, AACN Core Curriculum for
Progressive and Critical Care
Nursing
Test Bank | 8th Edition
Full Chapter List:
1. Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
2. Psychosocial Aspects of Critical Care
3. Pulmonary System
4. Cardiovascular System
5. Neurologic System
6. Renal System
7. Endocrine System
8. Hematologic and Immunologic Systems
9. Gastrointestinal System
10. Sepsis and Septic Shock
11. Multisystem Trauma
12. Burns
13. Hypothermia
14. Toxin Exposure
15. Bariatric Patients
16. Older Adult Patients
17. High-Risk Obstetric Patients
18. Patient Transport
19. Sedation
20. Pain
21. Palliative and End-of-Life Care
22. Perioperative Care
,Chapter 1: Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
Question 1
A critical care nurse is caring for a patient whose family requests
withholding diagnosis details from the patient. Which action best reflects
ethical nursing practice?
A) Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and provide information
directly to the patient when capable
B) Follow family preference without assessing patient capacity
C) Ask another nurse to discuss diagnosis to avoid conflict
D) Delay all communication until discharge planning
✅ Correct Answer: A) Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and
provide information directly to the patient when capable
Rationale: Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and provide
information directly to the patient when capable is most appropriate because
it aligns with priority critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and
ethical practice, including timely assessment, prevention of secondary
injury, and outcome-guided reassessment. The alternative options are less
appropriate because they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or
underuse dynamic data needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: ethical principles
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care
Environment: Safety and Infection Control
Question 2
,During rounds, two treatment options offer similar outcomes but different
burdens. Which nursing role most supports shared decision-making?
A) Recommend the least expensive therapy regardless of preferences
B) Let physicians decide without discussing values
C) Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate them during team
planning
D) Encourage family to choose based on convenience
✅ Correct Answer: C) Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate
them during team planning
Rationale: Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate them during
team planning is most appropriate because it aligns with priority critical-care
nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice, including timely
assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-guided
reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because they delay
intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data needed in
unstable patients.
DIF: Moderate
TOP: informed consent
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care
and Comfort
Question 3
A nurse experiences recurring moral distress after participating in perceived
nonbeneficial care. What is the most appropriate first professional step?
A) Ignore feelings and focus only on tasks
B) Transfer units immediately without reporting concern
,C) Document distress but avoid further discussion
D) Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify concerns and coping
options
✅ Correct Answer: D) Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify
concerns and coping options
Rationale: Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify concerns
and coping options is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Difficult
TOP: surrogate decision-making
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Question 4
Which intervention best protects patient autonomy during high-acuity care?
A) Obtain signature quickly to avoid delaying treatment
B) Use medical jargon to keep the explanation brief
C) Allow family to answer for a competent patient
D) Use plain-language explanations and verify understanding before
consent-related steps
✅ Correct Answer: D) Use plain-language explanations and verify
understanding before consent-related steps
,Rationale: Use plain-language explanations and verify understanding before
consent-related steps is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: moral distress
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of
Risk Potential
Question 5
When conflict arises between family wishes and an advance directive, which
nursing action is priority?
A) Prioritize family preference because they visit most
B) Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining adherence to
documented patient preferences
C) Suspend all care until legal counsel arrives
D) Ask bedside staff to vote on best plan
✅ Correct Answer: B) Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining
adherence to documented patient preferences
Rationale: Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining adherence to
documented patient preferences is most appropriate because it aligns with
priority critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical
practice, including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and
,outcome-guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate
because they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic
data needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Moderate
TOP: patient advocacy
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Physiological Adaptation
Question 6
Which behavior demonstrates therapeutic professional boundaries in ICU
care?
A) Give personal phone number for after-hours updates
B) Share own traumatic history to build rapport
C) Accept expensive gifts from grateful relatives
D) Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus away from patient goals
✅ Correct Answer: D) Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus
away from patient goals
Rationale: Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus away from
patient goals is most appropriate because it aligns with priority critical-care
nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice, including timely
assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-guided
reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because they delay
intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data needed in
unstable patients.
DIF: Difficult
TOP: cultural humility
, MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
Question 7
A culturally diverse family asks for rituals that may delay procedures
briefly. What is the best nurse response?
A) Refuse all ritual requests to preserve workflow
B) Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when clinically safe and
time-limited
C) Allow indefinite delays despite instability
D) Ask family to perform rituals without infection precautions
✅ Correct Answer: B) Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when
clinically safe and time-limited
Rationale: Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when clinically
safe and time-limited is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: professional boundaries
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care
Environment: Management of Care
Question 8
Progressive and Critical Care
Nursing
Test Bank | 8th Edition
Full Chapter List:
1. Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
2. Psychosocial Aspects of Critical Care
3. Pulmonary System
4. Cardiovascular System
5. Neurologic System
6. Renal System
7. Endocrine System
8. Hematologic and Immunologic Systems
9. Gastrointestinal System
10. Sepsis and Septic Shock
11. Multisystem Trauma
12. Burns
13. Hypothermia
14. Toxin Exposure
15. Bariatric Patients
16. Older Adult Patients
17. High-Risk Obstetric Patients
18. Patient Transport
19. Sedation
20. Pain
21. Palliative and End-of-Life Care
22. Perioperative Care
,Chapter 1: Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
Question 1
A critical care nurse is caring for a patient whose family requests
withholding diagnosis details from the patient. Which action best reflects
ethical nursing practice?
A) Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and provide information
directly to the patient when capable
B) Follow family preference without assessing patient capacity
C) Ask another nurse to discuss diagnosis to avoid conflict
D) Delay all communication until discharge planning
✅ Correct Answer: A) Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and
provide information directly to the patient when capable
Rationale: Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity and provide
information directly to the patient when capable is most appropriate because
it aligns with priority critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and
ethical practice, including timely assessment, prevention of secondary
injury, and outcome-guided reassessment. The alternative options are less
appropriate because they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or
underuse dynamic data needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: ethical principles
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care
Environment: Safety and Infection Control
Question 2
,During rounds, two treatment options offer similar outcomes but different
burdens. Which nursing role most supports shared decision-making?
A) Recommend the least expensive therapy regardless of preferences
B) Let physicians decide without discussing values
C) Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate them during team
planning
D) Encourage family to choose based on convenience
✅ Correct Answer: C) Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate
them during team planning
Rationale: Elicit patient values and goals, then communicate them during
team planning is most appropriate because it aligns with priority critical-care
nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice, including timely
assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-guided
reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because they delay
intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data needed in
unstable patients.
DIF: Moderate
TOP: informed consent
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care
and Comfort
Question 3
A nurse experiences recurring moral distress after participating in perceived
nonbeneficial care. What is the most appropriate first professional step?
A) Ignore feelings and focus only on tasks
B) Transfer units immediately without reporting concern
,C) Document distress but avoid further discussion
D) Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify concerns and coping
options
✅ Correct Answer: D) Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify
concerns and coping options
Rationale: Debrief with leadership or ethics resources to clarify concerns
and coping options is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Difficult
TOP: surrogate decision-making
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Question 4
Which intervention best protects patient autonomy during high-acuity care?
A) Obtain signature quickly to avoid delaying treatment
B) Use medical jargon to keep the explanation brief
C) Allow family to answer for a competent patient
D) Use plain-language explanations and verify understanding before
consent-related steps
✅ Correct Answer: D) Use plain-language explanations and verify
understanding before consent-related steps
,Rationale: Use plain-language explanations and verify understanding before
consent-related steps is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: moral distress
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of
Risk Potential
Question 5
When conflict arises between family wishes and an advance directive, which
nursing action is priority?
A) Prioritize family preference because they visit most
B) Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining adherence to
documented patient preferences
C) Suspend all care until legal counsel arrives
D) Ask bedside staff to vote on best plan
✅ Correct Answer: B) Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining
adherence to documented patient preferences
Rationale: Escalate to ethics consultation while maintaining adherence to
documented patient preferences is most appropriate because it aligns with
priority critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical
practice, including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and
,outcome-guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate
because they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic
data needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Moderate
TOP: patient advocacy
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Physiological Adaptation
Question 6
Which behavior demonstrates therapeutic professional boundaries in ICU
care?
A) Give personal phone number for after-hours updates
B) Share own traumatic history to build rapport
C) Accept expensive gifts from grateful relatives
D) Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus away from patient goals
✅ Correct Answer: D) Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus
away from patient goals
Rationale: Decline personal self-disclosure that shifts focus away from
patient goals is most appropriate because it aligns with priority critical-care
nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice, including timely
assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-guided
reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because they delay
intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data needed in
unstable patients.
DIF: Difficult
TOP: cultural humility
, MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
Question 7
A culturally diverse family asks for rituals that may delay procedures
briefly. What is the best nurse response?
A) Refuse all ritual requests to preserve workflow
B) Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when clinically safe and
time-limited
C) Allow indefinite delays despite instability
D) Ask family to perform rituals without infection precautions
✅ Correct Answer: B) Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when
clinically safe and time-limited
Rationale: Collaborate to accommodate meaningful rituals when clinically
safe and time-limited is most appropriate because it aligns with priority
critical-care nursing goals for professional caring and ethical practice,
including timely assessment, prevention of secondary injury, and outcome-
guided reassessment. The alternative options are less appropriate because
they delay intervention, overgeneralize care, or underuse dynamic data
needed in unstable patients.
DIF: Easy
TOP: professional boundaries
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care
Environment: Management of Care
Question 8
