Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWER (2024-2025) A+ GRADED
QUESTION 1
A patient safety professional is advocating that a quarterly summary of safety events be distributed to
hospital staff at large. Legal counsel is concerned about potential liability and adverse media
coverage. Which of the following is the most compelling argument for sharing findings?
A. The media will view event reporting in a positive light.
B. The events to be shared reflect adherence to the standard of care and therefore pose minimal
vulnerability for legal action.
C. The leadership of the hospital rewards staff for reporting events.
D. Sharing findings with hospital staff promotes awareness of risks to patients and reduces
complacency.
QUESTION 2
Which of the following is the best sequence of steps when selecting an event reporting system?
A. Evaluate available options, pilot selected options, and obtain user feedback.
B. Identify the vendor used by a neighboring hospital, solicit a proposal from that vendor, and
implement system.
C. Design curriculum for end users, invite the vendor to present educational sessions, and offer
online tutorials.
D. Create reports needed for end users, establish accountability for reporting, and guide teams in
action planning.
QUESTION 3
Multiple nurses have reported that a physician’s behavior is disruptive. An effective first step in
responding to the nurses' concern is to
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
,A. counsel the physician.
B. terminate the privileges of the physician.
C. refer the case to a physician impairment committee.
D. interview the physician.
QUESTION 4
A medical assistant used a small blood pressure cuff on a patient who is morbidly obese with
hypertension, resulting in an inappropriate increase in anti-hypertensive medications. In a follow-up
visit for severe diarrhea as a side effect of the new anti- hypertensive medication, which of the
following conversations by the healthcare provider includes the most appropriate elements for
patient disclosure of the medical error?
A. "Your diarrhea is probably related to the new anti-hypertensive medicine that we prescribed for
you last week. We are going to stop the new medication, which should clear up the diarrhea. Do you
have any questions?"
B. "Our medical assistant used the wrong size of blood pressure cuff so we changed
your medication, and that is what is causing your diarrhea. I will stop the new medication and that
should clear up your diarrhea. I am very sorry this happened."
C. "I think your diarrhea is from the new blood pressure medicine that I prescribed because a staff
member used the wrong size blood pressure cuff. I am very sorry this happened and that you had to
suffer the consequences of having a reaction to the medicine."
d. "We have identified that the wrong size of blood pressure cuff was used, which resulted in a
prescription for a new medication. The new medication is most likely causing your diarrhea. I am very
sorry that you had these unnecessary side effects. We have a new process to prevent this from
occurring again. Do you have any questions?"
QUESTION 5
In January of 2009 a hospital implemented a bar-code system using handheld technology at the
bedside to verify the right patient, drug, dose, time and route for safe medication administration.
They trended their system warnings to detect medication system opportunities related to wrong
patient. The results are as follows:
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
, QUESTION 6
Based on data generated from the bar-code medication system, which of the following is the best
conclusion?
A. The system has failed to produce a sustainable reduction in wrong-patient events, and removal
should be considered.
B. The data do not provide sufficient evidence to judge the effectiveness of the system.
C. There are adequate data points to support the implementation of a system-wide change in the
bar-code medication system.
D. Based on the trend over time, it can be predicted that a 20% reduction in the wrong-patient
events is expected.
QUESTION 7
A leader of an outpatient endoscopy unit questions whether The Joint Commission National Patient
Safety Goal related to labeling medications and solution containers is applicable to the unit. The
leader believes the possibility of error is remote in the endoscopy unit because the staff is
experienced and very familiar with the small range of procedures that are performed frequently.
Which of the following statements best addresses the leader's question?
A. The Joint Commission adopts standards that are congruent with other high profile safety
standards and expectations.
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWER (2024-2025) A+ GRADED
QUESTION 1
A patient safety professional is advocating that a quarterly summary of safety events be distributed to
hospital staff at large. Legal counsel is concerned about potential liability and adverse media
coverage. Which of the following is the most compelling argument for sharing findings?
A. The media will view event reporting in a positive light.
B. The events to be shared reflect adherence to the standard of care and therefore pose minimal
vulnerability for legal action.
C. The leadership of the hospital rewards staff for reporting events.
D. Sharing findings with hospital staff promotes awareness of risks to patients and reduces
complacency.
QUESTION 2
Which of the following is the best sequence of steps when selecting an event reporting system?
A. Evaluate available options, pilot selected options, and obtain user feedback.
B. Identify the vendor used by a neighboring hospital, solicit a proposal from that vendor, and
implement system.
C. Design curriculum for end users, invite the vendor to present educational sessions, and offer
online tutorials.
D. Create reports needed for end users, establish accountability for reporting, and guide teams in
action planning.
QUESTION 3
Multiple nurses have reported that a physician’s behavior is disruptive. An effective first step in
responding to the nurses' concern is to
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
,A. counsel the physician.
B. terminate the privileges of the physician.
C. refer the case to a physician impairment committee.
D. interview the physician.
QUESTION 4
A medical assistant used a small blood pressure cuff on a patient who is morbidly obese with
hypertension, resulting in an inappropriate increase in anti-hypertensive medications. In a follow-up
visit for severe diarrhea as a side effect of the new anti- hypertensive medication, which of the
following conversations by the healthcare provider includes the most appropriate elements for
patient disclosure of the medical error?
A. "Your diarrhea is probably related to the new anti-hypertensive medicine that we prescribed for
you last week. We are going to stop the new medication, which should clear up the diarrhea. Do you
have any questions?"
B. "Our medical assistant used the wrong size of blood pressure cuff so we changed
your medication, and that is what is causing your diarrhea. I will stop the new medication and that
should clear up your diarrhea. I am very sorry this happened."
C. "I think your diarrhea is from the new blood pressure medicine that I prescribed because a staff
member used the wrong size blood pressure cuff. I am very sorry this happened and that you had to
suffer the consequences of having a reaction to the medicine."
d. "We have identified that the wrong size of blood pressure cuff was used, which resulted in a
prescription for a new medication. The new medication is most likely causing your diarrhea. I am very
sorry that you had these unnecessary side effects. We have a new process to prevent this from
occurring again. Do you have any questions?"
QUESTION 5
In January of 2009 a hospital implemented a bar-code system using handheld technology at the
bedside to verify the right patient, drug, dose, time and route for safe medication administration.
They trended their system warnings to detect medication system opportunities related to wrong
patient. The results are as follows:
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
, QUESTION 6
Based on data generated from the bar-code medication system, which of the following is the best
conclusion?
A. The system has failed to produce a sustainable reduction in wrong-patient events, and removal
should be considered.
B. The data do not provide sufficient evidence to judge the effectiveness of the system.
C. There are adequate data points to support the implementation of a system-wide change in the
bar-code medication system.
D. Based on the trend over time, it can be predicted that a 20% reduction in the wrong-patient
events is expected.
QUESTION 7
A leader of an outpatient endoscopy unit questions whether The Joint Commission National Patient
Safety Goal related to labeling medications and solution containers is applicable to the unit. The
leader believes the possibility of error is remote in the endoscopy unit because the staff is
experienced and very familiar with the small range of procedures that are performed frequently.
Which of the following statements best addresses the leader's question?
A. The Joint Commission adopts standards that are congruent with other high profile safety
standards and expectations.
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam
