ATI CRITICAL THINKING EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ What should the nurse do in the case that a chest tube is
disconnected?
Answer: 1. have the client exhale as much as they can to remove air
from the pleural space
2. immerse the end of the chest tube in sterile water to restore the
water seal
3. apply dry sterile gauze
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a nasal cannula? at what
rate do we need to administer humidification?
Answer: 24-44%
1-6 L/min
humidification at 4 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a simple face mask?
Answer: 40-60%
5-8 L/min (less than this causes the patient to rebreathe CO2)
,◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a partial rebreather mask?
Answer: 40-75%
6-11 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a non-rebreather?
Answer: 80-95%
10-15 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a venturi mask?
Answer: 24-50%
4-10 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a aerosol face mask, face
tent, t-piece, and trach collar?
Answer: 24-100%
10 L/min at least
*** Humidification requires frequent monitoring
◉ What does hypercarbia look like?
Answer: restlessness, hypertension, HA
,◉ What does oxygen toxicity look like?
Answer: non-productive cough, substernal pain, nasal stuffiness, n/v,
fatigue, HA, sore throat, hypoventillation
◉ How does assist control (AC) work related to respiratory support?
Answer: overtakes breathing for an intubated client
◉ How does synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
(SIMV) work related to respiratory support?
Answer: used in weaning; increases the work of breathing
ventilator and patient work together
◉ How does assist inverse ratio ventillation (IVR) work related to
respiratory support?
Answer: prolongs the inspiration phase to maximize oxygenation
HIGH RISK FOR VOLUTRAUMA
◉ How does airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) work
related to respiratory support?
Answer: patient and ventilator work together
breath expelled by the lung's own natural recoil
, ◉ How does independent lung ventilation work related to
respiratory support?
Answer: lungs are ventilated separately
need: 2 ventilators, sedation, neuromuscular blocking agents
◉ How does PEEP work related to respiratory support?
Answer: preset pressure on expiration
added to treat persistent hypoxemia
◉ How does pressure support ventilation (PSV) work r/t respiratory
support?
Answer: greater oxygenation, makes the work of breathing easier,
prevents alveolar collapse
◉ How do you document the placement of a tube for mechanical
ventilation?
Answer: in cm at the client's teeth or lips
◉ What do the three ventilator alarms indicate? (volume, pressure,
and apnea alarms)
Answer: volume (low pressure): low exhaled volume due to a
disconnection, cuff leak, or tube displacement
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ What should the nurse do in the case that a chest tube is
disconnected?
Answer: 1. have the client exhale as much as they can to remove air
from the pleural space
2. immerse the end of the chest tube in sterile water to restore the
water seal
3. apply dry sterile gauze
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a nasal cannula? at what
rate do we need to administer humidification?
Answer: 24-44%
1-6 L/min
humidification at 4 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a simple face mask?
Answer: 40-60%
5-8 L/min (less than this causes the patient to rebreathe CO2)
,◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a partial rebreather mask?
Answer: 40-75%
6-11 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a non-rebreather?
Answer: 80-95%
10-15 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a venturi mask?
Answer: 24-50%
4-10 L/min
◉ What is the FiO2 and the flow rate for a aerosol face mask, face
tent, t-piece, and trach collar?
Answer: 24-100%
10 L/min at least
*** Humidification requires frequent monitoring
◉ What does hypercarbia look like?
Answer: restlessness, hypertension, HA
,◉ What does oxygen toxicity look like?
Answer: non-productive cough, substernal pain, nasal stuffiness, n/v,
fatigue, HA, sore throat, hypoventillation
◉ How does assist control (AC) work related to respiratory support?
Answer: overtakes breathing for an intubated client
◉ How does synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
(SIMV) work related to respiratory support?
Answer: used in weaning; increases the work of breathing
ventilator and patient work together
◉ How does assist inverse ratio ventillation (IVR) work related to
respiratory support?
Answer: prolongs the inspiration phase to maximize oxygenation
HIGH RISK FOR VOLUTRAUMA
◉ How does airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) work
related to respiratory support?
Answer: patient and ventilator work together
breath expelled by the lung's own natural recoil
, ◉ How does independent lung ventilation work related to
respiratory support?
Answer: lungs are ventilated separately
need: 2 ventilators, sedation, neuromuscular blocking agents
◉ How does PEEP work related to respiratory support?
Answer: preset pressure on expiration
added to treat persistent hypoxemia
◉ How does pressure support ventilation (PSV) work r/t respiratory
support?
Answer: greater oxygenation, makes the work of breathing easier,
prevents alveolar collapse
◉ How do you document the placement of a tube for mechanical
ventilation?
Answer: in cm at the client's teeth or lips
◉ What do the three ventilator alarms indicate? (volume, pressure,
and apnea alarms)
Answer: volume (low pressure): low exhaled volume due to a
disconnection, cuff leak, or tube displacement
