Introduction to Critical Care Nursing exam with rationale

Introduction to Critical Care Nursing exam with rationale



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 the nurse to seek?

a. ACNPC-AG
b. CNML
c. CCRN
d. PCCN - Answer: C

The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care for critically ill patients.
The ACNPC-AG certification is for acute care nurse practitioners. The CNML is for critical care nurse
managers or leaders. The PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in progressive care, intermediate care, or step-down unit settings.
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The main purpose of CCRN 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 - Answer: 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.
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The synergy model of practice focuses on

a. allowing unrestricted visiting for the patient 24 hours a day.
b. holistic and alternative therapies.
c. the needs of patients and their families, which drive nursing competency.
d. patients' needs for energy and support. - Answer: 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 patient's and family's needs and the application of alternative therapies if desired by the patient, but that is not the primary focus of the model.
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The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken with the physician in over 24 hours and that they have some questions they want clarified. During morning
rounds, you convey this concern to the attending intensivist and arrange a meeting with the family at 4:00 PM. Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?

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 - Answer: 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
p. 6 | Fig 1-3 | Box 1

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 - Answer: D

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 - Answer: 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.
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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 its standards. The Joint Commission has established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are not the AACN standards.
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The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the critical care unit. An experienced, certified nurse is assigned to care for the acutely ill patient with sepsis who
also requires continuous renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation. The nurse with less
than 1 year of experience is assigned to two patients who are more stable. This assignment reflects
implementation of the

a. crew resource management model.
b. National Patient Safety Goals.
c. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) model.
d. synergy model of practice - Answer: 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 are 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 of undergraduate and graduate nursing students on quality and safety concepts.
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