This specific 45-question "Critical Care Exam 1" set is a utilized nursing study guide. It focuses
heavily on NCLEX-style prioritization, hemodynamics, and respiratory emergencies.
The primary high-yield core concepts, sample questions, and core critical care topics included in this
specific exam bank are detailed below.
Core Exam Topics Covered
• Patient Prioritization (Triage): Utilizing ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to
determine which unstable ICU patient to assess first.
• Hemodynamic Monitoring: Understanding the phlebostatic axis, arterial lines, and
Central Venous Pressure (CVP) troubleshooting.
• Mechanical Ventilation & ABGs: Identifying acute respiratory failure, ventilator alarms,
and managing oxygenation status.
• Shock & Perfusion: Early recognition of septic, cardiogenic, and hypovolemic shock.
Sample Questions from this Exam Bank
The following are representative, high-yield questions from the 45-question bank, focusing on key
clinical decision-making scenarios.
1. Critical Care Prioritization
Question: Which patient should the nurse assess first after receiving the shift report?
• C. A 36-year-old with asthma, RR 36, and suddenly diminished wheezing.
• Rationale: The "silent chest" indicates impending respiratory failure.
2. Hemodynamic Line Calibration
Question: Which action indicates effective teaching regarding arterial pressure monitoring?
• B. Positioning the zero-reference stopcock line level with the phlebostatic axis.
, • Rationale: The stopcock must align with the phlebostatic axis (4th intercostal space, mid-
axillary line) for accurate readings.
3. Oxygenation Assessment
Question: How can the nurse assess a patient’s oxygenation status, particularly during a
gastrointestinal bleed? (Select all that apply)
• A, B. Pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis.
• Rationale: Pulse oximetry provides continuous SpO₂, and ABGs provide precise PaO₂
Quiz_________________?
1, 2, 4 -
ANSWER✅
You are the nurse preparing to discharge a 46 year-old man with hypertension who was
started on chlorothiazide. You ask the patient to share with you his understanding of his
new medication. Which of the following statements indicates your teaching has been
effective? Select all that apply.
1- I will weigh myself every day at the same time.
2- I will notify Charles, the nurse practitioner in my primary care doctor's office if I gain 3
pounds or more, have increased swelling in my feet and ankles, or feel more tired than
usual.
3- I will reduce my medication if I feel very thirsty or dizzy.
4- I will wear sunscreen if I will be out in the sun for a long period of time.
5- If I want to drink alcohol, I will wait and take my medication right before I go to bed.
Quiz_________________?
2, 4, 5
Contrast dyes contain iodine and allergy could lead to anaphylactic response; might receive
light sedation but needs to be awake and able to follow directions -
ANSWER✅
You are assigned to care for a 58 year-old man who is scheduled for a cardiac angiogram
during your shift. What actions should you take? Check all that apply.
, 1-Explain that the patient will receive short-acting anesthesia
2-Review the patient's allergies, specifically checking to see if he has an allergy to contrast
dye
3-Inform the patient that his wife should stay at home until the procedure is finished, as
family members often distract the team in the cath lab
4-Review and reconcile his medications. Confirm that he did not take his warfarin
5-Check the patient's most recent labs paying particular attention to the PT INR
Quiz_________________?
3
All are important but lower resource utilization is best indicator and one used by
accrediting agencies, payors, etc. -
ANSWER✅
The nurse is tracking data on a group of patients with heart failure, who have been
discharged from the unit where you work and are now being followed in clinic. What is the
best indicator that the nursing interventions of monitoring and teaching have been effective?
1- Eighty-five percent of patients have not gained weight
2- Seventy-five percent of family caregivers have reported watching an educational DVD
3- Five percent of patients have been readmitted to the hospital in the last 90 days
4- Eighty percent report that they are taking their medications
Quiz_________________?
4
Cellulitis is serious infection, involving swelling of subcutaneous tissue, fluid displacement
due to 3rd spacing. What else would you assess? -
ANSWER✅
You are about to handover patient care to your on-coming nurse colleague. Which patient
requires the most immediate attention?
heavily on NCLEX-style prioritization, hemodynamics, and respiratory emergencies.
The primary high-yield core concepts, sample questions, and core critical care topics included in this
specific exam bank are detailed below.
Core Exam Topics Covered
• Patient Prioritization (Triage): Utilizing ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to
determine which unstable ICU patient to assess first.
• Hemodynamic Monitoring: Understanding the phlebostatic axis, arterial lines, and
Central Venous Pressure (CVP) troubleshooting.
• Mechanical Ventilation & ABGs: Identifying acute respiratory failure, ventilator alarms,
and managing oxygenation status.
• Shock & Perfusion: Early recognition of septic, cardiogenic, and hypovolemic shock.
Sample Questions from this Exam Bank
The following are representative, high-yield questions from the 45-question bank, focusing on key
clinical decision-making scenarios.
1. Critical Care Prioritization
Question: Which patient should the nurse assess first after receiving the shift report?
• C. A 36-year-old with asthma, RR 36, and suddenly diminished wheezing.
• Rationale: The "silent chest" indicates impending respiratory failure.
2. Hemodynamic Line Calibration
Question: Which action indicates effective teaching regarding arterial pressure monitoring?
• B. Positioning the zero-reference stopcock line level with the phlebostatic axis.
, • Rationale: The stopcock must align with the phlebostatic axis (4th intercostal space, mid-
axillary line) for accurate readings.
3. Oxygenation Assessment
Question: How can the nurse assess a patient’s oxygenation status, particularly during a
gastrointestinal bleed? (Select all that apply)
• A, B. Pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis.
• Rationale: Pulse oximetry provides continuous SpO₂, and ABGs provide precise PaO₂
Quiz_________________?
1, 2, 4 -
ANSWER✅
You are the nurse preparing to discharge a 46 year-old man with hypertension who was
started on chlorothiazide. You ask the patient to share with you his understanding of his
new medication. Which of the following statements indicates your teaching has been
effective? Select all that apply.
1- I will weigh myself every day at the same time.
2- I will notify Charles, the nurse practitioner in my primary care doctor's office if I gain 3
pounds or more, have increased swelling in my feet and ankles, or feel more tired than
usual.
3- I will reduce my medication if I feel very thirsty or dizzy.
4- I will wear sunscreen if I will be out in the sun for a long period of time.
5- If I want to drink alcohol, I will wait and take my medication right before I go to bed.
Quiz_________________?
2, 4, 5
Contrast dyes contain iodine and allergy could lead to anaphylactic response; might receive
light sedation but needs to be awake and able to follow directions -
ANSWER✅
You are assigned to care for a 58 year-old man who is scheduled for a cardiac angiogram
during your shift. What actions should you take? Check all that apply.
, 1-Explain that the patient will receive short-acting anesthesia
2-Review the patient's allergies, specifically checking to see if he has an allergy to contrast
dye
3-Inform the patient that his wife should stay at home until the procedure is finished, as
family members often distract the team in the cath lab
4-Review and reconcile his medications. Confirm that he did not take his warfarin
5-Check the patient's most recent labs paying particular attention to the PT INR
Quiz_________________?
3
All are important but lower resource utilization is best indicator and one used by
accrediting agencies, payors, etc. -
ANSWER✅
The nurse is tracking data on a group of patients with heart failure, who have been
discharged from the unit where you work and are now being followed in clinic. What is the
best indicator that the nursing interventions of monitoring and teaching have been effective?
1- Eighty-five percent of patients have not gained weight
2- Seventy-five percent of family caregivers have reported watching an educational DVD
3- Five percent of patients have been readmitted to the hospital in the last 90 days
4- Eighty percent report that they are taking their medications
Quiz_________________?
4
Cellulitis is serious infection, involving swelling of subcutaneous tissue, fluid displacement
due to 3rd spacing. What else would you assess? -
ANSWER✅
You are about to handover patient care to your on-coming nurse colleague. Which patient
requires the most immediate attention?
