A study guide for the AACN'S core curriculum for critical care nursing

Includes bibliographical references (pages 320-322)In 1976, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses began certifying competence through an examination process. The certification was expected to motivate nurses to increase their understanding of knowledge requisite to good patient care. A textbook, the Core Curriculum for Critical Care Nursing, was published to assist nurses preparing to take the examination.\ud Despite the availability of the. textbook, the high motivation of those studying the material and an average of more than five years of experience for those taking the exam, a failure rate of 45 to 75 percent persisted.\ud The purpose of this graduate project was to construct and validate a learning resource to increase understanding of the Core Curriculum for Critical Care Nursing. A study guide was designed using additional learning activities outlined in the literature on adult learning. Responses to questionnaires from students using the study guide and from experts in the field indicated the guide would increase understanding of the material