CCRN-K (Adult) case studies

CCRN-K (Adult) · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The CCRN-K (Adult) is a knowledge-based certification credential offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill adult patients but do not primarily work at the bedside in an intensive care unit. Because the credential emphasizes clinical knowledge rather than direct bedside skill performance, it appeals to educators, clinical nurse specialists, nurse managers, case managers, and other nurses whose roles influence acute and critical care outcomes indirectly. The CCRN-K (Adult) case studies are 5 cases and about 4,252 words.

Central Telemetry, Single Coverage: A 22-Second Wide-Complex Run

You are the house telemetry surveillance RN at a 420-bed community hospital, covering three medical units from the central station. Tonight one monitor tech called out, so you are working alone with a tech who is in week three of orientation; the house supervisor has told you no relief will come before 0600.

835 words, about 4 min 2

Insulin Tenfold Error, a CPOE Default, and a Manager Who Wants a Final Warning

You are the clinical educator for a 32-bed adult medical-oncology unit. A new graduate in her fifth month off orientation administered regular insulin 10 units subcutaneously instead of the 4 units indicated by the sliding scale.

811 words, about 4 min 3

Friday at 4:15 p.m.: New ARNI, No Scale, and a Home Health Denial

You are the RN transitional care coordinator for a hospital-affiliated primary care group. Your patient is a 78-year-old woman with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF 30%), discharged yesterday after four days of IV diuresis.

874 words, about 4 min 4

0230 Conflict Between a Written Directive, a Surrogate, and an Off-Site Attending

You are the night nursing supervisor in a 210-bed community hospital and the person staff call for ethical conflicts after hours. The patient in room 214 is an 84-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic cancer admitted with aspiration pneumonia and sepsis.

858 words, about 4 min 5

CLABSI Rate Tripled: Reading Six Events and Choosing One Target

You chair the unit-based practice council in a 28-bed neuro-intensive care unit. Over the past two quarters the CLABSI rate rose from 0.8 to 2.4 per 1,000 central line days - six infections in 2,480 line days.

874 words, about 4 min