AACN CMC EXAM 2026 PROFESSIONAL
CRITICAL CARE CERTIFICATION COLLECTION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ CCRN.
Answer: certification for nurses who provide care in critically ill
adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
◉ PCCN.
Answer: certification for nurses who provide acute care in
progressive care, telemetry, and similar units
◉ CNML.
Answer: certification for critical care managers and leaders
◉ CCNS.
Answer: certification for acute and critical care clinical nurse
specialists
◉ Level A (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
,Answer: meta-analysis or metasynthesis studies; results consistently
support specific action, intervention, or treatment
◉ Level B (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: randomized and nonrandomized controlled studies; results
consistently support specific action, intervention, or treatment
◉ Level C (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: qualitative, descriptive, or correlational studies, reviews, or
trials with inconsistent results
◉ Level D (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: Peer-reviewed with clinical studies to support
recommendations
◉ Level E (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: theory-based evidence from expert opinions
◉ Level M (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: Manufacturer's recommendation only
◉ Ask-Tell-Ask (Communication).
,Answer: Communication technique that assesses concerns before
providing info
◉ Situational Awareness (Communication).
Answer: being aware of one's surroundings
◉ Calgary Family Assessment.
Answer: Assessment that involves structural, developmental, and
functional assessments
◉ Family Bundle.
Answer: Provide structure for planning and carrying out family care;
based on 5 concepts: evaluate, plan; involve; communicate; support
(EPICS)
◉ Principlism.
Answer: widely applied ethical approach based of 4 fundamental
moral principles to contemporary ethical dilemmas; respect for
autonomy; beneficence; nonmaleficence; justice
◉ Beneficence.
Answer: the duty to provide benefits to others when in a position to
do so, to help balance harms and benefits; the benefits of an action
should outweigh the burdens
, ◉ Futility.
Answer: states that care should not be given if it is futile in terms of
improving comfort or the medical outcome
◉ Veracity.
Answer: states that persons are obligated to tell the truth in their
communication with others
◉ Fidelity.
Answer: requires that one has a moral duty to be faithful to the
commitments made to others
◉ Elements of Informed Consent.
Answer: competence (capacity); voluntariness; disclosure of
information
◉ Living Will.
Answer: a witnessed written document or oral statement voluntarily
executed by a person that expresses the person's instructions
concerning life-prolonging procedure; not legally binding in some
states
◉ Proxy.
CRITICAL CARE CERTIFICATION COLLECTION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ CCRN.
Answer: certification for nurses who provide care in critically ill
adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
◉ PCCN.
Answer: certification for nurses who provide acute care in
progressive care, telemetry, and similar units
◉ CNML.
Answer: certification for critical care managers and leaders
◉ CCNS.
Answer: certification for acute and critical care clinical nurse
specialists
◉ Level A (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
,Answer: meta-analysis or metasynthesis studies; results consistently
support specific action, intervention, or treatment
◉ Level B (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: randomized and nonrandomized controlled studies; results
consistently support specific action, intervention, or treatment
◉ Level C (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: qualitative, descriptive, or correlational studies, reviews, or
trials with inconsistent results
◉ Level D (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: Peer-reviewed with clinical studies to support
recommendations
◉ Level E (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: theory-based evidence from expert opinions
◉ Level M (Scale for Rating Research Evidence).
Answer: Manufacturer's recommendation only
◉ Ask-Tell-Ask (Communication).
,Answer: Communication technique that assesses concerns before
providing info
◉ Situational Awareness (Communication).
Answer: being aware of one's surroundings
◉ Calgary Family Assessment.
Answer: Assessment that involves structural, developmental, and
functional assessments
◉ Family Bundle.
Answer: Provide structure for planning and carrying out family care;
based on 5 concepts: evaluate, plan; involve; communicate; support
(EPICS)
◉ Principlism.
Answer: widely applied ethical approach based of 4 fundamental
moral principles to contemporary ethical dilemmas; respect for
autonomy; beneficence; nonmaleficence; justice
◉ Beneficence.
Answer: the duty to provide benefits to others when in a position to
do so, to help balance harms and benefits; the benefits of an action
should outweigh the burdens
, ◉ Futility.
Answer: states that care should not be given if it is futile in terms of
improving comfort or the medical outcome
◉ Veracity.
Answer: states that persons are obligated to tell the truth in their
communication with others
◉ Fidelity.
Answer: requires that one has a moral duty to be faithful to the
commitments made to others
◉ Elements of Informed Consent.
Answer: competence (capacity); voluntariness; disclosure of
information
◉ Living Will.
Answer: a witnessed written document or oral statement voluntarily
executed by a person that expresses the person's instructions
concerning life-prolonging procedure; not legally binding in some
states
◉ Proxy.
