AACN EXAM 2026/2027 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS | GRADED A+ PDF
AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care - ANSWER What is this: that the needs or characteristics of
patients and families influence and drive the characteristics or competencies of nurses?
synergy - ANSWER What is this: results when the needs and characteristics of a patient, clinical unit
or system are matched with a nurse's competencies?
patient and family - ANSWER The dimensions of a nurse's practice are driven by the needs of who?
- patients are biological, psychological, social, and spiritual entities who present at a particular
developmental stage. The whole patient (body, mind and spirit) must be considered
- the patient, family and community all contribute to providing a context for the nurse-patient
relationship
- patients can be described by a number of characteristics. All characteristics are connected and
contribute to each other. Characteristics cannot be looked at in isolation
- similarly, nurses can be described on a number of dimensions. The interrelated dimensions paint a
profile of the nurse
- a goal of nursing is to restore a patient to an optimal level of wellness as defined by the patient.
Death can be an acceptable outcome, in which the goal of nursing care is to move a patient toward a
peaceful death - ANSWER What are some of the assumptions regarding nurses, patients and families
that are guided by the Synergy Model?
resiliency - ANSWER What Synergy Model is this: the capacity to return to a restorative level of
functioning using compensatory/coping mechanisms; the ability to bounce back quickly after an
insult?
Level 1 - minimally resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: unable to mount a response;
failure of compensatory/coping mechanisms; minimal reserves; brittle?
, level 3 - moderately resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: able to mount a moderate
response; able to initiate some degree of compensation; moderate reserves?
level 5 - highly resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: able to mount and maintain a
response; intact compensatory/coping mechanisms; strong reserves; endurance?
vulnerability - ANSWER What synergy model is this: susceptibility to actual or potential stressors that
may adversely affect patient outcomes?
level 1 - minimally stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: labile; unstable; unresponsive to
therapies; high risk of death?
level 3 - moderately stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: able to maintain steady state for
limited period of time; some responsiveness to therapies?
level 5 - highly stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: constant; responsive to therapies; low
risk of death?
complexity - ANSWER What synergy model is this: the intricate entanglement of two or more
systems (e.g., body, family, therapies)?
level 1- highly complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this; intricate; complex patient/family
dynamics; ambiguous/vague; atypical presentation?
level 3 - moderately complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this: moderately involve
patient/family dynamics?
level 5 - minimally complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this; straightforward; routine
patient/family dynamics; simple/clear cut; typical presentation?
resource availability - ANSWER What synergy model is this: extent of resources (e.g., technical, fiscal,
personal, psychological and social) the patient/family/community bring to the situation?
level 1 - few resources - ANSWER What level of resource availability is this: necessary knowledge and
skills not available; necessary financial support not available; minimal personal/psychological
supportive resources; few social systems resources?
QUESTIONS | GRADED A+ PDF
AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care - ANSWER What is this: that the needs or characteristics of
patients and families influence and drive the characteristics or competencies of nurses?
synergy - ANSWER What is this: results when the needs and characteristics of a patient, clinical unit
or system are matched with a nurse's competencies?
patient and family - ANSWER The dimensions of a nurse's practice are driven by the needs of who?
- patients are biological, psychological, social, and spiritual entities who present at a particular
developmental stage. The whole patient (body, mind and spirit) must be considered
- the patient, family and community all contribute to providing a context for the nurse-patient
relationship
- patients can be described by a number of characteristics. All characteristics are connected and
contribute to each other. Characteristics cannot be looked at in isolation
- similarly, nurses can be described on a number of dimensions. The interrelated dimensions paint a
profile of the nurse
- a goal of nursing is to restore a patient to an optimal level of wellness as defined by the patient.
Death can be an acceptable outcome, in which the goal of nursing care is to move a patient toward a
peaceful death - ANSWER What are some of the assumptions regarding nurses, patients and families
that are guided by the Synergy Model?
resiliency - ANSWER What Synergy Model is this: the capacity to return to a restorative level of
functioning using compensatory/coping mechanisms; the ability to bounce back quickly after an
insult?
Level 1 - minimally resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: unable to mount a response;
failure of compensatory/coping mechanisms; minimal reserves; brittle?
, level 3 - moderately resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: able to mount a moderate
response; able to initiate some degree of compensation; moderate reserves?
level 5 - highly resilient - ANSWER What level of resiliency is this: able to mount and maintain a
response; intact compensatory/coping mechanisms; strong reserves; endurance?
vulnerability - ANSWER What synergy model is this: susceptibility to actual or potential stressors that
may adversely affect patient outcomes?
level 1 - minimally stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: labile; unstable; unresponsive to
therapies; high risk of death?
level 3 - moderately stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: able to maintain steady state for
limited period of time; some responsiveness to therapies?
level 5 - highly stable - ANSWER What level of stability is this: constant; responsive to therapies; low
risk of death?
complexity - ANSWER What synergy model is this: the intricate entanglement of two or more
systems (e.g., body, family, therapies)?
level 1- highly complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this; intricate; complex patient/family
dynamics; ambiguous/vague; atypical presentation?
level 3 - moderately complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this: moderately involve
patient/family dynamics?
level 5 - minimally complex - ANSWER What level of complexity is this; straightforward; routine
patient/family dynamics; simple/clear cut; typical presentation?
resource availability - ANSWER What synergy model is this: extent of resources (e.g., technical, fiscal,
personal, psychological and social) the patient/family/community bring to the situation?
level 1 - few resources - ANSWER What level of resource availability is this: necessary knowledge and
skills not available; necessary financial support not available; minimal personal/psychological
supportive resources; few social systems resources?
