NURS 481 QUIZ 1,2,3- ADVANCED MED-SURG FINAL
(MS3) CRITICAL CARE EXAM UPDATED 2026
QUIZ 1!
1. A client admitted with angina returns to the unit after femoral catherization with
angioplasty. It is important for the nurse to question which order by the health
care provider?
a. Assess left groin insertion site for bleeding or hematomas
b. Ambulate as desired
- You want them to lay flat for the first 4 hours after PCI
c. Assess bilateral pedal pulses
d. Administer prescribed warfarin
2. Which laboratory results would the nurse interpret as indicating that the client is
at greater risk for developing atherosclerosis?
a. Total cholesterol 180mg/dL; LDL 80 mg/dL
b. Total cholesterol 210 mg/dL; LDL 140mg/dL
c. Total cholesterol 250 mg/dL; LDL 170 mg/dL
- Cholesterol: <200
- Triglycerides: <150
- LDL: <110
- HDL: male >40 female >50
d. Total cholesterol 170 mg/dL; LDL 120 mg/dL
3. The critical care nurse is caring for a client in respiratory failure who has an arterial
line. Which nursing interventions should the nurse add to the plan of care?
a. Infuse medications
b. Administer blood products
c. Monitor pulmonary artery pressures
d. Obtain samples for blood gas monitoring
- Cannot administer meds or blood products through a-line
1
, 4. A clients intubated and placed on assist-control (AC) ventilation. The nurse plans care
for this client based on which characteristic of this method of ventilation?
a. Reduce sedation drip when the client begins to breathe spontaneously
b. Monitor for hyperventilation when the client breathes faster than the present rate
c. Expect the client to hypoventilate if the rate on the ventilator is set too high
d. Anticipate hypercapnia when the client hyperventilates
5. A client walks up to the triage nurses desk in the ER and says “My chest is really
hurting and I feel dizzy”. What should be the nurse’s first action?
a. Give the client a baby aspirin
b. Have the client sit down
c. Ask the client when the pain started
d. Send the clients spouse to get some water
6. A nurse is caring for a client with an endotracheal tube and notes the cuff pressure
is 25mmHg. The nurse understands this measurement is appropriate for which of
the following reasons? (Normal 20-30)
a. To prevent necrosis of the trachea
b. To increase circulation in the lungs
c. To allow for air movement around the cuff
d. Allow secretions from the upper airway to enter the lower airway
7. A client in the ED has been diagnosed with hypertensive emergency. Which of
the following would the nurse anticipate in the plan of care? (SATA)
a. Transferring the client to the ICU
b. Administration of oral antihypertensive medications like clonidine
c. Managing the client on an outpatient basis
d. IV administration of vasopressor medication like dopamine.
e. Preparing for arterial line placement TO MEASURE MAP
8. A client with a history of angina comes to the Emergency department complaining
of shortness of breath and chest pain. What should be the nurse’s first intervention?
a. Notify the provider
b. Obtain IV access
c. Reassure the client and obtain and MD order for anxiolytic medication
d. Place the patient on oxygen
9. A client who has atherosclerosis is placed on the HMG Co-A enzyme inhibitor
atorvastatin. Which outcome indicates to the nurse that the drug is having a
desired effect? -statin drugs decrease LDL levels
a. Reduction in LDL levels
b. Increase in liver enzyme levels
c. Increase in CRP levels
d. Decrease in HDL levels
10. The client diagnosed with a MI is three hours post right femoral balloon stent
placement. Which assessment data would require immediate intervention by the nurse?
2
, a. The clients right pedal pulse is 3+ and capillary refill is less than 2 seconds
b. The client is keeping the affected extremity straight
c. The client is complaining of numbness, pallor and tingling in the right foot
d. The pressure dressing to the right femoral are has scant blood
11. A client with a history of DVT is at high risk for pulmonary embolus. The nurse
would monitor this client for the development of a pulmonary embolus when which
clinical manifestations occur? (SATA)
a. Chest pain
b. Muffled heart sounds (tamponade)
c. Neck vein distention (tamponade)
d. Dyspnea
e. Bradypnea
- Tachycardia, difficulty breathing, chest pain
12. A client who has been on a mechanical ventilator for three days develops a fever of 101
F, has increased green sputum, and right lower lobe crackles upon auscultation. The
nurse notifies the provider regarding possible development of which complication?
a. Pleural effusion
b. Pneumothorax
c. Pneumonia
d. Pulmonary embolism
13. A client has undergone an emergency endotracheal intubation. Which of the
following actions can be performed first in regard to verifying tube placement?
a. Secure the tube in place then assess if breath sounds are equal and bilateral
b. Auscultate the chest during assisted ventilation
c. Check exhaled carbon dioxide levels via end tidal CO2 detector (gold)
d. Obtain an order for a chest radiograph to document tube placement
14. An unrestrained driver hit another vehicle head-on while driving at 55 miles per hour.
On arrival to the ED, the clients lethargic. How would the nurse begin to assess this
client using primary survey?
a. Look, listen and feel for breath sounds and chest rise
b. Ask the clients pain level
c. Feel quality of pulse
d. Check for saliva, blood or broken teeth in the mouth
- Assess AIRWAY
15. A client who was admitted to the ED after a gunshot wound to the chest. What actions
are most appropriate for the nurse to take? (SATA)
a. Monitor for signs of pneumothorax
b. Begin infusing 0.9% sodium chloride bolus as prescribed
c. Provide oxygen to keep SA02 is above 95%
d. Administer small amounts of analgesia for pain
e. Cover the wound with gauze taped at 3 sides
3
, 16. Which drug is usually prescribed for client’s post-MI due to its ability to
decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and heart rate? -lol decrease BP and
HR
a. Aspirin
b. Furosemide
c. Metoprolol
d. Captopril
17. A client with heart failure has a nursing diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume. During
assessment of the client, the nurse palpates bounding peripheral pulses, pitting ankle
edema and auscultates moist crackles bilaterally. Which order takes priority at this
time?
a. Administer prescribed furosemide 40mg IV push
b. Maintain accurate intake and output records
c. Restrict fluids to 1500 mL/day
d. Weigh the client every morning
18. A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from multiple trauma and has been on
bedrest for several days. Upon auscultation, the nurse notes decreased breath sounds in
the lower lobes of both lungs. Which of the following conditions does the nurse
suspect may be occurring?
a. A upper respiratory infection
b. Prescence of tumor
c. Atelectasis
d. Flail chest
19. A nurse observes unequal lung expansion and deviated trachea in a client who had a
thoracentesis procedure. Based on these findings, the nurse is concerned of which
complication post-thoracentesis procedure?
a. Tension Pneumothorax
- Deviated trachea
- Diminished breath sounds
b. Cardiac tamponade
c. Pleural effusion
d. Flail chest
20. A client is placed on a mechanical ventilator at these settings: tidal volume 450 mL, rate
8 breaths per minute and FIO2 50%. The clients PACo2 has increased from 45 mm Hg
to 55 mm Hg. What ventilator setting does the nurse expect to be altered to decrease the
PACO2?
a. Increase rate to 12 breaths per min
b. Decrease rate to 6 breaths per minute
c. Increase FIO2 to 60%
d. Decrease tidal volume to 400mL
21. During assessment of a post-CABG client, the nurse notes distended neck veins,
distant heart sounds, and pulsus paradoxus. The client becomes hypotensive and
lethargic. Which of the following should the nurse anticipate in the plan of care for this
client?
(MS3) CRITICAL CARE EXAM UPDATED 2026
QUIZ 1!
1. A client admitted with angina returns to the unit after femoral catherization with
angioplasty. It is important for the nurse to question which order by the health
care provider?
a. Assess left groin insertion site for bleeding or hematomas
b. Ambulate as desired
- You want them to lay flat for the first 4 hours after PCI
c. Assess bilateral pedal pulses
d. Administer prescribed warfarin
2. Which laboratory results would the nurse interpret as indicating that the client is
at greater risk for developing atherosclerosis?
a. Total cholesterol 180mg/dL; LDL 80 mg/dL
b. Total cholesterol 210 mg/dL; LDL 140mg/dL
c. Total cholesterol 250 mg/dL; LDL 170 mg/dL
- Cholesterol: <200
- Triglycerides: <150
- LDL: <110
- HDL: male >40 female >50
d. Total cholesterol 170 mg/dL; LDL 120 mg/dL
3. The critical care nurse is caring for a client in respiratory failure who has an arterial
line. Which nursing interventions should the nurse add to the plan of care?
a. Infuse medications
b. Administer blood products
c. Monitor pulmonary artery pressures
d. Obtain samples for blood gas monitoring
- Cannot administer meds or blood products through a-line
1
, 4. A clients intubated and placed on assist-control (AC) ventilation. The nurse plans care
for this client based on which characteristic of this method of ventilation?
a. Reduce sedation drip when the client begins to breathe spontaneously
b. Monitor for hyperventilation when the client breathes faster than the present rate
c. Expect the client to hypoventilate if the rate on the ventilator is set too high
d. Anticipate hypercapnia when the client hyperventilates
5. A client walks up to the triage nurses desk in the ER and says “My chest is really
hurting and I feel dizzy”. What should be the nurse’s first action?
a. Give the client a baby aspirin
b. Have the client sit down
c. Ask the client when the pain started
d. Send the clients spouse to get some water
6. A nurse is caring for a client with an endotracheal tube and notes the cuff pressure
is 25mmHg. The nurse understands this measurement is appropriate for which of
the following reasons? (Normal 20-30)
a. To prevent necrosis of the trachea
b. To increase circulation in the lungs
c. To allow for air movement around the cuff
d. Allow secretions from the upper airway to enter the lower airway
7. A client in the ED has been diagnosed with hypertensive emergency. Which of
the following would the nurse anticipate in the plan of care? (SATA)
a. Transferring the client to the ICU
b. Administration of oral antihypertensive medications like clonidine
c. Managing the client on an outpatient basis
d. IV administration of vasopressor medication like dopamine.
e. Preparing for arterial line placement TO MEASURE MAP
8. A client with a history of angina comes to the Emergency department complaining
of shortness of breath and chest pain. What should be the nurse’s first intervention?
a. Notify the provider
b. Obtain IV access
c. Reassure the client and obtain and MD order for anxiolytic medication
d. Place the patient on oxygen
9. A client who has atherosclerosis is placed on the HMG Co-A enzyme inhibitor
atorvastatin. Which outcome indicates to the nurse that the drug is having a
desired effect? -statin drugs decrease LDL levels
a. Reduction in LDL levels
b. Increase in liver enzyme levels
c. Increase in CRP levels
d. Decrease in HDL levels
10. The client diagnosed with a MI is three hours post right femoral balloon stent
placement. Which assessment data would require immediate intervention by the nurse?
2
, a. The clients right pedal pulse is 3+ and capillary refill is less than 2 seconds
b. The client is keeping the affected extremity straight
c. The client is complaining of numbness, pallor and tingling in the right foot
d. The pressure dressing to the right femoral are has scant blood
11. A client with a history of DVT is at high risk for pulmonary embolus. The nurse
would monitor this client for the development of a pulmonary embolus when which
clinical manifestations occur? (SATA)
a. Chest pain
b. Muffled heart sounds (tamponade)
c. Neck vein distention (tamponade)
d. Dyspnea
e. Bradypnea
- Tachycardia, difficulty breathing, chest pain
12. A client who has been on a mechanical ventilator for three days develops a fever of 101
F, has increased green sputum, and right lower lobe crackles upon auscultation. The
nurse notifies the provider regarding possible development of which complication?
a. Pleural effusion
b. Pneumothorax
c. Pneumonia
d. Pulmonary embolism
13. A client has undergone an emergency endotracheal intubation. Which of the
following actions can be performed first in regard to verifying tube placement?
a. Secure the tube in place then assess if breath sounds are equal and bilateral
b. Auscultate the chest during assisted ventilation
c. Check exhaled carbon dioxide levels via end tidal CO2 detector (gold)
d. Obtain an order for a chest radiograph to document tube placement
14. An unrestrained driver hit another vehicle head-on while driving at 55 miles per hour.
On arrival to the ED, the clients lethargic. How would the nurse begin to assess this
client using primary survey?
a. Look, listen and feel for breath sounds and chest rise
b. Ask the clients pain level
c. Feel quality of pulse
d. Check for saliva, blood or broken teeth in the mouth
- Assess AIRWAY
15. A client who was admitted to the ED after a gunshot wound to the chest. What actions
are most appropriate for the nurse to take? (SATA)
a. Monitor for signs of pneumothorax
b. Begin infusing 0.9% sodium chloride bolus as prescribed
c. Provide oxygen to keep SA02 is above 95%
d. Administer small amounts of analgesia for pain
e. Cover the wound with gauze taped at 3 sides
3
, 16. Which drug is usually prescribed for client’s post-MI due to its ability to
decrease myocardial oxygen consumption and heart rate? -lol decrease BP and
HR
a. Aspirin
b. Furosemide
c. Metoprolol
d. Captopril
17. A client with heart failure has a nursing diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume. During
assessment of the client, the nurse palpates bounding peripheral pulses, pitting ankle
edema and auscultates moist crackles bilaterally. Which order takes priority at this
time?
a. Administer prescribed furosemide 40mg IV push
b. Maintain accurate intake and output records
c. Restrict fluids to 1500 mL/day
d. Weigh the client every morning
18. A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from multiple trauma and has been on
bedrest for several days. Upon auscultation, the nurse notes decreased breath sounds in
the lower lobes of both lungs. Which of the following conditions does the nurse
suspect may be occurring?
a. A upper respiratory infection
b. Prescence of tumor
c. Atelectasis
d. Flail chest
19. A nurse observes unequal lung expansion and deviated trachea in a client who had a
thoracentesis procedure. Based on these findings, the nurse is concerned of which
complication post-thoracentesis procedure?
a. Tension Pneumothorax
- Deviated trachea
- Diminished breath sounds
b. Cardiac tamponade
c. Pleural effusion
d. Flail chest
20. A client is placed on a mechanical ventilator at these settings: tidal volume 450 mL, rate
8 breaths per minute and FIO2 50%. The clients PACo2 has increased from 45 mm Hg
to 55 mm Hg. What ventilator setting does the nurse expect to be altered to decrease the
PACO2?
a. Increase rate to 12 breaths per min
b. Decrease rate to 6 breaths per minute
c. Increase FIO2 to 60%
d. Decrease tidal volume to 400mL
21. During assessment of a post-CABG client, the nurse notes distended neck veins,
distant heart sounds, and pulsus paradoxus. The client becomes hypotensive and
lethargic. Which of the following should the nurse anticipate in the plan of care for this
client?
