Test Bank For
Priorities in Critical Care Nursing, 9th Edition 2024 Linda D. Urden & Kathleen M. Stacy &
Mary E. Lough
Chapter 1-27
Chapter 01: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The chief nurse executive is organizing a team to address an organizational increase in
catheter-associated urinary tract infections. What type of practitioner would be appropriate
choice to lead this system-wide team?
a. Registered nurse
b. Advanced practice nurse
c. Clinical nurse leader
d. Intensivist
ANS: B
An advanced practice nurse (APN) manages complex clinical and systems issues and
would be an appropriate choice to lead the team. An intensivist is a medical practitioner
who manages critical ill patients. A registered nurse (RN) is generally a direct care
provider. A clinical nurse leader (CNL) generally does not manage system issues. An
intensivist may be asked to consult with the team and the RN and CNL may be asked to
join the team but none of them would be the most appropriate to lead the team.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
2. An employee health practitioner is concerned about the increase in work-related injuries
and is organizing a team to address safe patient handling. What type of practitioner would
be the most appropriate choice to lead this team?
a. Clinical nurse specialist
b. Nurse anesthetist
c. Registered nurse
d. Nurse practitioner
ANS: A
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) would be the most appropriate choice to lead this team.
CNSs make good team leaders as they can use their clinical, teaching, research,
consultative and leadership abilities to address the problem. Nurse anesthetists administer
anesthesia and would not be the most appropriate choice to lead the team. Registered
nurses are generally direct care providers and would be appropriate to include on the team
but not the most appropriate choice to lead the team. Nurse practitioners (NPs) manage
direct clinical care of groups of patients and would not be the most appropriate choice to
lead the team.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluating OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
3. A registered nurse working in the intensive care unit has decided to become certified as a
critical care nurse. Which professional organization should the nurse contact for more
information about the certification exam?
a. State Board of Registered Nurses
b. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist
c. Society of Critical Care Medicine
d. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation
ANS: D
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation
develops and administers many critical care specialty certification examinations for
registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. The State Board of Registered Nurses
(SBON) does not administer certification exams. National Association of Clinical Nurse
Specialists (NACNS) does not administer certification exams. Society of Critical Care
Medicine (SCCM) does not administer certification exams for registered nurses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has developed short directives
that can be used as quick references for clinical use. What are these documents called?
a. Critical care protocols
b. Practice policies
c. Evidence-based research directives
d. Practice alerts
ANS: D
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has promulgated several
evidence-based practice summaries in the form of ―practice alerts.‖ Critical care protocols
and practice policies are established by individual organizations. Evidence-based research
directives are a generic name for several different types of documents.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Planning TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. A patient has been diagnosed with cancer and has decided to stop chemotherapy as it is not
working. The patient asks the health care practitioner if there are any other therapies
available. The practitioner recommends the patient seek what type of therapy?
a. Alternative
b. Holistic
c. Complementary
d. Individualized
, ANS: A
The term alternative denotes that a specific therapy is an option or alternative to what is
considered conventional treatment of a condition or state. The term complementary was
proposed to describe therapies that can be used to complement or support conventional
treatments. Holistic care focuses on human integrity and stresses that the body, mind, and
spirit are interdependent and inseparable. Individualized care recognizes the uniqueness of
each patient’s preferences, condition, and physiologic and psychosocial status.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
6. A patient with cancer receiving chemotherapy has incorporated guided imagery and
massage into their treatment plan. These therapies are examples of what type of treatment?
a. Alternative therapy
b. Holistic care
c. Complementary care
d. Individualized care
ANS: C
The term complementary was proposed to describe therapies that can be used to
complement or support conventional treatments. Guided imagery, massage, and
animal-assisted therapy are all examples of complementary care. The term alternative
denotes that a specific therapy is an option or alternative to what is considered
conventional treatment of a condition or state. Holistic care focuses on human integrity
and stresses that the body, mind, and spirit are interdependent and inseparable.
Individualized care recognizes the uniqueness of each patient’s preferences, condition, and
physiologic and psychosocial status.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient was admitted to a rural critical care unit in Montana. Critical care nurses are
assisting with monitoring and care of the patient from the closest major city. What is this
type of practice termed?
a. Tele-nursing
b. Tele-ICU
c. Tele-informatics
d. Tele-hospital
ANS: B
Tele-ICU is a form of telemedicine. Telemedicine was initially used in outpatient areas,
remote rural geographic locations, and areas where there was a dearth of medical
providers. Currently, there are tele-ICUs in areas where there are limited resources on-site.
However, experts (critical care nurses, intensivists) are located in a central distant site.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
, TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
8. Which core competency for interprofessional practice can be described as working with
individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values?
a. Interprofessional teamwork and team-based care
b. Values and ethics for interprofessional practice
c. Interprofessional communication
d. Roles and responsibilities for collaborative practice
ANS: B
Values and ethics for interprofessional practice mean working with individuals of other
professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. Roles and
responsibilities for collaborative practice include using knowledge of one’s own role and
the roles of other professions to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of
the patients and populations served. Interprofessional communication includes
communicating with patients, families, communities, and other health professionals in a
responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to maintaining health
and treatment of disease. Interprofessional teamwork and team-based care means applying
relationship-building values and principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in
different team roles to plan and deliver patient population-centered care that is safe,
timely, efficient, effective, and equitable.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
9. The leadership team of the intensive care unit is reviewing the quality issues that have
occurred over the last six months. Which situation continues to be one of the most
problem-prone for critical care nurses?
a. Inappropriate care
b. Intimidating and disruptive clinician behavior
c. Injury to patients by falls
d. Medication errors
ANS: D
Medication errors continue to be one of the most problem-prone nursing interventions for
critical care nurses. Intimidating and disruptive clinician behaviors, inappropriate care, and
injury to patients by falls are also problems that can occur however, medication errors
continue to be the most prevalent.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
10. A nurse is performing an assessment on a patient being admitted to the hospital. The nurse
asks the patient about their inner sense of being male, female, or something else. What
information is the nurse trying to elicit from the patient?
a. Sex assigned at birth
Priorities in Critical Care Nursing, 9th Edition 2024 Linda D. Urden & Kathleen M. Stacy &
Mary E. Lough
Chapter 1-27
Chapter 01: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The chief nurse executive is organizing a team to address an organizational increase in
catheter-associated urinary tract infections. What type of practitioner would be appropriate
choice to lead this system-wide team?
a. Registered nurse
b. Advanced practice nurse
c. Clinical nurse leader
d. Intensivist
ANS: B
An advanced practice nurse (APN) manages complex clinical and systems issues and
would be an appropriate choice to lead the team. An intensivist is a medical practitioner
who manages critical ill patients. A registered nurse (RN) is generally a direct care
provider. A clinical nurse leader (CNL) generally does not manage system issues. An
intensivist may be asked to consult with the team and the RN and CNL may be asked to
join the team but none of them would be the most appropriate to lead the team.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
2. An employee health practitioner is concerned about the increase in work-related injuries
and is organizing a team to address safe patient handling. What type of practitioner would
be the most appropriate choice to lead this team?
a. Clinical nurse specialist
b. Nurse anesthetist
c. Registered nurse
d. Nurse practitioner
ANS: A
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) would be the most appropriate choice to lead this team.
CNSs make good team leaders as they can use their clinical, teaching, research,
consultative and leadership abilities to address the problem. Nurse anesthetists administer
anesthesia and would not be the most appropriate choice to lead the team. Registered
nurses are generally direct care providers and would be appropriate to include on the team
but not the most appropriate choice to lead the team. Nurse practitioners (NPs) manage
direct clinical care of groups of patients and would not be the most appropriate choice to
lead the team.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluating OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
3. A registered nurse working in the intensive care unit has decided to become certified as a
critical care nurse. Which professional organization should the nurse contact for more
information about the certification exam?
a. State Board of Registered Nurses
b. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist
c. Society of Critical Care Medicine
d. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation
ANS: D
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation
develops and administers many critical care specialty certification examinations for
registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. The State Board of Registered Nurses
(SBON) does not administer certification exams. National Association of Clinical Nurse
Specialists (NACNS) does not administer certification exams. Society of Critical Care
Medicine (SCCM) does not administer certification exams for registered nurses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has developed short directives
that can be used as quick references for clinical use. What are these documents called?
a. Critical care protocols
b. Practice policies
c. Evidence-based research directives
d. Practice alerts
ANS: D
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has promulgated several
evidence-based practice summaries in the form of ―practice alerts.‖ Critical care protocols
and practice policies are established by individual organizations. Evidence-based research
directives are a generic name for several different types of documents.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Planning TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. A patient has been diagnosed with cancer and has decided to stop chemotherapy as it is not
working. The patient asks the health care practitioner if there are any other therapies
available. The practitioner recommends the patient seek what type of therapy?
a. Alternative
b. Holistic
c. Complementary
d. Individualized
, ANS: A
The term alternative denotes that a specific therapy is an option or alternative to what is
considered conventional treatment of a condition or state. The term complementary was
proposed to describe therapies that can be used to complement or support conventional
treatments. Holistic care focuses on human integrity and stresses that the body, mind, and
spirit are interdependent and inseparable. Individualized care recognizes the uniqueness of
each patient’s preferences, condition, and physiologic and psychosocial status.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
6. A patient with cancer receiving chemotherapy has incorporated guided imagery and
massage into their treatment plan. These therapies are examples of what type of treatment?
a. Alternative therapy
b. Holistic care
c. Complementary care
d. Individualized care
ANS: C
The term complementary was proposed to describe therapies that can be used to
complement or support conventional treatments. Guided imagery, massage, and
animal-assisted therapy are all examples of complementary care. The term alternative
denotes that a specific therapy is an option or alternative to what is considered
conventional treatment of a condition or state. Holistic care focuses on human integrity
and stresses that the body, mind, and spirit are interdependent and inseparable.
Individualized care recognizes the uniqueness of each patient’s preferences, condition, and
physiologic and psychosocial status.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient was admitted to a rural critical care unit in Montana. Critical care nurses are
assisting with monitoring and care of the patient from the closest major city. What is this
type of practice termed?
a. Tele-nursing
b. Tele-ICU
c. Tele-informatics
d. Tele-hospital
ANS: B
Tele-ICU is a form of telemedicine. Telemedicine was initially used in outpatient areas,
remote rural geographic locations, and areas where there was a dearth of medical
providers. Currently, there are tele-ICUs in areas where there are limited resources on-site.
However, experts (critical care nurses, intensivists) are located in a central distant site.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
, TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
8. Which core competency for interprofessional practice can be described as working with
individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values?
a. Interprofessional teamwork and team-based care
b. Values and ethics for interprofessional practice
c. Interprofessional communication
d. Roles and responsibilities for collaborative practice
ANS: B
Values and ethics for interprofessional practice mean working with individuals of other
professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. Roles and
responsibilities for collaborative practice include using knowledge of one’s own role and
the roles of other professions to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of
the patients and populations served. Interprofessional communication includes
communicating with patients, families, communities, and other health professionals in a
responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to maintaining health
and treatment of disease. Interprofessional teamwork and team-based care means applying
relationship-building values and principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in
different team roles to plan and deliver patient population-centered care that is safe,
timely, efficient, effective, and equitable.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering OBJ: Nursing Process Step:
N/A
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
9. The leadership team of the intensive care unit is reviewing the quality issues that have
occurred over the last six months. Which situation continues to be one of the most
problem-prone for critical care nurses?
a. Inappropriate care
b. Intimidating and disruptive clinician behavior
c. Injury to patients by falls
d. Medication errors
ANS: D
Medication errors continue to be one of the most problem-prone nursing interventions for
critical care nurses. Intimidating and disruptive clinician behaviors, inappropriate care, and
injury to patients by falls are also problems that can occur however, medication errors
continue to be the most prevalent.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
TOP: Caring for the Critically Ill Patient
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
10. A nurse is performing an assessment on a patient being admitted to the hospital. The nurse
asks the patient about their inner sense of being male, female, or something else. What
information is the nurse trying to elicit from the patient?
a. Sex assigned at birth
