ICU/BKAT Exam 2026/2027 | 100+ Questions & Answers | Hemodynamics, Vasopressors, Cardiac Drugs, ICP, Sedation, Anticoagulation & Electrolytes

This comprehensive ICU/BKAT Exam 2026/2027 study resource contains 100+ questions, answers, clinical values, formulas, and medication review points across 26 pages for critical care and intensive care nursing preparation. The document opens with an extensive review of cardiovascular hemodynamics, including right and left atrial and ventricular pressures, pulmonary artery and aortic pressures, cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac index, ejection fraction, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), and coronary perfusion pressure. It also provides formulas and reference ranges for calculating and interpreting many of these measurements. The resource gives substantial attention to the fundamental hemodynamic concepts of preload, afterload, and myocardial contractility. It explains preload in relation to end-diastolic myocardial stretch and Starling's Law, while afterload is presented as the resistance the ventricles must overcome to eject blood. Contractility is reviewed through stroke volume and ejection fraction and linked to myocardial health, electrolyte balance, sympathetic stimulation, hypoxia, ischemia, and vasoactive medications. These concepts are integrated with ICU treatment approaches involving fluids, diuretics, nitrates, vasopressors, vasodilators, and inotropic medications as presented in the source. A major pharmacology section examines vasopressors and inotropes, including norepinephrine (Levophed), epinephrine, phenylephrine (Neo), vasopressin, dopamine, dobutamine, and milrinone. The document connects these medications with alpha, beta-1, beta-2, and dopaminergic receptor activity and their effects on vascular resistance, heart rate, contractility, and vasodilation. Clinical uses discussed include septic shock, severe hypotension, cardiogenic shock, heart failure, cardiac arrest, symptomatic bradycardia, and low cardiac-output states. The cardiac medication review extends to beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, phentolamine, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, amiodarone, digoxin, diltiazem, adenosine, atropine, and procainamide. The material summarizes mechanisms of action, common indications, and selected monitoring considerations. It also covers seizure prophylaxis with levetiracetam and phenytoin/fosphenytoin and introduces antithrombotic management involving alteplase (t-PA), heparin, argatroban, antiplatelet therapy, and warfarin, including reversal strategies specified in the source. Another major component focuses on neurologic critical care and intracranial pressure (ICP) management. Topics include induced hypothermia, cerebral edema management with mannitol and hypertonic saline, serum osmolality monitoring, neuromuscular blockade, train-of-four monitoring, succinylcholine, vecuronium, rocuronium, cisatracurium, neostigmine, and sugammadex. The document further reviews sedation and analgesia for critically ill neurologic patients using propofol, midazolam, lorazepam, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine. Phenobarbital coma and EEG burst-suppression monitoring are also addressed. The later sections concentrate on ICU sedation, delirium, pain, and mechanically ventilated patient care. The ABCDEF bundle covers pain assessment and management, breathing trials, choice of analgesia and sedation, delirium assessment and prevention, early mobility, and family engagement. Students also review the Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale, daily sedation vacations, benzodiazepine infusions, propylene glycol toxicity, deep versus light sedation, CAM assessment, and medications used for hyperactive delirium such as haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, and valproic acid. Pain management includes opioid and non-opioid therapies as well as naloxone reversal. The final section provides focused review of critical-care electrolyte replacement, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. It supplies the reference ranges used by the source, oral and IV replacement considerations, interactions between potassium and magnesium replacement, renal-function considerations during phosphorus replacement, corrected-calcium calculations for low albumin, and calcium replacement considerations during blood transfusion. This combination of calculations, normal ranges, medications, hemodynamic interpretation, and ICU management concepts makes the document especially suitable for active recall and BKAT/critical-care nursing exam preparation. Relevant Students: ICU nurses preparing for the BKAT, critical care nursing students, newly hired or transitioning ICU nurses, registered nurses completing intensive care orientation, nursing students studying critical care, telemetry and progressive-care nurses transitioning to ICU practice, and learners reviewing hemodynamics, vasoactive medications, cardiac pharmacology, ICP management, mechanical ventilation sedation, anticoagulation, and electrolyte replacement. 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