AACN Critical Care Exam 1 NEWEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
Professional organizations that support critical care practice -CORRECTANSWER
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER assisting acute and critical care
nurses to attain knowledge and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER supports creating a healthcare
system driven by the needs of patients and families in which critical care nurses make
their optimal contributions...synergy
What are the values of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER accountability, advocacy,
integrity, collaboration, leadership, stewardship, lifelong learning, quality, innovation,
commitment
Explain the synergy model and recognize how it is used in practice -
CORRECTANSWER - framework that aligns patient needs w nurse competencies
- needs of patient drive nurse competencies for patient care
,What types of certifications are available for ICU nurses? -CORRECTANSWER CCRN -
critically ill adult, pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? -CORRECTANSWER validates knowledge of critical
care nursing, promotes professional excellence, helps nurses to maintain current
knowledge base
What are three specific projects/organizations in place to assist nurses in providing safe
care? -CORRECTANSWER Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Rapid response teams/joint commission (?)
What types of measures do safe care organizations implement? -CORRECTANSWER
Safety, reduce infections, bundles of care
What is a bundle of care? Give an example. -CORRECTANSWER Set of 3-5 EBPs that
when put together significantly improve pt outcomes
ex - ventilator bundle -- HOB elevated, DVT prophylaxis, holding a sedative to
determine pt readiness to get off vent
, What are some barriers to effective handoff communication? -CORRECTANSWER
physical setting, social setting, language, communication medium
ex - background noise, different languages, email vs text vs paper, status issues
What standardized measures have been implemented to help prevent communication
breakdown at shift change? -CORRECTANSWER SBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-professional
rounds? -CORRECTANSWER D/C needs, greatest safety risk, assessment and
followup, implementation of bundles, assess need for all ordered meds, identify whether
central lines & catheters can be removed, code status, family needs, advance
directives, when to call MD, tx goals
What types of things contribute to sensory overload/deprivation in a critical care
environment? -CORRECTANSWER noise level, environment different than
surroundings causing hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory
overload/deprivation? -CORRECTANSWER Noise: place pt in private room, soundproof
ceiling tiles, sedative music, quickly assess alarms
Hallucinations: post family photos, encourage visitation, interact w pt
Use natural lighting
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
Professional organizations that support critical care practice -CORRECTANSWER
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), Society of Critical Care Medicine
What is the mission of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER assisting acute and critical care
nurses to attain knowledge and influence to deliver excellent care
What is the vision of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER supports creating a healthcare
system driven by the needs of patients and families in which critical care nurses make
their optimal contributions...synergy
What are the values of AACN? -CORRECTANSWER accountability, advocacy,
integrity, collaboration, leadership, stewardship, lifelong learning, quality, innovation,
commitment
Explain the synergy model and recognize how it is used in practice -
CORRECTANSWER - framework that aligns patient needs w nurse competencies
- needs of patient drive nurse competencies for patient care
,What types of certifications are available for ICU nurses? -CORRECTANSWER CCRN -
critically ill adult, pediatric or neonatal pts
PCCN - acute care in progressive care, telemetry
AACN - nurse managers and leaders
Why are certifications important? -CORRECTANSWER validates knowledge of critical
care nursing, promotes professional excellence, helps nurses to maintain current
knowledge base
What are three specific projects/organizations in place to assist nurses in providing safe
care? -CORRECTANSWER Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Rapid response teams/joint commission (?)
What types of measures do safe care organizations implement? -CORRECTANSWER
Safety, reduce infections, bundles of care
What is a bundle of care? Give an example. -CORRECTANSWER Set of 3-5 EBPs that
when put together significantly improve pt outcomes
ex - ventilator bundle -- HOB elevated, DVT prophylaxis, holding a sedative to
determine pt readiness to get off vent
, What are some barriers to effective handoff communication? -CORRECTANSWER
physical setting, social setting, language, communication medium
ex - background noise, different languages, email vs text vs paper, status issues
What standardized measures have been implemented to help prevent communication
breakdown at shift change? -CORRECTANSWER SBAR, checklists
What are examples of things you may need to communicate during multi-professional
rounds? -CORRECTANSWER D/C needs, greatest safety risk, assessment and
followup, implementation of bundles, assess need for all ordered meds, identify whether
central lines & catheters can be removed, code status, family needs, advance
directives, when to call MD, tx goals
What types of things contribute to sensory overload/deprivation in a critical care
environment? -CORRECTANSWER noise level, environment different than
surroundings causing hallucinations, lighting
What types of interventions can nurses implement to combat sensory
overload/deprivation? -CORRECTANSWER Noise: place pt in private room, soundproof
ceiling tiles, sedative music, quickly assess alarms
Hallucinations: post family photos, encourage visitation, interact w pt
Use natural lighting
