1
AACN Certification CCRN/PCCN Critical
Care Exam 1 Questions and Correct Detailed
Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded
A+ Newest 2026
AACN >>Correct Answer >> certify nurses; protect consumer by establishing high
standards of professional practice
CCRN >>Correct Answer >> certification for nurses who provide care in critically ill
adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
PCCN >>Correct Answer >> certification for nurses who provide acute care in
progressive care, telemetry, and similar units
CNML >>Correct Answer >> certification for critical care managers and leaders
CCNS >>Correct Answer >> certification for acute and critical care clinical nurse
specialists
Level A (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> meta-analysis or
metasynthesis studies; results consistently support specific action, intervention, or
treatment
Level B (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> randomized and
nonrandomized controlled studies; results consistently support specific action,
intervention, or treatment
,2
Level C (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> qualitative,
descriptive, or correlational studies, reviews, or trials with inconsistent results
Level D (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> Peer-reviewed
with clinical studies to support recommendations
Level E (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> theory-based
evidence from expert opinions
Level M (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> Manufacturer's
recommendation only
Ask-Tell-Ask (Communication) >>Correct Answer >> Communication technique that
assesses concerns before providing info
Situational Awareness (Communication) >>Correct Answer >> being aware of one's
surroundings
Calgary Family Assessment >>Correct Answer >> Assessment that involves structural,
developmental, and functional assessments
Family Bundle >>Correct Answer >> Provide structure for planning and carrying out
family care; based on 5 concepts: evaluate, plan; involve; communicate; support
(EPICS)
Principlism >>Correct Answer >> widely applied ethical approach based of 4
fundamental moral principles to contemporary ethical dilemmas; respect for autonomy;
,3
beneficence; nonmaleficence; justice
Beneficence >>Correct Answer >> the duty to provide benefits to others when in a
position to do so, to help balance harms and benefits; the benefits of an action should
outweigh the burdens
Futility >>Correct Answer >> states that care should not be given if it is futile in terms of
improving comfort or the medical outcome
Veracity >>Correct Answer >> states that persons are obligated to tell the truth in their
communication with others
Fidelity >>Correct Answer >> requires that one has a moral duty to be faithful to the
commitments made to others
Elements of Informed Consent >>Correct Answer >> competence (capacity);
voluntariness; disclosure of information
Living Will >>Correct Answer >> a witnessed written document or oral statement
voluntarily executed by a person that expresses the person's instructions concerning
life-prolonging procedure; not legally binding in some states
Proxy >>Correct Answer >> a competent adult, not designated to make health care
decisions for an incapacitated person, but is authorized by state statute to make
healthcare decisions for the person
Surrogate >>Correct Answer >> a competent adult designated by a person to make
, 4
health care decisions should that person become incapacitated
Patient Self-Determination act (End-of-life issue) >>Correct Answer >> requires that all
healthcare facilities that receive medicare or medicaid funding inform their patients
about their right to initiate an advance directive and the right to consent to or refuse
medical treatment
Withholding, Limiting, or Withdrawing Therapy >>Correct Answer >> Priority should be
anticipating patient symptoms; assessment of patient response; titration of therapy to
relieve emotional and physical distress; common meds used are analgesics (ie.
Morphine) and anxiolytics (ie. benzodiazepines)
Ventilator WIthdrawal >>Correct Answer >> Known as "terminal weaning"; consist of
titration of ventilator support to minimal levels, removal of ventilator, but not artificial
airway, or complete extubation; titrate pain meds and sedation as needed to relieve
symptoms of respiratory distress
Commonly withheld therapy >>Correct Answer >> vasopressors; antibiotics; done
when goal of treatment shift to palliation instead of cure; address these before
withdrawing or withholding ventilation
Ethical Principles for withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment -
>>Correct Answer >> life-sustaining treatment should not be withdrawn while patient is
receiving paralytic agents. When paralytic drugs are discontinued, patient must
demonstrate sufficient motor activity to allow thorough clinical assessment before
withdrawal of support
AACN Certification CCRN/PCCN Critical
Care Exam 1 Questions and Correct Detailed
Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded
A+ Newest 2026
AACN >>Correct Answer >> certify nurses; protect consumer by establishing high
standards of professional practice
CCRN >>Correct Answer >> certification for nurses who provide care in critically ill
adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
PCCN >>Correct Answer >> certification for nurses who provide acute care in
progressive care, telemetry, and similar units
CNML >>Correct Answer >> certification for critical care managers and leaders
CCNS >>Correct Answer >> certification for acute and critical care clinical nurse
specialists
Level A (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> meta-analysis or
metasynthesis studies; results consistently support specific action, intervention, or
treatment
Level B (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> randomized and
nonrandomized controlled studies; results consistently support specific action,
intervention, or treatment
,2
Level C (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> qualitative,
descriptive, or correlational studies, reviews, or trials with inconsistent results
Level D (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> Peer-reviewed
with clinical studies to support recommendations
Level E (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> theory-based
evidence from expert opinions
Level M (Scale for Rating Research Evidence) >>Correct Answer >> Manufacturer's
recommendation only
Ask-Tell-Ask (Communication) >>Correct Answer >> Communication technique that
assesses concerns before providing info
Situational Awareness (Communication) >>Correct Answer >> being aware of one's
surroundings
Calgary Family Assessment >>Correct Answer >> Assessment that involves structural,
developmental, and functional assessments
Family Bundle >>Correct Answer >> Provide structure for planning and carrying out
family care; based on 5 concepts: evaluate, plan; involve; communicate; support
(EPICS)
Principlism >>Correct Answer >> widely applied ethical approach based of 4
fundamental moral principles to contemporary ethical dilemmas; respect for autonomy;
,3
beneficence; nonmaleficence; justice
Beneficence >>Correct Answer >> the duty to provide benefits to others when in a
position to do so, to help balance harms and benefits; the benefits of an action should
outweigh the burdens
Futility >>Correct Answer >> states that care should not be given if it is futile in terms of
improving comfort or the medical outcome
Veracity >>Correct Answer >> states that persons are obligated to tell the truth in their
communication with others
Fidelity >>Correct Answer >> requires that one has a moral duty to be faithful to the
commitments made to others
Elements of Informed Consent >>Correct Answer >> competence (capacity);
voluntariness; disclosure of information
Living Will >>Correct Answer >> a witnessed written document or oral statement
voluntarily executed by a person that expresses the person's instructions concerning
life-prolonging procedure; not legally binding in some states
Proxy >>Correct Answer >> a competent adult, not designated to make health care
decisions for an incapacitated person, but is authorized by state statute to make
healthcare decisions for the person
Surrogate >>Correct Answer >> a competent adult designated by a person to make
, 4
health care decisions should that person become incapacitated
Patient Self-Determination act (End-of-life issue) >>Correct Answer >> requires that all
healthcare facilities that receive medicare or medicaid funding inform their patients
about their right to initiate an advance directive and the right to consent to or refuse
medical treatment
Withholding, Limiting, or Withdrawing Therapy >>Correct Answer >> Priority should be
anticipating patient symptoms; assessment of patient response; titration of therapy to
relieve emotional and physical distress; common meds used are analgesics (ie.
Morphine) and anxiolytics (ie. benzodiazepines)
Ventilator WIthdrawal >>Correct Answer >> Known as "terminal weaning"; consist of
titration of ventilator support to minimal levels, removal of ventilator, but not artificial
airway, or complete extubation; titrate pain meds and sedation as needed to relieve
symptoms of respiratory distress
Commonly withheld therapy >>Correct Answer >> vasopressors; antibiotics; done
when goal of treatment shift to palliation instead of cure; address these before
withdrawing or withholding ventilation
Ethical Principles for withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment -
>>Correct Answer >> life-sustaining treatment should not be withdrawn while patient is
receiving paralytic agents. When paralytic drugs are discontinued, patient must
demonstrate sufficient motor activity to allow thorough clinical assessment before
withdrawal of support
