,NR 341 Complex Adult Health Exam Prep —
Comprehensive Review + Practice MCQs —
Chamberlain College of Nursing 2025/2026
1. The AACN Synergy Model focuses primarily on which of the following?
A. Standardizing nursing interventions across all ICU settings
B. Matching the unique needs of patients and families with the competencies of nurses
C. Reducing hospital costs by optimizing nurse staffing ratios
D. Ensuring all critical care nurses obtain certification within two years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Synergy Model is a patient-centered framework in which the needs of the patient and family
drive the competencies required of the nurse. When patient characteristics (such as complexity, stability, and
participation in care) synergize with nurse competencies (such as clinical judgment and advocacy), optimal
outcomes are achieved.
2. A charge nurse assigns the most experienced, certified critical care nurse to a patient with septic shock
requiring CRRT and mechanical ventilation, while a nurse with less than one year of experience receives two
stable patients. This assignment best reflects implementation of the:
A. Crew Resource Management Model
B. National Patient Safety Goals
C. Synergy Model of Practice
D. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Model
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Synergy Model guides nurse-patient assignment by matching the complexity and acuity of the
patient’s needs with the appropriate level of nursing competency. This assignment reflects that principle
directly.
3. Which professional organization is the primary specialty organization supporting critical care nursing
practice?
A. American Heart Association
B. American Nurses Association
C. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
D. Society of Critical Care Medicine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the world’s largest specialty nursing
organization and the primary body supporting critical care nursing through standards, certification, and
evidence-based practice resources.
4. The nurse calls a family meeting at the request of the patient’s daughter, who has unanswered questions
about the plan of care. This action best demonstrates which AACN Synergy Model nurse competency?
A. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning
B. Advocacy and moral agency
C. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
D. Facilitation of learning
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arranging communication between the family and the interdisciplinary team to address concerns
and facilitate shared decision-making is a direct demonstration of the collaboration competency.
5. Which of the following are National Patient Safety Goals relevant to complex adult health nursing? (Select all
that apply.)
A. Accurately identify patients
B. Eliminate all use of patient restraints
C. Reconcile medications across the continuum of care
D. Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals include accurate patient identification,
medication reconciliation, and reducing healthcare-associated infection risk. Restraints are not eliminated
entirely but are subject to strict regulation; the goal is to reduce restraint use, not eliminate all use in every
clinical situation.
6. During a change-of-shift handoff, which scenario best contributes to effective communication?
A. Reporting in the hallway outside the patient’s room while the nurse is distracted by another patient’s alarm
B. Using the SBAR format in a quiet location with both nurses focused on the patient’s status
C. Providing only subjective information to save time
D. Omitting pending laboratory results because they have not yet been reported
Comprehensive Review + Practice MCQs —
Chamberlain College of Nursing 2025/2026
1. The AACN Synergy Model focuses primarily on which of the following?
A. Standardizing nursing interventions across all ICU settings
B. Matching the unique needs of patients and families with the competencies of nurses
C. Reducing hospital costs by optimizing nurse staffing ratios
D. Ensuring all critical care nurses obtain certification within two years
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Synergy Model is a patient-centered framework in which the needs of the patient and family
drive the competencies required of the nurse. When patient characteristics (such as complexity, stability, and
participation in care) synergize with nurse competencies (such as clinical judgment and advocacy), optimal
outcomes are achieved.
2. A charge nurse assigns the most experienced, certified critical care nurse to a patient with septic shock
requiring CRRT and mechanical ventilation, while a nurse with less than one year of experience receives two
stable patients. This assignment best reflects implementation of the:
A. Crew Resource Management Model
B. National Patient Safety Goals
C. Synergy Model of Practice
D. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Model
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Synergy Model guides nurse-patient assignment by matching the complexity and acuity of the
patient’s needs with the appropriate level of nursing competency. This assignment reflects that principle
directly.
3. Which professional organization is the primary specialty organization supporting critical care nursing
practice?
A. American Heart Association
B. American Nurses Association
C. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
D. Society of Critical Care Medicine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the world’s largest specialty nursing
organization and the primary body supporting critical care nursing through standards, certification, and
evidence-based practice resources.
4. The nurse calls a family meeting at the request of the patient’s daughter, who has unanswered questions
about the plan of care. This action best demonstrates which AACN Synergy Model nurse competency?
A. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning
B. Advocacy and moral agency
C. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
D. Facilitation of learning
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arranging communication between the family and the interdisciplinary team to address concerns
and facilitate shared decision-making is a direct demonstration of the collaboration competency.
5. Which of the following are National Patient Safety Goals relevant to complex adult health nursing? (Select all
that apply.)
A. Accurately identify patients
B. Eliminate all use of patient restraints
C. Reconcile medications across the continuum of care
D. Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals include accurate patient identification,
medication reconciliation, and reducing healthcare-associated infection risk. Restraints are not eliminated
entirely but are subject to strict regulation; the goal is to reduce restraint use, not eliminate all use in every
clinical situation.
6. During a change-of-shift handoff, which scenario best contributes to effective communication?
A. Reporting in the hallway outside the patient’s room while the nurse is distracted by another patient’s alarm
B. Using the SBAR format in a quiet location with both nurses focused on the patient’s status
C. Providing only subjective information to save time
D. Omitting pending laboratory results because they have not yet been reported
