CCRN Professional Caring and Ethical Practice Practice Test
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25 practice questions
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Question 1 of 25Medium
A patient with refractory septic shock is maintained on three high-dose vasopressors, advanced mechanical ventilation, and continuous renal replacement therapy. The bedside nurse notes that escalating therapy is causing profound peripheral tissue necrosis without improving metabolic parameters, leading the nurse to advocate for a goals-of-care meeting to reconsider invasive measures. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily demonstrating?
- A. Distributive justice
- B. Autonomy
- C. Fidelity
- D. Nonmaleficence
Show answer to question 1
Answer: D. Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence requires clinicians to avoid inflicting unnecessary harm or suffering. When interventions fail to offer physiological or therapeutic benefit and instead cause significant suffering and tissue injury, advocating to limit inappropriate treatment directly upholds the principle of nonmaleficence. While autonomy is related to patient decision-making, the nurse's specific concern regarding continuing harmful, non-beneficial interventions reflects nonmaleficence.
Question 2 of 25Medium
A 71-year-old man with severe COPD has a living will, written 3 years ago, stating that he does not want mechanical ventilation. He is admitted with pneumonia and a rising PaCO2. He is alert and has decision-making capacity. After the provider explains that intubation may be needed for a few days, he says that he now wants to be intubated if it becomes necessary. What is the nurse's best action?
- A. Follow the living will, since it records his wishes about mechanical ventilation
- B. Ask him to sign a revised living will before intubation can be done
- C. Follow his current choice, which takes precedence over the living will
- D. Request an ethics consultation before acting on his new request
Show answer to question 2
Answer: C. Follow his current choice, which takes precedence over the living will
A living will guides care when a patient can no longer make his own decisions. While he has decision-making capacity, his current informed choice governs and can change an earlier directive, and his plan of care is updated to reflect it.
Why the other options are wrong
- AA living will does not override the current informed decision of a patient who has decision-making capacity.
- BHis clearly stated current choice governs care now; updating the written directive can follow but is not a condition for treatment.
- DEthics consultation helps resolve conflicts, and a capable patient's clear current choice needs no such review before it is honored.
Question 3 of 25Easy
A nurse calls the provider about a 64-year-old woman who had a colon resection yesterday. Her heart rate has risen from 88 to 124/min, her blood pressure has fallen from 128/76 to 92/58 mm Hg, and the output from her surgical drain has turned bright red. Which statement belongs in the Recommendation part of the nurse's SBAR report?
- A. "She had a colon resection yesterday and receives subcutaneous enoxaparin."
- B. "Her heart rate is now 124/min, and her blood pressure is 92/58 mm Hg."
- C. "I am worried that she is bleeding internally from the surgical site."
- D. "Please come to see her now. May I send a CBC and a type and screen?"
Show answer to question 3
Answer: D. "Please come to see her now. May I send a CBC and a type and screen?"
The Recommendation tells the provider what the nurse is requesting and how urgently, such as an evaluation at the bedside now and specific tests. Ending the report with a clear request makes the call actionable.
Why the other options are wrong
- AHer surgery and anticoagulant are background information that puts the current problem in context.
- BCurrent vital signs are data that describe the problem, not a request for action.
- CStating the suspected cause is the nurse's assessment of the problem, not a recommendation.
Question 4 of 25Medium
After teaching a 67-year-old woman about her new blood pressure medicines, the nurse asks her to explain when she will take each one. Her explanation is incorrect. What should the nurse do next?
- A. Explain it again in a different way, and then ask her to explain it again
- B. Record that the teaching was done, and give her a written handout to keep
- C. Repeat the same explanation more slowly, and then go on to the next topic
- D. Teach her daughter instead, since the patient could not explain the plan
Show answer to question 4
Answer: A. Explain it again in a different way, and then ask her to explain it again
When the patient's explanation reveals a gap, the nurse teaches again using different words or methods and checks again until she can explain it correctly. Responsibility for clear teaching lies with the nurse.
Why the other options are wrong
- BRecording that teaching occurred does not make her able to take her medicines correctly.
- CRepeating the same words without checking again leaves the misunderstanding in place.
- DFamily can help, but a capable patient still needs to understand her own medicines.
Question 5 of 25Hard
A 66-year-old man with decision-making capacity has just been found to have metastatic cancer. Before the provider meets with him, his adult children ask the nurse not to let him be told, explaining that in their family serious news is given to the family, who then protect the patient. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Agree to keep the diagnosis from him, since the family's cultural practice comes first
- B. Tell him the diagnosis right away, since a patient has a right to the truth
- C. Ask him privately how much he wants to know and who should receive information
- D. Ask the provider to postpone telling him until the family feels ready to do so
Show answer to question 5
Answer: C. Ask him privately how much he wants to know and who should receive information
Respecting both autonomy and culture means learning the patient's own preference: some patients want full information, while others choose to have family members receive news and make decisions. Asking him privately how much he wants to know and who should be told honors truth-telling and his cultural values.
Why the other options are wrong
- AWithholding information without learning his own wishes is paternalistic and may deny a capable patient information he wants.
- BDisclosing without first asking his preference ignores that a capable patient may choose to receive news through his family.
- DPostponing disclosure until the family is ready lets the family, not the capable patient, control his information.
Question 6 of 25Hard
During a storm, the ICU lights flicker and the hospital's emergency generators start. Which action should the nurse take first?
- A. Check that life-support devices are plugged into emergency power outlets
- B. Unplug nonessential equipment so the emergency generators are not overloaded
- C. Call biomedical engineering to inspect each device on the unit for damage
- D. Begin manual bag ventilation for each patient on a mechanical ventilator
Show answer to question 6
Answer: A. Check that life-support devices are plugged into emergency power outlets
When normal power fails, only outlets on the emergency power system receive generator power. The nurse first confirms that ventilators, infusion pumps and other life-sustaining devices are plugged into these outlets and working, since internal batteries last a limited time.
Why the other options are wrong
- BShedding nonessential loads may be requested later, but life-support devices are checked first.
- CInspection can come later; the nurse must first confirm that life support is running now.
- DVentilators on emergency power or battery keep running; manual ventilation is for a ventilator that fails.
Question 7 of 25Medium
A 62-year-old man in the ICU has a cardiac arrest, and CPR begins. His wife, who was visiting, asks to stay in the room. She is calm and is not interfering with care. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. Escort her to the family lounge and promise to update her as soon as possible
- B. Let her stay without a support person so the team can focus on the patient
- C. Let her stay, with a staff member assigned to explain and support her
- D. Ask her to wait outside until the airway is secured, then invite her back in
Show answer to question 7
Answer: C. Let her stay, with a staff member assigned to explain and support her
AACN recommends that family members be offered the option to be present during resuscitation and invasive procedures, with a trained staff member assigned to explain what is happening and support them. Her calm behavior gives no reason to exclude her.
Why the other options are wrong
- ASending her out without offering the option denies a choice that many families value and that can support their coping.
- BA family member should not be left alone at a resuscitation; an assigned support person explains events and watches for distress.
- DDelaying her entry is not needed for a calm family member and denies the choice she has asked for.
Question 8 of 25Medium
The 8-year-old son of a 39-year-old woman on mechanical ventilation asks to see his mother. His father is unsure whether the boy should visit. What is the nurse's best advice?
- A. Wait until his mother is off the ventilator so that he is not frightened
- B. Let him see her from the doorway so that the equipment seems less scary
- C. Keep children out of the ICU, since they carry a higher risk of infection
- D. Prepare him in simple words for what he will see, then support him there
Show answer to question 8
Answer: D. Prepare him in simple words for what he will see, then support him there
Children can visit a critically ill parent when they are prepared beforehand, in age-appropriate words, for the equipment, sounds and the parent's appearance, and are supported during and after the visit. Visiting can ease a child's fears and help the family cope.
Why the other options are wrong
- ADelaying the visit may let his fears grow, and he may never see his mother if her condition worsens.
- BKeeping him at the doorway can make the scene more confusing and does not let him connect with his mother.
- CHealthy children who are screened for illness can visit; a blanket exclusion is not supported by evidence.
Question 9 of 25Easy
An adult medical-surgical ICU implements a diagnostic blood stewardship protocol to decrease hospital-acquired anemia and laboratory overuse. Which nursing practice aligns with this initiative?
- A. Using adult-sized collection tubes for all arterial line blood sampling to ensure adequate volume
- B. Drawing extra tubes of blood with morning labs to avoid repeated venipunctures later
- C. Converting automated multi-test daily panels to targeted orders driven by clinical indications
- D. Flushing arterial line waste volumes into the biohazard trash after every diagnostic draw
Show answer to question 9
Answer: C. Converting automated multi-test daily panels to targeted orders driven by clinical indications
Targeting laboratory tests to specific clinical indications rather than ordering automatic, daily multi-analyte panels reduces unnecessary blood loss, false-positive results, and laboratory costs. Drawing extra tubes increases blood waste if the additional tests are never ordered. Using pediatric microtainers and closed blood-sampling systems that return clearance volume to the patient, rather than discarding arterial line waste, are standard blood conservation strategies.
Question 10 of 25Easy
Assigning the last available ICU bed to the patient with the greater clinical need, rather than to a patient with higher social standing, reflects which ethical principle?
- A. Justice
- B. Fidelity
- C. Veracity
- D. Autonomy
Show answer to question 10
Answer: A. Justice
Justice is the fair and equitable distribution of care and resources. Allocating a scarce ICU bed by clinical need rather than by social status applies distributive justice.
Why the other options are wrong
- BFidelity is faithfulness to promises and commitments, which is not the basis of this allocation decision.
- CVeracity is the duty to tell the truth, which this bed assignment does not involve.
- DAutonomy is respect for a person's right to make decisions about his or her own care, not the fair allocation of resources.
Question 11 of 25Medium
Which project is research rather than quality improvement?
- A. Randomly assigning patients to one of two sedatives to compare delirium rates
- B. Tracking monthly hand hygiene rates on a unit after adding sanitizer dispensers
- C. Comparing a unit's quarterly fall rates with national benchmark data
- D. Auditing central line dressings each week and sharing the results with staff
Show answer to question 11
Answer: A. Randomly assigning patients to one of two sedatives to compare delirium rates
Research is a systematic investigation designed to produce generalizable knowledge, such as comparing randomly assigned treatments, and it needs institutional review board oversight. Quality improvement applies existing knowledge to improve local processes.
Why the other options are wrong
- BTracking a unit's compliance after a local change is a quality improvement measure.
- CBenchmarking a unit's own rates against external data is a quality improvement activity.
- DAuditing practice and giving feedback improves local care and is quality improvement.
Question 12 of 25Easy
When should discharge planning begin for a patient admitted to the ICU?
- A. When the patient is stable enough to transfer out of the ICU
- B. When the provider writes the order for discharge from the hospital
- C. After the patient or family asks for information about going home
- D. At admission, with updates as the patient's condition changes
Show answer to question 12
Answer: D. At admission, with updates as the patient's condition changes
Discharge planning begins at admission so the team can identify early what the patient is likely to need after the hospital, such as equipment, rehabilitation or caregiver support, and adjust the plan as the condition changes.
Why the other options are wrong
- AWaiting until ICU transfer leaves too little time to arrange complex needs after discharge.
- BA discharge order comes too late to arrange services, equipment and caregiver teaching.
- CThe team plans proactively instead of waiting for the patient or family to ask.
Question 13 of 25Hard
A nurse delegated a bed bath and repositioning of a patient on bed rest to a nursing assistant. Afterward, the assistant mentions that both of the patient's heels looked red but that the patient did not complain. What should the nurse do next?
- A. Inspect the patient's skin now and update the prevention plan as needed
- B. Have the assistant record the red areas in the patient's skin flow sheet
- C. Ask the wound care nurse to see the patient at the next routine visit
- D. Remind the assistant to report skin changes as soon as they are found
Show answer to question 13
Answer: A. Inspect the patient's skin now and update the prevention plan as needed
The RN remains accountable for delegated care and must follow up on findings that assistive personnel report. Red heels may signal a pressure injury, so the nurse assesses the skin now and revises the plan, such as offloading the heels.
Why the other options are wrong
- BRecording a finding does not replace the RN's assessment, and the assistant should not judge its significance.
- CWaiting for a routine visit delays assessment and offloading of a possible pressure injury.
- DFeedback can follow, but the patient's skin must be assessed first.
Question 14 of 25Easy
An unresponsive adult needs immediate surgery to survive, and no surrogate or family member can be reached. On what basis may the surgery proceed?
- A. Consent signed by two registered nurses on the patient's behalf
- B. The emergency exception, which presumes the patient's consent
- C. A court order, obtained before the operation begins
- D. Consent from the hospital administrator on call
Show answer to question 14
Answer: B. The emergency exception, which presumes the patient's consent
When a patient cannot consent, no surrogate is available and delay would risk death or serious harm, the emergency exception allows treatment because a reasonable person would consent. The provider records the emergency and why consent could not be obtained.
Why the other options are wrong
- ANurses cannot consent for a patient; their signatures could only witness a consent given by someone with authority.
- CSeeking a court order would cause a dangerous delay and is not required for emergency treatment.
- DA hospital administrator is not a legal surrogate and cannot consent on the patient's behalf.
Question 15 of 25Hard
An ICU nurse finds strong, consistent evidence from several recent studies showing that a routine practice in the unit's protocol offers no benefit to patients. Which action is most appropriate?
- A. Stop following that part of the unit's protocol for her own patients now
- B. Share the evidence and tell colleagues to stop the practice for their patients
- C. Keep following the protocol and wait for the manager to raise the issue
- D. Bring the evidence to the unit practice council to evaluate the protocol
Show answer to question 15
Answer: D. Bring the evidence to the unit practice council to evaluate the protocol
Nurses should question practice that conflicts with evidence, and change happens through the proper channel, such as the unit practice council or policy committee, so that the protocol is reviewed and revised for everyone with the right stakeholders.
Why the other options are wrong
- AChanging practice on her own departs from the approved protocol and creates inconsistent care.
- BInformally directing colleagues bypasses the review needed to change a protocol safely.
- CWaiting passively ignores the nurse's role in questioning practice that conflicts with evidence.
Question 16 of 25Hard
An ICU nurse who has floated to a medical unit is caring for a 72-year-old woman with pneumonia. None of her vital signs meets the hospital's numeric rapid response criteria, but over the past hour she has become restless and her skin has become cool, and the nurse is worried that she is deteriorating. A page to the provider 20 minutes ago has not been answered. Which action is most appropriate?
- A. Call the rapid response team now so that she is evaluated at the bedside
- B. Recheck vital signs in 1 hour, then call the rapid response team if criteria are met
- C. Page the provider again and wait for a return call before taking more action
- D. Ask her family whether this behavior is usual for her before calling anyone
Show answer to question 16
Answer: A. Call the rapid response team now so that she is evaluated at the bedside
Rapid response criteria generally include a staff member's worry about a patient, because subtle changes such as restlessness and cool skin often come before abnormal vital signs. Calling now brings critical care expertise to the bedside before she deteriorates further.
Why the other options are wrong
- BWaiting an hour for numeric criteria delays help for a patient the nurse already believes is deteriorating.
- CWaiting for a return call delays evaluation when a faster route to help is available.
- DHer baseline can be clarified later; it does not justify delaying help for a possible deterioration.
Question 17 of 25Hard
A 75-year-old woman's advance directive, written when she had capacity, declines prolonged life support if recovery is unlikely. Her son, who is her surrogate, insists on continuing all treatment, although the team believes recovery is unlikely. Two family meetings have not resolved the conflict, and the nurse believes the patient's wishes are being ignored. What is the nurse's most appropriate next step?
- A. Ask to be reassigned so that she no longer cares for the patient during the conflict
- B. Stop titrating the vasopressor upward, since the directive declines prolonged support
- C. Leave the decision about involving ethics resources to the attending physician
- D. Request an ethics consultation to help resolve the conflict about her care
Show answer to question 17
Answer: D. Request an ethics consultation to help resolve the conflict about her care
When a surrogate's decisions appear to conflict with a patient's documented wishes and discussion has not resolved it, the nurse can request an ethics consultation, which most hospitals make available to any member of the care team. The consultation helps clarify the patient's wishes and the surrogate's duty to follow them.
Why the other options are wrong
- AWithdrawing from the situation does not advocate for the patient and leaves the ethical conflict unresolved.
- BChanging life-sustaining therapy without an order is outside the nurse's scope, even when the nurse agrees with the directive.
- CNurses may seek ethics help directly; waiting for someone else to act leaves the patient's wishes unaddressed.
Question 18 of 25Easy
A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome is maintained on mechanical ventilation with neuromuscular blockade. Over the past 6 hours, minor changes in positive end-expiratory pressure produce drastic, fluctuating drops in mean arterial pressure, and cardiac output varies widely from hour to hour. According to the AACN Synergy Model, which characteristic describes this patient's status?
- A. Low predictability
- B. Low resiliency
- C. Low stability
- D. High complexity
Show answer to question 18
Answer: C. Low stability
Stability is the ability to maintain a steady physiological equilibrium; a patient with frequent, drastic hemodynamic swings in response to minor ventilator adjustments demonstrates low stability. Low resiliency reflects a compromised capacity to bounce back over time, whereas stability directly measures the minute-to-minute or hour-to-hour maintenance of physiological baseline.
Question 19 of 25Hard
A 59-year-old woman signed a consent form for a below-knee amputation earlier today. As the nurse prepares her for transfer to the operating room, she says, "I hope they can save my foot this time." What is the nurse's best action?
- A. Explain the amputation and its risks to her, then complete the preoperative checklist
- B. Contact the surgeon to return and discuss the procedure with her before she leaves
- C. Continue the transfer, since the signed form shows that she has given consent
- D. Contact the surgeon to request an antianxiety medication before she is transferred
Show answer to question 19
Answer: B. Contact the surgeon to return and discuss the procedure with her before she leaves
Her comment shows that she does not understand that her foot will be removed, so her consent may not be informed. The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks and alternatives, and the transfer should wait until her understanding is confirmed.
Why the other options are wrong
- AThe nurse may reinforce information, but explaining the procedure and its risks to obtain consent is the surgeon's responsibility.
- CA signature alone does not make consent valid when the patient clearly misunderstands what will be done.
- DTreating her words as anxiety misses the misunderstanding, and sedation could further impair her ability to give informed consent.
Question 20 of 25Easy
A bedside nurse questions the unit routine of performing routine endotracheal suctioning every 2 hours on mechanically ventilated adult patients. The nurse reviews current clinical practice guidelines, finds that suctioning should occur only when clinically indicated, and leads a project to update the unit protocol. According to the AACN Synergy Model, which nurse competency does this project reflect?
- A. Collaboration
- B. Clinical inquiry
- C. Response to diversity
- D. Caring practices
Show answer to question 20
Answer: B. Clinical inquiry
Clinical inquiry is the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice, validating existing standards against current evidence, and innovating to improve clinical outcomes. Collaboration involves working cooperatively with multidisciplinary team members to achieve shared patient goals, but the primary driver in this scenario is questioning practice and utilizing evidence. Caring practices refer to nursing interventions that create a therapeutic environment, and response to diversity involves tailoring care to cultural and individual differences.
Question 21 of 25Medium
The husband of a 66-year-old woman with a devastating stroke asks the nurse, "Is there any hope?" The team has told him that meaningful recovery is very unlikely. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. "Stay positive. Many patients surprise their doctors, and attitude matters."
- B. "I'm sorry, but she is not expected to get better. What are you hoping for now?"
- C. "There is no hope, so it is best to start preparing yourself for her death."
- D. "That is a question for her doctor, who knows the details of her case."
Show answer to question 21
Answer: B. "I'm sorry, but she is not expected to get better. What are you hoping for now?"
An honest answer that matches the team's message, followed by an open question about what he hopes for, supports him without false reassurance. Hope can shift toward goals that remain possible, such as comfort, dignity and time together.
Why the other options are wrong
- ASuggesting she may recover contradicts the team's information and gives false hope that can delay decisions and grief.
- CThe statement is blunt and overstated, and it closes off discussion of the hopes that are still possible.
- DDeflecting the question avoids his distress, and the nurse can reinforce information the team has already shared.
Question 22 of 25Medium
The daughter of a 73-year-old woman on mechanical ventilation sits at the bedside for hours each day and tells the nurse that she feels useless. Which nursing action best supports her?
- A. Encourage her to go home to rest, since she cannot help while her mother is ventilated
- B. Invite her to help with care she is comfortable doing, such as hair or skin care
- C. Suggest that she visit less often so that her mother can rest between procedures
- D. Give her printed information about mechanical ventilation to read at the bedside
Show answer to question 22
Answer: B. Invite her to help with care she is comfortable doing, such as hair or skin care
Offering family members the chance to take part in simple aspects of care, after teaching and with support, is a family-centered practice that can ease helplessness and strengthen the bond with the patient. It gives the daughter a meaningful role.
Why the other options are wrong
- ATelling her she cannot help reinforces her sense of uselessness and overlooks ways she can safely take part.
- CLimiting her presence ignores her need to be near her mother and is not required for rest.
- DInformation is helpful, but reading material does not meet her wish to have an active role.
Question 23 of 25Medium
A 49-year-old woman recovering from a myocardial infarction tells the nurse she knows that smoking is bad for her heart but that it is the one thing that helps her handle stress. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. "You need to quit now, or you are likely to have another heart attack."
- B. "Many patients quit after a heart attack, so you can surely do it too."
- C. "What would need to change for you to feel ready to cut back or quit?"
- D. "Let me go over all of the health problems that smoking can cause."
Show answer to question 23
Answer: C. "What would need to change for you to feel ready to cut back or quit?"
Her statement shows ambivalence. Motivational interviewing uses open-ended questions and reflection to help the patient voice her own reasons and readiness for change, which works better than warnings or lectures.
Why the other options are wrong
- AWarnings tend to increase resistance in a patient who already feels torn about change.
- BComparing her with others dismisses her stated reason for smoking and her concerns.
- DShe already knows smoking is harmful; more facts do not address her mixed feelings.
Question 24 of 25Medium
During bedside rounds, team members begin discussing the poor prognosis of an awake, intubated 54-year-old woman without addressing her. She is following the conversation with her eyes and appears distressed. What is the nurse's best action?
- A. Hold her hand and reassure her quietly while the team finishes the discussion
- B. Ask that she be included directly or that the discussion continue elsewhere
- C. Ask the team to lower their voices so that she does not hear the details
- D. Wait until rounds end, then ask her whether she heard anything that upset her
Show answer to question 24
Answer: B. Ask that she be included directly or that the discussion continue elsewhere
An awake, intubated patient can hear and understand, and discussing her prognosis over her head threatens her dignity and adds to her distress. The nurse advocates for including her in the conversation or for moving a discussion she has not chosen to hear.
Why the other options are wrong
- AComfort does not stop a discussion that excludes her and keeps adding to her distress.
- CLowering voices still excludes an aware patient from talk about her own care and may not keep her from hearing it.
- DWaiting allows the distress to continue and does not prevent the same thing from happening again.
Question 25 of 25Medium
A 63-year-old man receiving mechanical ventilation and a norepinephrine infusion needs a CT scan of the abdomen. Which preparation is most important before he leaves the ICU?
- A. Confirm enough oxygen for the trip plus a reserve, with monitors and emergency drugs
- B. Pause the norepinephrine during the trip so there are fewer infusion lines to manage
- C. Remove the arterial line before leaving and use noninvasive cuff pressures in CT
- D. Send him with a transport aide so that the ICU nurse can stay with other patients
Show answer to question 25
Answer: A. Confirm enough oxygen for the trip plus a reserve, with monitors and emergency drugs
Critically ill patients should travel with the same level of monitoring and support they receive in the ICU: an oxygen supply that covers the trip with a reserve, continuous monitoring, airway equipment and emergency drugs, with staff competent to use them.
Why the other options are wrong
- BStopping a vasopressor in a patient who depends on it can cause severe hypotension on the way.
- CA patient on a vasopressor needs continuous blood pressure monitoring during transport.
- DAn unstable ventilated patient on a vasopressor needs a critical care nurse during transport, not an aide by himself.
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The full CCRN bank has 872 Professional Caring and Ethical Practice questions. See plans
Professional Caring and Ethical Practice is 20% of the CCRN (Adult) exam in the AACN test plan for exams taken on and after November 12, 2025; the other 80% tests clinical judgment. Below are 25 original Professional Caring and Ethical Practice practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.
Source: AACN CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026).
Rhythm strips and waveforms are described in words; images are not included.
Study guide lessons for Professional Caring and Ethical Practice
Short lessons on the same topics, each with audio in English and Spanish.
- The AACN Synergy ModelOpen lesson
- Advocacy, Moral Agency and Ethical Dilemmas
- Caring Practices: Dignity, Comfort and Family Presence
- Response to Diversity: Culture, Language and Spirituality
- DNR, Withdrawing Treatment and Goals of Care
- Capacity, Informed Consent and Surrogates
- Facilitation of Learning: Patients, Families and Staff
- Collaboration, Communication and Delegation
- Clinical Inquiry: Evidence-Based Practice and Research
- Systems Thinking: Safety, Resources and Transitions
Practice the full CCRN bank.
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Included: an explanation for every question, the Study Guide with 58 audio lessons, an AI tutor to ask why on any question, timed section tests and progress by topic.
Questions, answered
Are these actual CCRN questions?
No. They are original practice questions written from the public exam outline, not questions taken from the exam. Exam owners keep live questions confidential.
How much of the CCRN exam is Professional Caring and Ethical Practice?
20% of the exam, under the AACN adult test plan for exams taken on and after November 12, 2025. The exam has 150 questions (125 scored) in 3 hours. Source: AACN CCRN Exam Handbook (July 2026).
Is this CCRN Professional Caring and Ethical Practice practice test free?
Yes. The 25 questions on this page, with answers and explanations, are free to use, and there is no sign up. The full CCRN bank of 3,958 questions, with timed section tests and an AI tutor, comes with a plan.
How should I use this practice test?
Answer each question before you open Show answer, then read why the correct option is right and the others are not. Note the topics you miss and review them first. The CCRN study guide has 10 lessons for Professional Caring and Ethical Practice, listed on this page.
These are original practice questions written from the public exam outline. They are not actual exam questions. CCRN is a trademark of its owner. tests.global is not affiliated with or endorsed by AACN.
Updated October 14, 2026.