NR 341 COMPLEX ADULT HEALTH
Exam One
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14
This blueprint is not inclusive of all content which may be on the exam.
Chapter 1 Overview of Critical Care Nursing
Definition of critical care nursing
Evolution of critical care
Professional organizations
o American association of critical-care nurses
o Society of critical care medicine
o Other professional organizations
Certification
Standards
Critical care nurse characteristics
Quality and safety emphasis
Evidence-based practice
Healthy work environment
o Communication
o Collaboration
Other trends and issues
Chapter 2 Patient and Family Response to the Critical Care Experience
Introduction
The critical care environment
The critically ill patient
o Discharge from critical care and quality of life after critical care
o Geriatric concerns
Family members of the critically ill patient
o Family assessment
o Family needs
o Communication
o Visitation
o Family presence during procedures and resuscitation
o Practice alerts
Chapter 3 Ethical and Legal Issues in Critical Care Nursing
Introduction
Ethical obligations and nurse advocacy
Ethical decision making
Ethical principles
, o Creating an ethical environment
Increasing nurses’ involvement in ethical decision making
Selected ethical topics in critical care
o Informed consent
Elements of informed consent
o Decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation decisions
Withholding or withdrawing life support
o End-of-life issues
Patient self-determination act
Advance directives
o Organ and tissue transplantation
Chapter 4 End-of-Life Care in the Critical Care Unit
Introduction
o Effects on nurses and the healthcare team
Dimensions of end-of-life care
o Palliative care
o Communication and conflict resolution
o Withholding, limiting, or withdrawing therapy
Ventilator withdrawal
Other commonly withheld therapies
Hospice referral
o Emotional and psychological care of the patient and family
o Caregiver organizational support
Culturally competent end-of-life care
Chapter 5 Comfort and Sedation
Introduction
Definitions of pain and anxiety
Predisposing factors to pain and anxiety
Physiology of pain and anxiety
o Pain
o Anxiety
Positive effects of pain and anxiety
Negative effects of pain and anxiety
o Physical effects
o Psychological effects
Assessment
o Pain measurement tools
o Pain measurement tools for nonverbal patients
o Anxiety and sedation measurement tools
Sedation scales
Exam One
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14
This blueprint is not inclusive of all content which may be on the exam.
Chapter 1 Overview of Critical Care Nursing
Definition of critical care nursing
Evolution of critical care
Professional organizations
o American association of critical-care nurses
o Society of critical care medicine
o Other professional organizations
Certification
Standards
Critical care nurse characteristics
Quality and safety emphasis
Evidence-based practice
Healthy work environment
o Communication
o Collaboration
Other trends and issues
Chapter 2 Patient and Family Response to the Critical Care Experience
Introduction
The critical care environment
The critically ill patient
o Discharge from critical care and quality of life after critical care
o Geriatric concerns
Family members of the critically ill patient
o Family assessment
o Family needs
o Communication
o Visitation
o Family presence during procedures and resuscitation
o Practice alerts
Chapter 3 Ethical and Legal Issues in Critical Care Nursing
Introduction
Ethical obligations and nurse advocacy
Ethical decision making
Ethical principles
, o Creating an ethical environment
Increasing nurses’ involvement in ethical decision making
Selected ethical topics in critical care
o Informed consent
Elements of informed consent
o Decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation decisions
Withholding or withdrawing life support
o End-of-life issues
Patient self-determination act
Advance directives
o Organ and tissue transplantation
Chapter 4 End-of-Life Care in the Critical Care Unit
Introduction
o Effects on nurses and the healthcare team
Dimensions of end-of-life care
o Palliative care
o Communication and conflict resolution
o Withholding, limiting, or withdrawing therapy
Ventilator withdrawal
Other commonly withheld therapies
Hospice referral
o Emotional and psychological care of the patient and family
o Caregiver organizational support
Culturally competent end-of-life care
Chapter 5 Comfort and Sedation
Introduction
Definitions of pain and anxiety
Predisposing factors to pain and anxiety
Physiology of pain and anxiety
o Pain
o Anxiety
Positive effects of pain and anxiety
Negative effects of pain and anxiety
o Physical effects
o Psychological effects
Assessment
o Pain measurement tools
o Pain measurement tools for nonverbal patients
o Anxiety and sedation measurement tools
Sedation scales