NUR 445 Exam 1 2025 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS) /ALREADY GRADED A+ Intro to ICU,
Cardiac
What is the difference between a small hospital ICU and a large hospital ICU? - Answers The
size, resources available, specialized units, etc.
What must the nurse caring for the high acuity pa#ent be able to do? - Answers Analyze
cri#cal situa#ons, make decisions based on their analysis, and rapidly intervene to ensure
op#mal outcomes
Who is the only member of the healthcare team who is at the bedside and frequently
coordinates pa#ent care? - Answers The nurse
Who detects early signs of an impending complica#on with the pa#ent? - Answers The nurse
What is one of the primary goals for the acute care nurse? - Answers the preven#on of
complica#ons
What changes led to decreased job sa#sfac#on and nurses leaving prac#ce in the high acuity
environment? - Answers Schedules, staffing, floa#ng outside the specialty, hospital
restructuring, etc.
What really should be considered when making decisions about nursing staffing pa*erns? -
Answers The needs of the pa#ent and the skill mix of the nursing staff
What should the first principle of staffing be? - Answers provide safe and effec#ve pa#ent
care
,What does the ANCC award hospitals magnet status for? - Answers If they are able to create
working environments that are successful in recrui#ng and retaining professional nurses
Which pa#ents are o.en stereotyped as not being candidates for aggressive treatment? -
Answers Oncology pa#ents
Who must "goals of care" be discussed with? - Answers With the pa#ent and their family,
allowing ample #me for meaningful discussion
What is a major advantage of having technology available in the high acuity environment? -
Answers The pa#ent's status can be monitored con#nuously
What is a major cri#cism of nurses who work in high acuity environments? - Answers they
are too technologically oriented
What is alarm fa#gue? - Answers When the number and frequency of alarms becomes
overwhelming, it can result in delayed alarm responses and deliberate alarm deac#va#ons
What does working in a healthy environment increase? - Answers job sa#sfac#on and
provides a buffer against stress and burnout
Which professional organiza#on made a commitment to promote healthy work environments
that support quality pa#ent care and high levels of nurse sa#sfac#on? - Answers American
Associa#on of Cri#cal Care Nurses
What are some standards of healthy work environments? - Answers Skilled communica#on,
true collabora#on, efficient decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recogni#on, and
authen#c leadership
,Who are the gatekeepers of pa#ent safety? - Answers high acuity nurses
What is burnout? - Answers Feelings of personal/professional frustra#on, job dissa#sfac#on,
job insecurity, emo#on/physical exer#on, emo#onal exhaus#on, depersonaliza#on, reduced
personal accomplishments, lack of control, overworked, insufficient awards, conflic#ng values
What are some symptoms of burnout? - Answers Withdrawal, risk taking, ambivalence,
decreased produc#vity, contempla#ng career change, increased use of
caffeine/alcohol/nico#ne, chronic fa#gue, frequent minor ailments, sleep changes, appe#te
change, sexual difficulty, a*empts to blame others, stereotyping pa#ents, nightmares,
depression, hos#lity, nega#vism, loss of tolerance, decreased ability to make decisions, poor
judgement, lack of ini#a#ve, forge4ulness
What can serve as a buffer against the nega#ve effects of stress? - Answers a posi#ve social
climate characterized by strong managerial support and cohesiveness among the staff
What are cri#cal incident stress debriefings? - Answers structured group discussions
occurring within several days following a crisis, designed to address symptoms of stress, assess
the need for follow-up, and provide a sense of closure
What is TJC? - Answers The Joint Commission
What is the TJCs mission? - Answers to con#nuously improve the safety and quality of care
provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accredita#on that supports process
improvement in healthcare organiza#ons
What are the na#onal pa#ent safety goals? - Answers pa#ent iden#fiers, staff
communica#on, medica#on safety, alarm safety, infec#on preven#on, risk iden#fica#on, and
#meout
, What are some factors that inhibit learning and barriers to communica#on for the high acuity
pa#ent? - Answers Fa#gue, barriers to communica#on, pain, drugs
What takes precedence over the need to know and understand? - Answers physiologic needs
What are some of the educa#onal needs of ICU pa#ents and families? - Answers current info
about pa#ent progress, informed decision making, acknowledgement of past, op#mal learning
environment, orienta#on to rou#nes and care, mo#va#on
What is transfer anxiety? - Answers transferring to a less acute unit creates anxiety as they
move to an unfamiliar environment
What are some components of ICU pa#ent and family centered care? - Answers Open
visita#on, inclusion in decision making, educa#on about healthcare, and inclusion of families in
designing comfortable spaces
What is reduced for the ICU pa#ent when the family is at the bedside? - Answers anxiety and
hallucina#ons
How can the family help the ICU pa#ent and nursing staff? - Answers they can comfort
pa#ents in ways not open to staff, as well as provide info to help the nurse individualize care
Historically, why have families been restricted from the ICU? - Answers Harmful physiological
consequences, interferes with #me nurses need to spend caring for pa#ents, delays in care
What are some advantages to having family present during CPR? - Answers Family grasps
seriousness of condi#on, sees firsthand everything was done for the pa#ent, helps with
grieving, doubt is removed, less fear and anxiety, a sense of closure,
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS (100%
CORRECT ANSWERS) /ALREADY GRADED A+ Intro to ICU,
Cardiac
What is the difference between a small hospital ICU and a large hospital ICU? - Answers The
size, resources available, specialized units, etc.
What must the nurse caring for the high acuity pa#ent be able to do? - Answers Analyze
cri#cal situa#ons, make decisions based on their analysis, and rapidly intervene to ensure
op#mal outcomes
Who is the only member of the healthcare team who is at the bedside and frequently
coordinates pa#ent care? - Answers The nurse
Who detects early signs of an impending complica#on with the pa#ent? - Answers The nurse
What is one of the primary goals for the acute care nurse? - Answers the preven#on of
complica#ons
What changes led to decreased job sa#sfac#on and nurses leaving prac#ce in the high acuity
environment? - Answers Schedules, staffing, floa#ng outside the specialty, hospital
restructuring, etc.
What really should be considered when making decisions about nursing staffing pa*erns? -
Answers The needs of the pa#ent and the skill mix of the nursing staff
What should the first principle of staffing be? - Answers provide safe and effec#ve pa#ent
care
,What does the ANCC award hospitals magnet status for? - Answers If they are able to create
working environments that are successful in recrui#ng and retaining professional nurses
Which pa#ents are o.en stereotyped as not being candidates for aggressive treatment? -
Answers Oncology pa#ents
Who must "goals of care" be discussed with? - Answers With the pa#ent and their family,
allowing ample #me for meaningful discussion
What is a major advantage of having technology available in the high acuity environment? -
Answers The pa#ent's status can be monitored con#nuously
What is a major cri#cism of nurses who work in high acuity environments? - Answers they
are too technologically oriented
What is alarm fa#gue? - Answers When the number and frequency of alarms becomes
overwhelming, it can result in delayed alarm responses and deliberate alarm deac#va#ons
What does working in a healthy environment increase? - Answers job sa#sfac#on and
provides a buffer against stress and burnout
Which professional organiza#on made a commitment to promote healthy work environments
that support quality pa#ent care and high levels of nurse sa#sfac#on? - Answers American
Associa#on of Cri#cal Care Nurses
What are some standards of healthy work environments? - Answers Skilled communica#on,
true collabora#on, efficient decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recogni#on, and
authen#c leadership
,Who are the gatekeepers of pa#ent safety? - Answers high acuity nurses
What is burnout? - Answers Feelings of personal/professional frustra#on, job dissa#sfac#on,
job insecurity, emo#on/physical exer#on, emo#onal exhaus#on, depersonaliza#on, reduced
personal accomplishments, lack of control, overworked, insufficient awards, conflic#ng values
What are some symptoms of burnout? - Answers Withdrawal, risk taking, ambivalence,
decreased produc#vity, contempla#ng career change, increased use of
caffeine/alcohol/nico#ne, chronic fa#gue, frequent minor ailments, sleep changes, appe#te
change, sexual difficulty, a*empts to blame others, stereotyping pa#ents, nightmares,
depression, hos#lity, nega#vism, loss of tolerance, decreased ability to make decisions, poor
judgement, lack of ini#a#ve, forge4ulness
What can serve as a buffer against the nega#ve effects of stress? - Answers a posi#ve social
climate characterized by strong managerial support and cohesiveness among the staff
What are cri#cal incident stress debriefings? - Answers structured group discussions
occurring within several days following a crisis, designed to address symptoms of stress, assess
the need for follow-up, and provide a sense of closure
What is TJC? - Answers The Joint Commission
What is the TJCs mission? - Answers to con#nuously improve the safety and quality of care
provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accredita#on that supports process
improvement in healthcare organiza#ons
What are the na#onal pa#ent safety goals? - Answers pa#ent iden#fiers, staff
communica#on, medica#on safety, alarm safety, infec#on preven#on, risk iden#fica#on, and
#meout
, What are some factors that inhibit learning and barriers to communica#on for the high acuity
pa#ent? - Answers Fa#gue, barriers to communica#on, pain, drugs
What takes precedence over the need to know and understand? - Answers physiologic needs
What are some of the educa#onal needs of ICU pa#ents and families? - Answers current info
about pa#ent progress, informed decision making, acknowledgement of past, op#mal learning
environment, orienta#on to rou#nes and care, mo#va#on
What is transfer anxiety? - Answers transferring to a less acute unit creates anxiety as they
move to an unfamiliar environment
What are some components of ICU pa#ent and family centered care? - Answers Open
visita#on, inclusion in decision making, educa#on about healthcare, and inclusion of families in
designing comfortable spaces
What is reduced for the ICU pa#ent when the family is at the bedside? - Answers anxiety and
hallucina#ons
How can the family help the ICU pa#ent and nursing staff? - Answers they can comfort
pa#ents in ways not open to staff, as well as provide info to help the nurse individualize care
Historically, why have families been restricted from the ICU? - Answers Harmful physiological
consequences, interferes with #me nurses need to spend caring for pa#ents, delays in care
What are some advantages to having family present during CPR? - Answers Family grasps
seriousness of condi#on, sees firsthand everything was done for the pa#ent, helps with
grieving, doubt is removed, less fear and anxiety, a sense of closure,
