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CCRN/PPCN CERTIFICATION EXAM AACN CRITICAL CARE EXAM 1
(PART 1) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. two main professional organizations that support critical care? which one best
supports critical care nurses? - Correct Answer -Name the two organizations
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
Which one do you think best supports critical care nurses?
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
dedicated to providing knowledge and resources to those caring for acutely and
critically ill patients
2. AACN: mission? vision? values? - Correct Answer -Mission: focuses on
assisting acute and critical care nurses to attain knowledge and influence to
deliver excellence care
Vision: supports creating a health care system driven by the needs of patients and
families in which critical care nurses make their optimal contributions, which is
described as synergy (mixture of nurse, system, and patient along with patient
characteristics and nurse competencies)
Values: accountability, advocacy, integrity, collaboration, leadership, stewardship,
lifelong learning, quality, innovation, and commitment
3. what is the synergy model and how is it used in practice? - Correct Answer -
The Synergy Model focuses on the extent to which nurses' competencies
match patients' characteristics. The goal of Synergy Model nursing is to
"restore the patient to an optimal level of wellness as defined by the patient
and family
4. certifications: CCRN? PCCN? ACCNS? ACNPC-AG? why are certifications
important? - Correct Answer -CCRN → nurses who provide care for critically
ill adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
PCCN → nurses who provide acute care in progressive care, telemetry, and similar
units
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, 2
Once nurses achieve the CCRN or PCCN credential, they can be eligible to sit for
additional subspecialty certification in cardiac medicine or cardiac surgery
ACCNS→ acute and critical care clinical nurse specialist
ACNPC-AG→ acute care nurse practitioners
Why are certifications important?
validates knowledge of critical care nursing, promotes professional excellence, and
helps nurse to maintain a current knowledge base
5. What 4 specific projects/organizations are in place to assist nurses in
providing safe care? - Correct Answer -The Quality and Safety Education for
Nurses (QSEN)
National Patient Safety Goals→ by the Joint Commission
Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
rapid response teams/ medical emergency teams
6. what does QSEN do? - Correct Answer -roadmap for integrating quality and
safety principles into prelicensure nursing education
six core competencies: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-
based practice, quality improvement, informatics, and safety
7. What do national patient safety goals do? - Correct Answer -reduce medical
errors and promote an environment that facilitates safe practices
reduce infections
ex. improves accuracy of patient identification, improve communication among
health care providers, improve medication safety, use alarms safely, reduce risk of
healthcare- associated infections, identify safety risk, and prevent complications
associated with surgery and procedures
8. What does IHI do? - Correct Answer -action plan for reducing health care-
associated infections and preventing infections with multidrug-resistant
organisms
promoted the concept of bundles of care to reduce harms, such as infections
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CCRN/PPCN CERTIFICATION EXAM AACN CRITICAL CARE EXAM 1
(PART 1) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. two main professional organizations that support critical care? which one best
supports critical care nurses? - Correct Answer -Name the two organizations
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
Which one do you think best supports critical care nurses?
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
dedicated to providing knowledge and resources to those caring for acutely and
critically ill patients
2. AACN: mission? vision? values? - Correct Answer -Mission: focuses on
assisting acute and critical care nurses to attain knowledge and influence to
deliver excellence care
Vision: supports creating a health care system driven by the needs of patients and
families in which critical care nurses make their optimal contributions, which is
described as synergy (mixture of nurse, system, and patient along with patient
characteristics and nurse competencies)
Values: accountability, advocacy, integrity, collaboration, leadership, stewardship,
lifelong learning, quality, innovation, and commitment
3. what is the synergy model and how is it used in practice? - Correct Answer -
The Synergy Model focuses on the extent to which nurses' competencies
match patients' characteristics. The goal of Synergy Model nursing is to
"restore the patient to an optimal level of wellness as defined by the patient
and family
4. certifications: CCRN? PCCN? ACCNS? ACNPC-AG? why are certifications
important? - Correct Answer -CCRN → nurses who provide care for critically
ill adult, pediatric, or neonatal populations
PCCN → nurses who provide acute care in progressive care, telemetry, and similar
units
1
, 2
Once nurses achieve the CCRN or PCCN credential, they can be eligible to sit for
additional subspecialty certification in cardiac medicine or cardiac surgery
ACCNS→ acute and critical care clinical nurse specialist
ACNPC-AG→ acute care nurse practitioners
Why are certifications important?
validates knowledge of critical care nursing, promotes professional excellence, and
helps nurse to maintain a current knowledge base
5. What 4 specific projects/organizations are in place to assist nurses in
providing safe care? - Correct Answer -The Quality and Safety Education for
Nurses (QSEN)
National Patient Safety Goals→ by the Joint Commission
Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
rapid response teams/ medical emergency teams
6. what does QSEN do? - Correct Answer -roadmap for integrating quality and
safety principles into prelicensure nursing education
six core competencies: patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-
based practice, quality improvement, informatics, and safety
7. What do national patient safety goals do? - Correct Answer -reduce medical
errors and promote an environment that facilitates safe practices
reduce infections
ex. improves accuracy of patient identification, improve communication among
health care providers, improve medication safety, use alarms safely, reduce risk of
healthcare- associated infections, identify safety risk, and prevent complications
associated with surgery and procedures
8. What does IHI do? - Correct Answer -action plan for reducing health care-
associated infections and preventing infections with multidrug-resistant
organisms
promoted the concept of bundles of care to reduce harms, such as infections
2
