AACN CCRN/PCCN certification with this
2026 critical care review covering the
Synergy Model, ARDS pathophysiology,
ventilator management, ABG
interpretation, ethics
(autonomy/beneficence), family support,
and end-of-life care.
Question 1: A major trauma victim is transported from a rural hospital. The
patient died prior to the wife's arrival to the ICU. The nurse would best prepare for
the wife's arrival by:
• A. Arranging for a physician to speak with her when she enters the unit
• B. Planning to escort her to the waiting room to await the physician's arrival
• C. Preparing to give her information about the care her husband
received prior to death
• D. Planning to escort her to the morgue to see her husband
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should be prepared to provide accurate information about the
care the patient received. Families need to know that everything possible was done.
Escorting to the waiting room delays necessary information. The physician should
be involved, but the nurse should not delegate all communication .
,Question 2: According to the AACN Synergy Model, nurse competencies should
be matched with:
• A. The hospital's staffing requirements
• B. Patient characteristics and needs
• C. Physician preferences
• D. Unit acuity scores
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Synergy Model is based on the premise that patients' needs and
characteristics drive nurse competencies. Synergy results when patient needs and
characteristics are matched with nurse competencies. The model identifies 8
patient characteristics and 8 nurse characteristics .
Question 3: Which of the following is a nurse characteristic in the AACN Synergy
Model?
• A. Predictability
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Clinical judgment
• D. Participation in care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clinical judgment is one of the 8 nurse characteristics in the Synergy
Model. The others include advocacy/moral agency, caring practices, collaboration,
systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry, and facilitator of learning.
Predictability, vulnerability, and participation in care are patient characteristics .
Question 4: A patient recalls a near-death experience (NDE) that occurred during
resuscitation and wishes to tell the nurse about it. What is the optimal response by
the nurse?
, • A. Let the patient know that NDEs are often hallucinations
• B. Compare the patient's story to the actual resuscitation events
• C. Encourage the patient to describe the NDE to his family
• D. Make time to listen actively while the patient tells the story
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This reflects the "caring practices" competency. Active listening
validates the patient's experience and promotes healing. Dismissing the experience
as a hallucination is nontherapeutic. Comparing to actual events could distress the
patient .
Question 5: The nursing staff is resisting being assigned to a disruptive patient. An
appropriate resolution would be to:
• A. Request the physician to transfer the patient
• B. Rotate the patient assignment among staff
• C. Confront the family and demand an end to the disruptive behavior
• D. Hold a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This reflects the "advocacy/moral agency" competency. A team
conference allows staff to share concerns and develop collaborative solutions.
Rotating assignments distributes burden but does not address underlying issues.
Confrontation is not therapeutic .
Question 6: A 55-year-old man from Mexico is admitted to the PCU with
hemodynamic instability related to urosepsis. Which family member would be
most appropriate for the nurse to include in teaching this patient about strategies to
prevent future genitourinary tract problems?
• A. 54-year-old wife
• B. 59-year-old brother
, • C. 78-year-old mother
• D. 82-year-old father
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This reflects the "response to diversity" competency. In many Mexican
cultures, the spouse is the primary decision-maker and caregiver. Including the
wife respects cultural norms and improves adherence. The nurse should assess the
patient's specific cultural beliefs rather than assume .
Question 7: A patient asks the nurse, "Why do you think I'm sick?" This question
is most likely asked to assess:
• A. The patient's understanding of pathophysiology
• B. The patient's cultural beliefs related to their diagnosis
• C. The patient's family history of illness
• D. The patient's financial ability to pay for treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking about the patient's belief regarding the cause of their illness
provides insight into cultural and personal health beliefs. This reflects the
"response to diversity" competency. The nurse should explore these beliefs before
providing education .
Question 8: According to the Synergy Model, which patient characteristic refers to
the ability to return to optimal function using compensatory mechanisms?
• A. Predictability
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Resiliency
• D. Stability
Correct Answer: C
2026 critical care review covering the
Synergy Model, ARDS pathophysiology,
ventilator management, ABG
interpretation, ethics
(autonomy/beneficence), family support,
and end-of-life care.
Question 1: A major trauma victim is transported from a rural hospital. The
patient died prior to the wife's arrival to the ICU. The nurse would best prepare for
the wife's arrival by:
• A. Arranging for a physician to speak with her when she enters the unit
• B. Planning to escort her to the waiting room to await the physician's arrival
• C. Preparing to give her information about the care her husband
received prior to death
• D. Planning to escort her to the morgue to see her husband
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should be prepared to provide accurate information about the
care the patient received. Families need to know that everything possible was done.
Escorting to the waiting room delays necessary information. The physician should
be involved, but the nurse should not delegate all communication .
,Question 2: According to the AACN Synergy Model, nurse competencies should
be matched with:
• A. The hospital's staffing requirements
• B. Patient characteristics and needs
• C. Physician preferences
• D. Unit acuity scores
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Synergy Model is based on the premise that patients' needs and
characteristics drive nurse competencies. Synergy results when patient needs and
characteristics are matched with nurse competencies. The model identifies 8
patient characteristics and 8 nurse characteristics .
Question 3: Which of the following is a nurse characteristic in the AACN Synergy
Model?
• A. Predictability
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Clinical judgment
• D. Participation in care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clinical judgment is one of the 8 nurse characteristics in the Synergy
Model. The others include advocacy/moral agency, caring practices, collaboration,
systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry, and facilitator of learning.
Predictability, vulnerability, and participation in care are patient characteristics .
Question 4: A patient recalls a near-death experience (NDE) that occurred during
resuscitation and wishes to tell the nurse about it. What is the optimal response by
the nurse?
, • A. Let the patient know that NDEs are often hallucinations
• B. Compare the patient's story to the actual resuscitation events
• C. Encourage the patient to describe the NDE to his family
• D. Make time to listen actively while the patient tells the story
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This reflects the "caring practices" competency. Active listening
validates the patient's experience and promotes healing. Dismissing the experience
as a hallucination is nontherapeutic. Comparing to actual events could distress the
patient .
Question 5: The nursing staff is resisting being assigned to a disruptive patient. An
appropriate resolution would be to:
• A. Request the physician to transfer the patient
• B. Rotate the patient assignment among staff
• C. Confront the family and demand an end to the disruptive behavior
• D. Hold a nursing team conference to discuss possible alternatives
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This reflects the "advocacy/moral agency" competency. A team
conference allows staff to share concerns and develop collaborative solutions.
Rotating assignments distributes burden but does not address underlying issues.
Confrontation is not therapeutic .
Question 6: A 55-year-old man from Mexico is admitted to the PCU with
hemodynamic instability related to urosepsis. Which family member would be
most appropriate for the nurse to include in teaching this patient about strategies to
prevent future genitourinary tract problems?
• A. 54-year-old wife
• B. 59-year-old brother
, • C. 78-year-old mother
• D. 82-year-old father
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This reflects the "response to diversity" competency. In many Mexican
cultures, the spouse is the primary decision-maker and caregiver. Including the
wife respects cultural norms and improves adherence. The nurse should assess the
patient's specific cultural beliefs rather than assume .
Question 7: A patient asks the nurse, "Why do you think I'm sick?" This question
is most likely asked to assess:
• A. The patient's understanding of pathophysiology
• B. The patient's cultural beliefs related to their diagnosis
• C. The patient's family history of illness
• D. The patient's financial ability to pay for treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking about the patient's belief regarding the cause of their illness
provides insight into cultural and personal health beliefs. This reflects the
"response to diversity" competency. The nurse should explore these beliefs before
providing education .
Question 8: According to the Synergy Model, which patient characteristic refers to
the ability to return to optimal function using compensatory mechanisms?
• A. Predictability
• B. Vulnerability
• C. Resiliency
• D. Stability
Correct Answer: C
