Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

What is a key aspect of assessing the patient's ability to maintain attention and calculation skills?

1. Counting forward from 1 to 20

2. Counting backward from 20 to 1

3. Reciting the alphabet

4. Solving a complex math problem

The correct answer is: Counting backward from 20 to 1

Counting backward from 20 to 1 is a key aspect of assessing a patient's ability to maintain attention and calculation skills because it requires multiple cognitive functions. This task demands focused attention, working memory, and the ability to manipulate numbers mentally. It engages both concentration and numerical processing simultaneously, making it a more effective measure of cognitive function than simply counting forward or reciting the alphabet. Counting forward from 1 to 20 primarily tests rote memory and basic recognition of numbers, without requiring significant cognitive challenge. Reciting the alphabet similarly assesses memorization rather than cognitive flexibility or mathematical reasoning. Solving a complex math problem might require advanced calculation skills, but it can also lead to frustration or anxiety in some patients, which could skew the assessment of their attention and calculation abilities. Thus, counting backward serves as an effective tool for a balanced evaluation of these skills in a patient.