Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the PCCN exam with quizzes. Test yourself with flashcards and multiple-choice questions including explanations. Get ready to excel!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is an essential component of the nursing standard of care?

  1. Only following hospital policies

  2. Matching the care to patient satisfaction

  3. Exercising judgment based on reasonable and prudent action

  4. Using the latest medical technology available

The correct answer is: Exercising judgment based on reasonable and prudent action

The essential component of the nursing standard of care lies in exercising judgment based on reasonable and prudent action. This means that nurses are expected to utilize their clinical knowledge and experience to make decisions that ensure patient safety and optimal care. This standard is grounded in the concept of being reasonable and prudent, which refers to the actions that a similarly trained nurse would take in comparable circumstances. This encompasses recognizing when to act, how to prioritize patient needs, and being able to justify decisions based on evidence and best practices. While following hospital policies, ensuring patient satisfaction, and employing the latest medical technology are important aspects of nursing practice, they do not solely define the standard of care. Hospital policies may vary and might not always reflect the most effective approach for individual patient needs. Similarly, while patient satisfaction is crucial, it does not replace the necessity for sound clinical judgment. Utilizing advanced medical technology is certainly beneficial, yet it relies heavily on the nurse's ability to evaluate when its use is appropriate and beneficial for the patient. Therefore, exercising sound judgment is the cornerstone of providing safe and effective nursing care.