American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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Prepare for the AACN Certification Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

For what purpose is the SOFA score used?

To assess mental health outcomes
To evaluate pain levels in patients
To determine organ function or failure
To measure physical activity levels

The correct answer is: To determine organ function or failure

The SOFA score, which stands for Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, is specifically designed to assess the degree of dysfunction or failure in various organ systems in critically ill patients. By scoring six different organ systems—respiratory, coagulation, liver, cardiovascular, renal, and neurologic—the SOFA score helps healthcare providers determine the severity of a patient's condition and monitor changes over time. This assessment is particularly important in the context of sepsis and other critical illnesses, where multiple organ systems may be compromised. Using the SOFA score allows clinicians to make informed decisions about interventions, prognosis, and overall patient management.