AACN Updated CCRN-Pediatric Exam Questions and Answers by jorgie

ThePlan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)cycle is the most widely acceptedquality improvement methodologyin healthcare. It's iterative and promotes continuous improvement:

Plan: Identify a goal and create an intervention

Do: Implement the intervention on a small scale

Study: Analyze the data and assess the outcome

Act: Adopt, adjust, or abandon the intervention based on the findings

“PDSA methodology supports quality improvement in healthcare, especially in infection prevention initiatives such as reducing CLABSIs.”

(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Professional Caring & Ethical Practice: Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement)

Ethics committees are convened to help resolvecomplex, value-laden clinical issuesby offeringguidanceto care teams and families. These committees are composed of interdisciplinary professionals and focus onsupporting ethical decision-makingin patient care.

“Ethics committees assist healthcare professionals, patients, and families in addressing ethical dilemmas, including end-of-life decisions, treatment refusal, and moral distress.”

(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Professional Caring and Ethical Practice: Ethical Decision-Making Support Structures)

The first step in quality improvement or post-event evaluation—such as after a disaster drill—is tosystematically identify all problems or deviationsfrom expected protocols. Only once the problems are fully defined canroot causes be analyzedand process improvement initiated.

“After-action reviews following drills or emergencies should begin with problem identification. Comprehensive review and categorization of issues precede root cause analysis and protocol modification.”

(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Professional Caring and Ethical Practice: Systems-Based Practice and Quality Improvement)

Blunt abdominal trauma, such as from a bicycle fall, can result inhollow viscus injury(e.g., bowel perforation). Classic signs includenausea, vomiting, fever, and decreased bowel sounds, often developing12–24 hours post-injurydue to peritonitis.

“After blunt abdominal trauma, particularly with handlebars or falls, visceral perforation must be suspected when symptoms like fever, ileus, and abdominal pain develop. Surgical evaluation is urgent.”

(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Direct Care: Gastrointestinal, Trauma and Acute Abdomen)