,A) Performing all self‑care tasks for the patient to conserve energy
B) Encouraging the patient to participate in self‑care activities as much as possible
C) Focusing exclusively on the patient's medical diagnoses and treatments
D) Delegating all self‑care teaching to the physical therapist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orem's Self‑Care Deficit Theory posits that nursing care is required when individuals
are unable to perform self‑care actions necessary to maintain life, health, and well‑being. The
goal is to help the patient overcome deficits and achieve as much self‑care independence as
possible. Encouraging active participation (B) is directly aligned with this model. Performing
tasks for the patient (A) would increase dependency and is not consistent with Orem's theory.
3. A patient with a traumatic brain injury is being discharged home with family caregivers. The
rehabilitation nurse applies the Roy Adaptation Model. Which intervention best demonstrates
this model in practice?
A) Teaching the family to modify the home environment to reduce stimuli
B) Providing a list of community resources for financial assistance
C) Administering prescribed medications for spasticity
D) Consulting with the physical therapist about a gait training plan
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Roy Adaptation Model views the person as an adaptive system who responds to
environmental stimuli. The goal of nursing is to promote adaptation in four modes:
physiological, self‑concept, role function, and interdependence. Modifying the home
environment (A) addresses the environmental stimuli (focal, contextual, and residual) to
,promote the patient's adaptation. Options B, C, and D are important interventions but are not
uniquely tied to the Roy model.
4. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the rehabilitation process as
defined by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)?
A) To cure the underlying disease or condition
B) To prevent the progression of chronic illness
C) To help individuals achieve the highest possible level of function and quality of life
D) To provide palliative care for terminal conditions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The ARN defines the goal of rehabilitation as assisting individuals with disabilities and
chronic health conditions to restore, maintain, and promote optimal health. The focus is on
maximizing function and quality of life, not on curing the underlying condition. This aligns with
the core philosophy of rehabilitation nursing.
5. A rehabilitation nurse is caring for a patient following a stroke. The nurse uses the Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) to assess the patient's level of disability. The FIM measures:
A) The patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
B) The patient's cognitive status and memory function
C) The patient's social support system and community integration
D) Both motor and cognitive aspects of patient performance
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is a comprehensive tool that assesses
18 items across both motor (13 items) and cognitive (5 items) domains. It quantifies the degree
of assistance required for a person to perform daily activities, making it a standard outcome
measure in rehabilitation settings. Options A and B each describe only one component, while C
is not part of the FIM.
6. A patient with a spinal cord injury is learning to perform intermittent self‑catheterization.
Which nursing action best reflects the principles of the rehabilitation model?
A) Performing the catheterization for the patient to ensure it is done correctly
B) Teaching the patient the steps and then observing while he performs the procedure
C) Delegating the teaching responsibility to the nursing assistant
D) Asking the patient to watch a video about self‑catheterization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rehabilitation model emphasizes patient education and self‑management.
Teaching the patient the steps and then observing while he performs the procedure (B)
promotes independence and mastery. Doing it for the patient (A) would foster dependence.
Delegation to an unlicensed assistive person (C) is inappropriate for this complex teaching task.
7. A rehabilitation nurse is applying the nursing process to a patient with a new diagnosis of
multiple sclerosis. In which phase does the nurse evaluate the effectiveness of the patient's
bowel and bladder retraining program?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
