CRITICAL CARE STUDY 2026/2027 EXAM GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Define: Thyroidectomy - ✔✔Surgical removal of the thyroid gland
✔✔A client who returns to the postoperative unit after a total thyroidectomy suddenly
becomes short of breath and develops stridor. What action should the nurse implement
first? - ✔✔Call the rapid response team for emergency assistance
✔✔What complication can happen after a thyroidectomy? - ✔✔Bleeding into the soft
tissue around the incision site causing inspiratory stridor & laryngospasm
✔✔Define: Stridor - ✔✔Strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by
obstruction in the pharynx or larynx
✔✔Define: Laryngospasm - ✔✔Muscle spasm in the vocal cords
✔✔A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is admitted for strict fluid restriction.
Which assessment finding requires additional nursing action? - ✔✔Crackles in the lungs
✔✔What do crackles compromise? - ✔✔Oxygenation
✔✔A client with diabetic ketoacidosis is admitted to the intensive care unit and is
manifesting respirations that are rapid and deep. Which descriptive term should the
nurse use to document the client's breathing pattern? - ✔✔Kussmaul respirations
✔✔What is the purpose of Kussmaul respirations? - ✔✔To let go of CO2
✔✔Define: Mannitol - ✔✔Diuretic
✔✔A client in the intensive care unit receives a STAT prescription for mannitol IV for
cerebral edema post closed head injury. Which action should the nurse implement when
preparing to administer the medication? - ✔✔Use a filtered needle to draw up the
medication and an in-line filter during infusion. It is a large sugar crystal molecule at
room temperature.
✔✔The nurse reports findings to the healthcare provider for a client who is admitted to
the intensive care unit today with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When
the nurse completes the report using the SBAR format, which statement best supports
the nurse's reason for calling the healthcare provider? - ✔✔Prescription for additional
respiratory treatment
✔✔The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation for acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ventilator is alarming continuously indicating
, high peak pressures for the client. Which pathologic changes in the client is causing the
ventilator alarms? - ✔✔Decreased lung compliance
✔✔What does acute respiratory syndrome cause? - ✔✔Decreased lung compliance,
stiffer lung
✔✔The nurse is preparing to suction an intubated client's endotracheal tube (ETT).
Which action should the nurse do first prior to suctioning the client's ETT? - ✔✔Hyper-
oxygenate with 100% FiO2 for 30 seconds
✔✔Why would you place sterile saline in an ETT prior to suctioning? - ✔✔Loosen
secretions
✔✔What can the use of normal saline prior to suctioning cause? - ✔✔Oxygen
desaturation
Backwash deeper into the lungs
Increased intracranial pressure
Excessive coughing
Bronchospasm
✔✔Which intervention should the nurse perform prior to the removal of an endotracheal
tube from a client? - ✔✔Suction the tube thoroughly
✔✔A client diagnosed with heart failure has hemodynamic monitoring in place. Which
actions should the nurse perform to obtain accurate readings from the hemodynamic
monitor? - ✔✔Measure the pressure readings in between the breaths
Calibrate it to 0 at the start of each shift
Place transducer at the atrial & pulmonary levels
✔✔Define: Respiratory acidosis - ✔✔pH & CO2 are increased
✔✔The nurse is preparing a client with acute kidney injury (AKI) f or hemodialysis in the
intensive care unit (ICU). Which assessment should the nurse obtain prior to beginning
the procedure? - ✔✔Weight using the ICU bed scales
✔✔The nurse is caring for a client who is 4 days postoperative for abdominal surgery.
The client reports acute onset of difficulty breathing. The nurse obtains the vital signs
which include a heart rate of 120 beats/minute and respirations of 35 breaths/minute.
Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client to expect the healthcare
provider to prescribe? - ✔✔D-dimer blood test
✔✔Define: D-dimer blood test - ✔✔Helps to rule out harmful blood clots
✔✔What is a common postoperative complication? - ✔✔Pulmonary embolism
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Define: Thyroidectomy - ✔✔Surgical removal of the thyroid gland
✔✔A client who returns to the postoperative unit after a total thyroidectomy suddenly
becomes short of breath and develops stridor. What action should the nurse implement
first? - ✔✔Call the rapid response team for emergency assistance
✔✔What complication can happen after a thyroidectomy? - ✔✔Bleeding into the soft
tissue around the incision site causing inspiratory stridor & laryngospasm
✔✔Define: Stridor - ✔✔Strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by
obstruction in the pharynx or larynx
✔✔Define: Laryngospasm - ✔✔Muscle spasm in the vocal cords
✔✔A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is admitted for strict fluid restriction.
Which assessment finding requires additional nursing action? - ✔✔Crackles in the lungs
✔✔What do crackles compromise? - ✔✔Oxygenation
✔✔A client with diabetic ketoacidosis is admitted to the intensive care unit and is
manifesting respirations that are rapid and deep. Which descriptive term should the
nurse use to document the client's breathing pattern? - ✔✔Kussmaul respirations
✔✔What is the purpose of Kussmaul respirations? - ✔✔To let go of CO2
✔✔Define: Mannitol - ✔✔Diuretic
✔✔A client in the intensive care unit receives a STAT prescription for mannitol IV for
cerebral edema post closed head injury. Which action should the nurse implement when
preparing to administer the medication? - ✔✔Use a filtered needle to draw up the
medication and an in-line filter during infusion. It is a large sugar crystal molecule at
room temperature.
✔✔The nurse reports findings to the healthcare provider for a client who is admitted to
the intensive care unit today with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When
the nurse completes the report using the SBAR format, which statement best supports
the nurse's reason for calling the healthcare provider? - ✔✔Prescription for additional
respiratory treatment
✔✔The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation for acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ventilator is alarming continuously indicating
, high peak pressures for the client. Which pathologic changes in the client is causing the
ventilator alarms? - ✔✔Decreased lung compliance
✔✔What does acute respiratory syndrome cause? - ✔✔Decreased lung compliance,
stiffer lung
✔✔The nurse is preparing to suction an intubated client's endotracheal tube (ETT).
Which action should the nurse do first prior to suctioning the client's ETT? - ✔✔Hyper-
oxygenate with 100% FiO2 for 30 seconds
✔✔Why would you place sterile saline in an ETT prior to suctioning? - ✔✔Loosen
secretions
✔✔What can the use of normal saline prior to suctioning cause? - ✔✔Oxygen
desaturation
Backwash deeper into the lungs
Increased intracranial pressure
Excessive coughing
Bronchospasm
✔✔Which intervention should the nurse perform prior to the removal of an endotracheal
tube from a client? - ✔✔Suction the tube thoroughly
✔✔A client diagnosed with heart failure has hemodynamic monitoring in place. Which
actions should the nurse perform to obtain accurate readings from the hemodynamic
monitor? - ✔✔Measure the pressure readings in between the breaths
Calibrate it to 0 at the start of each shift
Place transducer at the atrial & pulmonary levels
✔✔Define: Respiratory acidosis - ✔✔pH & CO2 are increased
✔✔The nurse is preparing a client with acute kidney injury (AKI) f or hemodialysis in the
intensive care unit (ICU). Which assessment should the nurse obtain prior to beginning
the procedure? - ✔✔Weight using the ICU bed scales
✔✔The nurse is caring for a client who is 4 days postoperative for abdominal surgery.
The client reports acute onset of difficulty breathing. The nurse obtains the vital signs
which include a heart rate of 120 beats/minute and respirations of 35 breaths/minute.
Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client to expect the healthcare
provider to prescribe? - ✔✔D-dimer blood test
✔✔Define: D-dimer blood test - ✔✔Helps to rule out harmful blood clots
✔✔What is a common postoperative complication? - ✔✔Pulmonary embolism
