PROGRESSIVE CARE RN A COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of "rule out GI bleed." Which of the following
lab values supports confirmation of this diagnosis? - ✔✔Hgb of 5.2
✔✔You are taking care of a patient who is scheduled for ablation to treat atrial
fibrillation. While obtaining consent , the patient asks multiple questions about the
procedure. What is the BEST response? - ✔✔Request the provider come and discuss
the procedure with the patient
✔✔Your patient has an IVC filter placed two days ago and starts to complain of sharp
pain in the chest, shortness of breath, anxiety, and heart palpitations. What should you
do NEXT? - ✔✔Notify the provider and prepare for a CT scan
✔✔What is the MOST important intervention for a patient with non-blanching redness
and intact skin to their coccyx? - ✔✔Turning the patient every two hours, alternating
from side to side
✔✔What is the most common cause of acute onset pancreatitis? - ✔✔Alcoholism and
galstones
✔✔Then nursing assistant reports that your post-op day 2 CABG patient has a temp of
101.3 and BP of 82/56. The patient's output has decreased to < 30 cc in the past 4
hours. You suspect a post surgical complication. After calling the doctor, you receive the
orders for STAT CBC, CMP, and coagulation test. Which of the following results would
you expect to see after these labs are completed? - ✔✔WBC greater than 19,000
✔✔Your patient is receiving an amiodarone drip. You should reduce the dose from 1
mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL after: - ✔✔6 hours
✔✔Your patient was admitted for a hypertensive crisis and has a history of HTN,
Parkinson's Disease, CAD, and depression. The patient reports drinking 3-4 alcoholic
drinks/night. This is your third day caring for this patient and you suddenly notice that he
is more anxious and restless than his baseline. What would be your INITIAL nursing
intervention? - ✔✔Check CIWA score
✔✔ Which of the following medications is MOST commonly indicated for patients with
CHF? - ✔✔Ace inhibitors
✔✔A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and CAT scan results reveal a
right sided SDH. What would be an expected neurological assessment finding in this
patient? - ✔✔Dilated right pupil
, ✔✔What is the most common symptom of SIADH? - ✔✔Fluid retention
✔✔Upon arrival to the unit, you receive report on four PCU patients. Which patient
should you attend to FIRST? - ✔✔A patient complaining of shortness of breathe on
continuous BiPAP with a BP of 189/109
✔✔Of the following patients, which one would you see FIRST? - ✔✔A 30 year suicidal
female that took an unknown number of alprazolam with an O2 saturation of 85%
✔✔You are caring for a patient with new onset atrial fibrillation with a blood pressure of
80/60. Which of the following treatment options is MOST appropriate? - ✔✔Electrical
cardioversion
✔✔Which of the following supplemental medications is frequently ordered in conjunction
with furosemide? - ✔✔Potassium
✔✔Which of the following positions is the BEST way to assess for JVD? - ✔✔Position
the patient on his/her back with the head of bed 30-45 degrees
✔✔Your patient is on the midday schedule for hemodialysis. He has 100 mg of
metoprolol XL ordered for this morning and his blood pressure if 150/98. Which of the
following would be an appropriate action? - ✔✔Hold the metoprolol because of the
upcoming dialysis
✔✔You walk into your patient's room and notice that the chest tube collection chamber
has been knocked over on the floor. There appears to be drainage dispersed
throughout the chambers. What should you do NEXT? - ✔✔Replace the chamber with a
new one
✔✔Your patient is complaining of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. His blood pressure is
89/55, heart rate is 122 bpm, and the temperature is 100.8 F. What condition is this
patient most likely experiencing? - ✔✔Hypovolemic shock
✔✔You are caring for a patient with a chest tube that has become dislodged. Which of
the following would you do FIRST? - ✔✔Cover the insertion site immediately with
Vaseline gauze
✔✔A 78 year old male is admitted from the ED for syncope with ground level fall. You
note his heart rate is 50 and the patient is confused. His daughter states she thinks he
has dementia but he has not been diagnosed yet. Blood pressure is stable. What order
do you anticipate? - ✔✔Stat head CT
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of "rule out GI bleed." Which of the following
lab values supports confirmation of this diagnosis? - ✔✔Hgb of 5.2
✔✔You are taking care of a patient who is scheduled for ablation to treat atrial
fibrillation. While obtaining consent , the patient asks multiple questions about the
procedure. What is the BEST response? - ✔✔Request the provider come and discuss
the procedure with the patient
✔✔Your patient has an IVC filter placed two days ago and starts to complain of sharp
pain in the chest, shortness of breath, anxiety, and heart palpitations. What should you
do NEXT? - ✔✔Notify the provider and prepare for a CT scan
✔✔What is the MOST important intervention for a patient with non-blanching redness
and intact skin to their coccyx? - ✔✔Turning the patient every two hours, alternating
from side to side
✔✔What is the most common cause of acute onset pancreatitis? - ✔✔Alcoholism and
galstones
✔✔Then nursing assistant reports that your post-op day 2 CABG patient has a temp of
101.3 and BP of 82/56. The patient's output has decreased to < 30 cc in the past 4
hours. You suspect a post surgical complication. After calling the doctor, you receive the
orders for STAT CBC, CMP, and coagulation test. Which of the following results would
you expect to see after these labs are completed? - ✔✔WBC greater than 19,000
✔✔Your patient is receiving an amiodarone drip. You should reduce the dose from 1
mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL after: - ✔✔6 hours
✔✔Your patient was admitted for a hypertensive crisis and has a history of HTN,
Parkinson's Disease, CAD, and depression. The patient reports drinking 3-4 alcoholic
drinks/night. This is your third day caring for this patient and you suddenly notice that he
is more anxious and restless than his baseline. What would be your INITIAL nursing
intervention? - ✔✔Check CIWA score
✔✔ Which of the following medications is MOST commonly indicated for patients with
CHF? - ✔✔Ace inhibitors
✔✔A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and CAT scan results reveal a
right sided SDH. What would be an expected neurological assessment finding in this
patient? - ✔✔Dilated right pupil
, ✔✔What is the most common symptom of SIADH? - ✔✔Fluid retention
✔✔Upon arrival to the unit, you receive report on four PCU patients. Which patient
should you attend to FIRST? - ✔✔A patient complaining of shortness of breathe on
continuous BiPAP with a BP of 189/109
✔✔Of the following patients, which one would you see FIRST? - ✔✔A 30 year suicidal
female that took an unknown number of alprazolam with an O2 saturation of 85%
✔✔You are caring for a patient with new onset atrial fibrillation with a blood pressure of
80/60. Which of the following treatment options is MOST appropriate? - ✔✔Electrical
cardioversion
✔✔Which of the following supplemental medications is frequently ordered in conjunction
with furosemide? - ✔✔Potassium
✔✔Which of the following positions is the BEST way to assess for JVD? - ✔✔Position
the patient on his/her back with the head of bed 30-45 degrees
✔✔Your patient is on the midday schedule for hemodialysis. He has 100 mg of
metoprolol XL ordered for this morning and his blood pressure if 150/98. Which of the
following would be an appropriate action? - ✔✔Hold the metoprolol because of the
upcoming dialysis
✔✔You walk into your patient's room and notice that the chest tube collection chamber
has been knocked over on the floor. There appears to be drainage dispersed
throughout the chambers. What should you do NEXT? - ✔✔Replace the chamber with a
new one
✔✔Your patient is complaining of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. His blood pressure is
89/55, heart rate is 122 bpm, and the temperature is 100.8 F. What condition is this
patient most likely experiencing? - ✔✔Hypovolemic shock
✔✔You are caring for a patient with a chest tube that has become dislodged. Which of
the following would you do FIRST? - ✔✔Cover the insertion site immediately with
Vaseline gauze
✔✔A 78 year old male is admitted from the ED for syncope with ground level fall. You
note his heart rate is 50 and the patient is confused. His daughter states she thinks he
has dementia but he has not been diagnosed yet. Blood pressure is stable. What order
do you anticipate? - ✔✔Stat head CT
