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AMS Exam 1 Questions with
Updated Solutions Graded A+ 2025-
2026
Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine - CORRECT ANSWER a. American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization that supports and
represents critical care nurses. The American Heart Association supports cardiovascular
initiatives. The American Nurses Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care
Medicine represents the multiprofessional critical care team under the direction of an intensivist.
A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit for 2 years and is
interested in certification. Which credential would be most applicable for the nurse to seek?
a. ACNPC-AG
b. CNML
c. CCRN
d. PCCN - CORRECT ANSWER c. CCRN
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care for critically ill
patients. The ACNPC-AG certification is for acute care nurse practitioners. The CNML is for
critical care nurse managers or leaders. The PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in
progressive care, intermediate care, or step-down unit settings.
The main purpose of certification is to
a. Assure the consumer that you will not make a mistake.
b. Prepare for graduate school.
c. Promote magnet status for your facility.
d. Validate knowledge of critical care nursing. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Validate knowledge of
critical care nursing.
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Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence in the profession,
and helps nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical care nursing. Certification helps to
assure the consumer that the nurse has a minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not
ensure that care will be mistake-free. Certification does not prepare one for graduate school;
however, achieving certification demonstrates motivation for achievement and professionalism.
Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified nurses; however, that is not the purpose of
certification.
The synergy model of practice focuses on
a. Allowing unrestricted visiting for the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Holistic and alternative therapies.
c. The needs of patients and their families, which drive nursing competency.
d. Patients' needs for energy and support. - CORRECT ANSWER c. The needs of patients and
their families, which drive nursing competency.
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families influence and drive
competencies of nurses. Nursing practice based on the synergy model would involve tailored
Visiting to meet the patient's and family's needs and the application of alternative
therapies if desired by the patient, but that is not the primary focus of the model.
The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken with the physician in
over 24 hours and that they have some questions they want clarified. During morning rounds,
you convey this concern to the attending intensivist and arrange a meeting with the family at
4:00 PM. Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
a. Advocacy and moral agency in solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients, families, and team members - CORRECT ANSWER c.
Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being addressed,
communication
And collaboration with the family and physician best exemplify the competency of
collaboration.
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework to guide
critical care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
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c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process - CORRECT ANSWER d. Nursing process
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process
as applied to critically ill patients: collect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes,
develop a plan of care, implement interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy
work environment, but this is not included in its standards. The Joint Commission has
established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are not the AACN standards.
The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the critical care unit. An
experienced, certified nurse is assigned to care for the acutely ill patient with sepsis who also
requires continuous renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation. The nurse with less
than 1 year of experience is assigned to two patients who are more stable. This assignment
reflects implementation of the
a. Crew resource management model.
b. National Patient Safety Goals.
c. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) model.
d. Synergy model of practice. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Synergy model of practice.
This assignment demonstrates nursing care to meet the needs of the patient. The synergy model
notes that the nurse competencies are matched to the patient characteristics. Crew resource
management concepts are related to team training; National Patient Safety Goals are specified by
The Joint Commission to promote safe care but do not incorporate the synergy model. The
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative involves targeted education of undergraduate
and graduate nursing students on quality and safety concepts.
The vision of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a health care system driven by
a. A healthy work environment.
b. Care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
c. The needs of critically ill patients and families.
d. Respectful, healing, and humane environments. - CORRECT ANSWER c. The needs of
critically ill patients and families.
The AACN vision is a health care system driven by the needs of critically ill patients and
families where critical care nurses make their optimum contributions. AACN promotes
initiatives to support a healthy work environment as well as respectful and healing environments,
but that is not the organization's vision. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) promotes
care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
The most important outcome of effective communication is to
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a. Demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b. Ensure that patient teaching is done.
c. Meet the diversity needs of patients.
d. Reduce patient errors. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Reduce patient errors.
Many errors are directly attributed to faulty communication. Effective communication has been
identified as an essential strategy to reduce patient errors and resolve issues related to patient
care delivery. Communication may demonstrate caring practices, address diversity needs, and be
used for patient/family teaching; however, the main outcome of effective communication is
patient safety.
You are caring for a critically ill patient whose urine output has been low for 2 consecutive
hours. After a thorough patient assessment, you call the intensivist with report. Which
information do you convey regarding background?
a. Urine output of 40 ml/2 hours
b. Current vital signs and history of aortic aneurysm repair 4 hours ago
c. A statement that the patient is possibly hypovolemic
d. A request for IV fluids - CORRECT ANSWER b. Current vital signs and history of aortic
aneurysm repair 4 hours ago
The history and vital signs are part of the background. Information regarding the low urine
output is the situation. Information regarding possible hypovolemia is part of the nurse's
assessment, and the suggestion for fluids is the recommendation.
The family members of a critically ill patient bring a copy of the patient's living will to the
hospital, which identifies the patient's wishes regarding health care. You discuss contents of the
living will with the patient's physician. This is an example of implementation of which of the
AACN Standards of Professional Performance?
a. Acquires and maintains current knowledge of practice
b. Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
c. Considers factors related to safe patient care
d. Uses clinical inquiry and integrates research findings in practice - CORRECT ANSWER b.
Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
Discussing end-of-life issues is an example of a nurse acting ethically on behalf of the patient
and family. The example does not relate to acquiring knowledge, promoting patient safety, or
using research in practice.
Which of the following assists the critical care nurse in ensuring that care is appropriate and
based on research?
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AMS Exam 1 Questions with
Updated Solutions Graded A+ 2025-
2026
Which of the following professional organizations best supports critical care nursing practice?
a. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
b. American Heart Association
c. American Nurses Association
d. Society of Critical Care Medicine - CORRECT ANSWER a. American Association of
Critical-Care Nurses
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the specialty organization that supports and
represents critical care nurses. The American Heart Association supports cardiovascular
initiatives. The American Nurses Association supports all nurses. The Society of Critical Care
Medicine represents the multiprofessional critical care team under the direction of an intensivist.
A nurse has been working as a staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit for 2 years and is
interested in certification. Which credential would be most applicable for the nurse to seek?
a. ACNPC-AG
b. CNML
c. CCRN
d. PCCN - CORRECT ANSWER c. CCRN
The CCRN certification is appropriate for nurses in bedside practice who care for critically ill
patients. The ACNPC-AG certification is for acute care nurse practitioners. The CNML is for
critical care nurse managers or leaders. The PCCN certification is for staff nurses working in
progressive care, intermediate care, or step-down unit settings.
The main purpose of certification is to
a. Assure the consumer that you will not make a mistake.
b. Prepare for graduate school.
c. Promote magnet status for your facility.
d. Validate knowledge of critical care nursing. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Validate knowledge of
critical care nursing.
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, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Certification assists in validating knowledge of the field, promotes excellence in the profession,
and helps nurses to maintain their knowledge of critical care nursing. Certification helps to
assure the consumer that the nurse has a minimum level of knowledge; however, it does not
ensure that care will be mistake-free. Certification does not prepare one for graduate school;
however, achieving certification demonstrates motivation for achievement and professionalism.
Magnet facilities are rated on the number of certified nurses; however, that is not the purpose of
certification.
The synergy model of practice focuses on
a. Allowing unrestricted visiting for the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Holistic and alternative therapies.
c. The needs of patients and their families, which drive nursing competency.
d. Patients' needs for energy and support. - CORRECT ANSWER c. The needs of patients and
their families, which drive nursing competency.
The synergy model of practice states that the needs of patients and families influence and drive
competencies of nurses. Nursing practice based on the synergy model would involve tailored
Visiting to meet the patient's and family's needs and the application of alternative
therapies if desired by the patient, but that is not the primary focus of the model.
The family of your critically ill patient tells you that they have not spoken with the physician in
over 24 hours and that they have some questions they want clarified. During morning rounds,
you convey this concern to the attending intensivist and arrange a meeting with the family at
4:00 PM. Which competency of critical care nursing does this represent?
a. Advocacy and moral agency in solving ethical issues
b. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills
c. Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
d. Facilitation of learning for patients, families, and team members - CORRECT ANSWER c.
Collaboration with patients, families, and team members
Although one might consider that all of these competencies are being addressed,
communication
And collaboration with the family and physician best exemplify the competency of
collaboration.
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice use what framework to guide
critical care nursing practice?
a. Evidence-based practice
b. Healthy work environment
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c. National Patient Safety Goals
d. Nursing process - CORRECT ANSWER d. Nursing process
The AACN Standards for Acute and Critical Care Nursing Practice delineate the nursing process
as applied to critically ill patients: collect data, determine diagnoses, identify expected outcomes,
develop a plan of care, implement interventions, and evaluate care. AACN promotes a healthy
work environment, but this is not included in its standards. The Joint Commission has
established National Patient Safety Goals, but these are not the AACN standards.
The charge nurse is responsible for making the patient assignments on the critical care unit. An
experienced, certified nurse is assigned to care for the acutely ill patient with sepsis who also
requires continuous renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation. The nurse with less
than 1 year of experience is assigned to two patients who are more stable. This assignment
reflects implementation of the
a. Crew resource management model.
b. National Patient Safety Goals.
c. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) model.
d. Synergy model of practice. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Synergy model of practice.
This assignment demonstrates nursing care to meet the needs of the patient. The synergy model
notes that the nurse competencies are matched to the patient characteristics. Crew resource
management concepts are related to team training; National Patient Safety Goals are specified by
The Joint Commission to promote safe care but do not incorporate the synergy model. The
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative involves targeted education of undergraduate
and graduate nursing students on quality and safety concepts.
The vision of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a health care system driven by
a. A healthy work environment.
b. Care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
c. The needs of critically ill patients and families.
d. Respectful, healing, and humane environments. - CORRECT ANSWER c. The needs of
critically ill patients and families.
The AACN vision is a health care system driven by the needs of critically ill patients and
families where critical care nurses make their optimum contributions. AACN promotes
initiatives to support a healthy work environment as well as respectful and healing environments,
but that is not the organization's vision. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) promotes
care from a multiprofessional team under the direction of a critical care physician.
The most important outcome of effective communication is to
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a. Demonstrate caring practices to family members.
b. Ensure that patient teaching is done.
c. Meet the diversity needs of patients.
d. Reduce patient errors. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Reduce patient errors.
Many errors are directly attributed to faulty communication. Effective communication has been
identified as an essential strategy to reduce patient errors and resolve issues related to patient
care delivery. Communication may demonstrate caring practices, address diversity needs, and be
used for patient/family teaching; however, the main outcome of effective communication is
patient safety.
You are caring for a critically ill patient whose urine output has been low for 2 consecutive
hours. After a thorough patient assessment, you call the intensivist with report. Which
information do you convey regarding background?
a. Urine output of 40 ml/2 hours
b. Current vital signs and history of aortic aneurysm repair 4 hours ago
c. A statement that the patient is possibly hypovolemic
d. A request for IV fluids - CORRECT ANSWER b. Current vital signs and history of aortic
aneurysm repair 4 hours ago
The history and vital signs are part of the background. Information regarding the low urine
output is the situation. Information regarding possible hypovolemia is part of the nurse's
assessment, and the suggestion for fluids is the recommendation.
The family members of a critically ill patient bring a copy of the patient's living will to the
hospital, which identifies the patient's wishes regarding health care. You discuss contents of the
living will with the patient's physician. This is an example of implementation of which of the
AACN Standards of Professional Performance?
a. Acquires and maintains current knowledge of practice
b. Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
c. Considers factors related to safe patient care
d. Uses clinical inquiry and integrates research findings in practice - CORRECT ANSWER b.
Acts ethically on the behalf of the patient and family
Discussing end-of-life issues is an example of a nurse acting ethically on behalf of the patient
and family. The example does not relate to acquiring knowledge, promoting patient safety, or
using research in practice.
Which of the following assists the critical care nurse in ensuring that care is appropriate and
based on research?
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