2
Chapter 01: Overview of Critical Care Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE .
1. Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine
ANS: A
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization that supports and represents
critical care nurses. The American Heart Association supports cardiovascular initiatives. The American Nurses
Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care Medicine represents the multiprofessional critical
care team under the direction of an intensivist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 4
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that support critical care practice.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit for 2 years and is interested in
certification. Which credential would be most applicable for her to seek?
a. ACNPC
b. CCNS
c. CCRN
d. PCCN
ANS: C
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care for critically ill patients. The
ACNPC certification is for acute care nurse practitioners. The CCNS certification is for critical care clinical
nurse specialists. The PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in progressive care, intermediate care, or
step-down unit settings.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 5
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
, 3
3. The main purpose of certification is to:
a. assure the consumer that you will not make a mistake.
b. prepare for graduate school.
c. promote magnet status for your facility.
d. validate knowledge of critical care nursing.
ANS: D
Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence in the profession, and helps
nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical care nursing. Certification helps to assure the consumer that the
nurse has a minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not ensure that care will be mistake-free.
Certification does not prepare one for graduate school; however, achieving certification demonstrates
motivation for achievement and professionalism. Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified nurses;
however, that is not the purpose of certification.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: pp. 4-5
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. The synergy model of practice focuses on:
a. allowing unrestricted visiting for the patient 24 hours each day.
b. holistic and alternative therapies.
c. needs of patients and their families, which drives nursing competency.
d. patients needs for energy and support.
ANS: C
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families influence and drive competencies
of nurses. Nursing practice based on the synergy model would involve tailored visiting to meet the patients and
familys needs and application of alternative therapies if desired by the patient, but that is not the primary focus
of the model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 5 | Fig. 1-3
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken with the physician in over 24
hours and they have some questions that they want clarified. During morning rounds, you convey this concern
to the attending intensivist and arrange for her to meet with the family at 4:00 PM in the conference room.
Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
, 4
a. Advocacy and moral agency in solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients, families, and team members
ANS: C
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being addressed, communication and
collaboration with the family and physician best exemplify the competency of collaboration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 9
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
6. The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework to guide critical
care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process
ANS: D
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process as applied to
critically ill patients: collect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care,
implement interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy work environment, but this is not
included in the Standards. The Joint Commission has established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are
not the AACN Standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 5 | Box 1-2
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
7. The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the critical care unit. She assigns the
experienced, certified nurse to care for the acutely ill patient with sepsis who also requires continuous renal
replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation. She assigns the nurse with less than 1 year of experience to
two patients who are more stable. This assignment reflects implementation of the:
a. crew resource management model
, 5
b. National Patient Safety Goals
c. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) model
d. synergy model of practice
ANS: D
This assignment demonstrates nursing care to meet the needs of the patient. The synergy model notes that the
nurse competencies are matched to the patient characteristics. Crew resource management concepts related to
team training, National Patient Safety Goals are specified by The Joint Commission to promote safe care but
do not incorporate the synergy model. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative involves targeted
education to undergraduate and graduate nursing students to learn quality and safety concepts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 5 | Fig. 1-3
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
8. The vision of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a healthcare system driven by:
a. a healthy work environment.
b. care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
c. the needs of critically ill patients and families.
d. respectful, healing, and humane environments.
ANS: C
The AACN vision is a healthcare system driven by the needs of critically ill patients and families where critica
care nurses make their optimum contributions. AACN promotes initiatives to support a healthy work
environment as well as respectful and healing environments, but that is not the organizations vision. The
SCCM promotes care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 4
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that support critical care practice.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
9. The most important outcome of effective communication is to:
a. demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b. ensure that patient teaching is done.
c. meet the diversity needs of patients.
Chapter 01: Overview of Critical Care Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE .
1. Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine
ANS: A
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization that supports and represents
critical care nurses. The American Heart Association supports cardiovascular initiatives. The American Nurses
Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care Medicine represents the multiprofessional critical
care team under the direction of an intensivist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 4
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that support critical care practice.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit for 2 years and is interested in
certification. Which credential would be most applicable for her to seek?
a. ACNPC
b. CCNS
c. CCRN
d. PCCN
ANS: C
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care for critically ill patients. The
ACNPC certification is for acute care nurse practitioners. The CCNS certification is for critical care clinical
nurse specialists. The PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in progressive care, intermediate care, or
step-down unit settings.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 5
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
, 3
3. The main purpose of certification is to:
a. assure the consumer that you will not make a mistake.
b. prepare for graduate school.
c. promote magnet status for your facility.
d. validate knowledge of critical care nursing.
ANS: D
Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence in the profession, and helps
nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical care nursing. Certification helps to assure the consumer that the
nurse has a minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not ensure that care will be mistake-free.
Certification does not prepare one for graduate school; however, achieving certification demonstrates
motivation for achievement and professionalism. Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified nurses;
however, that is not the purpose of certification.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: pp. 4-5
OBJ: Explain certification options for critical care nurses. TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
4. The synergy model of practice focuses on:
a. allowing unrestricted visiting for the patient 24 hours each day.
b. holistic and alternative therapies.
c. needs of patients and their families, which drives nursing competency.
d. patients needs for energy and support.
ANS: C
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families influence and drive competencies
of nurses. Nursing practice based on the synergy model would involve tailored visiting to meet the patients and
familys needs and application of alternative therapies if desired by the patient, but that is not the primary focus
of the model.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 5 | Fig. 1-3
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
5. The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken with the physician in over 24
hours and they have some questions that they want clarified. During morning rounds, you convey this concern
to the attending intensivist and arrange for her to meet with the family at 4:00 PM in the conference room.
Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
, 4
a. Advocacy and moral agency in solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients, families, and team members
ANS: C
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being addressed, communication and
collaboration with the family and physician best exemplify the competency of collaboration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 9
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
6. The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework to guide critical
care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process
ANS: D
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process as applied to
critically ill patients: collect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes, develop a plan of care,
implement interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy work environment, but this is not
included in the Standards. The Joint Commission has established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are
not the AACN Standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 5 | Box 1-2
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
7. The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the critical care unit. She assigns the
experienced, certified nurse to care for the acutely ill patient with sepsis who also requires continuous renal
replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation. She assigns the nurse with less than 1 year of experience to
two patients who are more stable. This assignment reflects implementation of the:
a. crew resource management model
, 5
b. National Patient Safety Goals
c. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) model
d. synergy model of practice
ANS: D
This assignment demonstrates nursing care to meet the needs of the patient. The synergy model notes that the
nurse competencies are matched to the patient characteristics. Crew resource management concepts related to
team training, National Patient Safety Goals are specified by The Joint Commission to promote safe care but
do not incorporate the synergy model. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative involves targeted
education to undergraduate and graduate nursing students to learn quality and safety concepts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: p. 5 | Fig. 1-3
OBJ: Describe standards of professional practice for critical care nursing.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
8. The vision of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a healthcare system driven by:
a. a healthy work environment.
b. care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
c. the needs of critically ill patients and families.
d. respectful, healing, and humane environments.
ANS: C
The AACN vision is a healthcare system driven by the needs of critically ill patients and families where critica
care nurses make their optimum contributions. AACN promotes initiatives to support a healthy work
environment as well as respectful and healing environments, but that is not the organizations vision. The
SCCM promotes care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 4
OBJ: Discuss the purposes and functions of the professional organizations that support critical care practice.
TOP: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
9. The most important outcome of effective communication is to:
a. demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b. ensure that patient teaching is done.
c. meet the diversity needs of patients.
