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ACM-RN Daily Question

Past questions

Try each one first, then tap to see the answer and the explanation.

Question 1 · Core 1: Screening and Assessment

What is the best way to confirm a patient understands the discharge plan?

  • A. Asking whether the patient has any questions about the plan
  • B. Teach-back
  • C. Having the patient sign the discharge instruction sheet
  • D. Giving the patient a longer written handout to read
Show the answer
B. Teach-back

Asking the patient to explain the plan in their own words confirms understanding.

Question 2 · Core 3: Process Improvement and Evaluation

A team wants to cut the time from discharge order to patient departure. Which measure best tracks progress?

  • A. Number of discharge orders written per day
  • B. Median minutes from discharge order to departure
  • C. Patient satisfaction with hospital meals
  • D. The number of staffed beds on the unit
Show the answer
B. Median minutes from discharge order to departure

A time-based process measure tracked over time shows whether the change helps.

Question 3 · Core 3: Process Improvement and Evaluation

A case manager notices a patient was discharged on the wrong anticoagulant dose. No harm occurred yet. What should she do first?

  • A. File an event report and take no other action
  • B. Ensure safety via the prescriber, then report
  • C. Wait to see whether the patient has any bleeding
  • D. Tell the patient to stop the drug until his visit
Show the answer
B. Ensure safety via the prescriber, then report

Patient safety comes first; reporting through the event system helps fix the process.

Question 4 · Core 3: Process Improvement and Evaluation

After a serious patient harm event, the team asks why it happened. Which approach best reflects a just culture?

  • A. Look at system causes and individual choices fairly, without blame for honest errors
  • B. Fire the staff member closest to the event
  • C. Ignore the event to protect morale
  • D. Blame the patient for not speaking up
Show the answer
A. Look at system causes and individual choices fairly, without blame for honest errors

Just culture separates human error, at-risk behavior and reckless behavior, and focuses on fixing systems.

Question 5 · Core 3: Process Improvement and Evaluation

A unit's observed average length of stay is 5.2 days and the expected length of stay is 4.0 days. What is the length of stay index?

  • A. 1.3
  • B. 0.77, meaning stays are shorter than expected
  • C. 1.2, the difference between observed and expected days
  • D. 9.2, the sum of observed and expected days
Show the answer
A. 1.3

The LOS index is observed divided by expected: 5.2 / 4.0 = 1.3, meaning stays are 30% longer than expected.

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