AACN CMC PREP |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The charge nurse is having trouble finding nurses who will accept responsibility for the
"difficult" patient and family who have been on the unit for 2 months. Once the
assignment is determined for the next shift, the next action of the nurse might be to:
A. Hold a family meeting and demand that their behavior change at once
B. Call the nursing supervisor and have the patient transferred to another unit
C. Arrange to have a nursing care conference and discuss possible solutions
D. Put a note by the charge nurse station to always assign this patient to the float or PRN
nurse
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Arrange to have a nursing care conference and discuss possible solutions
Communication, collaboration, and a consistent plan are what's needed. If this had been
done earlier, the situation this shift might have been avoided.
Question 2
Three days after undergoing elective hip replacement, a patient has HR 125, RR 36, BP
164/84; is diaphoretic; has dilated pupils; is anxious; denies pain; and appears to be
having tactile hallucinations. Despite frequent reorientation from the nurse, the patient
continues to try to climb out of bed. Which of the following ordered might be
appropriate?
A. Lorazepam (Ativan)
B. Soft wrist restraints
C. Methadone
D. Leaving the TV or radio on in the room for background noise
1
,CORRECT ANSWER
A. Lorazepam (Ativan)
The timing and assessment indicate the patient might be in alcohol withdrawal or
heading into DT's. Of the 4 choices, prescribing a benzo would be the most appropriate.
Question 3
A patient with a documented history of schizophrenia is admitted with DKA. A priority of
the admitting nurse would be to:
A. Review all per admission medications
B. Contact the patient's counselor
C. Hold all psychiatric medications pending glucose regulation
D. ask the patient if he is hearing voices
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Review all per admission medications
Is a priority for patient admissions
Question 4
A nurse walks into the family waiting room and discovers a physical altercation between
two visitors has just begun. The nurse should:
A. Get between the 2 individuals and tell them their behavior is inappropriate
B. ask the largest man in the waiting room to break it up
C. Pull the fire alarm by the door
D. Call security
CORRECT ANSWER
2
, D. Call security
Think safety first, for yourself and everyone else. Our security colleagues are trained to
handle these situations
Question 5
The wife of a patient recently admitted because of a single vehicle crash tells the nurse
"I'm afraid he was trying to kill himself." A priority for the nurse would be to:
A. Identify if the patient has a history of depression
B. Ask the patient directly about suicidal intent with the wife in the room
C. Obtain an order for a psych consult
D. Ensure the suicide assessment is completed in the electronic health record
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Ensure the suicide assessment is completed in the electronic health record
This screen/ assessment tool guides the health care team in determining a treatment
plan
Question 6
Which of the following actions by the nurse might decrease a patient's self-esteem?
A. Discussing the negative consequences of the patient's condition
B. Requiring the patient to participate in all treatments
C. Providing opportunities to discuss issues important to the patient
D. Indicating his or her acceptance of the patient's condition
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Requiring the patient to participate in all treatments
3
, The 2 key words being requiring and all. We can't require an adult to do anything. When
we start thinking we can, we are behaving paternalistically.
Question 7
A 22 year old patient has been declared brain dead. The parents decide to discontinue
feeding and donate their child's organs. In response to the parents' request, the most
appropriate action by the nurse would be to:
A. Contact the organ procurement agency
B. Convene a multidisciplinary care conference
C. Tell the parents that the condition precludes organ donation
D. Discontinue the feeding per their request
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Contact the organ procurement agency
We collaborate with this agency to be the primary communicator with potential donor
families
Question 8
A patient in the ICU is confused about time and place, despite frequent reorientation. For
the patient's safety, the nurse would initially:
A. Put a vest restraint on the patient
B. Ask the family member to stay with the patient
C. Administer a mild sedative
D. Increase the frequency of observation of the patient
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Increase the frequency of observation of the patient
4
VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The charge nurse is having trouble finding nurses who will accept responsibility for the
"difficult" patient and family who have been on the unit for 2 months. Once the
assignment is determined for the next shift, the next action of the nurse might be to:
A. Hold a family meeting and demand that their behavior change at once
B. Call the nursing supervisor and have the patient transferred to another unit
C. Arrange to have a nursing care conference and discuss possible solutions
D. Put a note by the charge nurse station to always assign this patient to the float or PRN
nurse
CORRECT ANSWER
C. Arrange to have a nursing care conference and discuss possible solutions
Communication, collaboration, and a consistent plan are what's needed. If this had been
done earlier, the situation this shift might have been avoided.
Question 2
Three days after undergoing elective hip replacement, a patient has HR 125, RR 36, BP
164/84; is diaphoretic; has dilated pupils; is anxious; denies pain; and appears to be
having tactile hallucinations. Despite frequent reorientation from the nurse, the patient
continues to try to climb out of bed. Which of the following ordered might be
appropriate?
A. Lorazepam (Ativan)
B. Soft wrist restraints
C. Methadone
D. Leaving the TV or radio on in the room for background noise
1
,CORRECT ANSWER
A. Lorazepam (Ativan)
The timing and assessment indicate the patient might be in alcohol withdrawal or
heading into DT's. Of the 4 choices, prescribing a benzo would be the most appropriate.
Question 3
A patient with a documented history of schizophrenia is admitted with DKA. A priority of
the admitting nurse would be to:
A. Review all per admission medications
B. Contact the patient's counselor
C. Hold all psychiatric medications pending glucose regulation
D. ask the patient if he is hearing voices
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Review all per admission medications
Is a priority for patient admissions
Question 4
A nurse walks into the family waiting room and discovers a physical altercation between
two visitors has just begun. The nurse should:
A. Get between the 2 individuals and tell them their behavior is inappropriate
B. ask the largest man in the waiting room to break it up
C. Pull the fire alarm by the door
D. Call security
CORRECT ANSWER
2
, D. Call security
Think safety first, for yourself and everyone else. Our security colleagues are trained to
handle these situations
Question 5
The wife of a patient recently admitted because of a single vehicle crash tells the nurse
"I'm afraid he was trying to kill himself." A priority for the nurse would be to:
A. Identify if the patient has a history of depression
B. Ask the patient directly about suicidal intent with the wife in the room
C. Obtain an order for a psych consult
D. Ensure the suicide assessment is completed in the electronic health record
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Ensure the suicide assessment is completed in the electronic health record
This screen/ assessment tool guides the health care team in determining a treatment
plan
Question 6
Which of the following actions by the nurse might decrease a patient's self-esteem?
A. Discussing the negative consequences of the patient's condition
B. Requiring the patient to participate in all treatments
C. Providing opportunities to discuss issues important to the patient
D. Indicating his or her acceptance of the patient's condition
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Requiring the patient to participate in all treatments
3
, The 2 key words being requiring and all. We can't require an adult to do anything. When
we start thinking we can, we are behaving paternalistically.
Question 7
A 22 year old patient has been declared brain dead. The parents decide to discontinue
feeding and donate their child's organs. In response to the parents' request, the most
appropriate action by the nurse would be to:
A. Contact the organ procurement agency
B. Convene a multidisciplinary care conference
C. Tell the parents that the condition precludes organ donation
D. Discontinue the feeding per their request
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Contact the organ procurement agency
We collaborate with this agency to be the primary communicator with potential donor
families
Question 8
A patient in the ICU is confused about time and place, despite frequent reorientation. For
the patient's safety, the nurse would initially:
A. Put a vest restraint on the patient
B. Ask the family member to stay with the patient
C. Administer a mild sedative
D. Increase the frequency of observation of the patient
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Increase the frequency of observation of the patient
4
