NUR 265
Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam
1 - Critical Care Concepts
Exam 1 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 1 - Critical Care Concepts 2026/2027
UPDATE – USA
1. A patient with ARDS is on mechanical ventilation with high PEEP. The nurse notes a sudden
drop in blood pressure and absent breath sounds on the right side. What is the priority
action?
A. Prepare for immediate needle decompression
B. Suction the patient’s endotracheal tube
C. Increase the Fio2 to 100%
D. Obtain a STAT arterial blood gas (ABG)
Answer: A
Rationale: High PEEP levels increase the risk of barotrauma, potentially leading to a
tension pneumothorax. Absent breath sounds and hypotension are classic signs requiring
immediate decompression.
2. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should
the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
B. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Alkalosis
, D. Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 (>45) matches the
acidic pH, while the normal HCO3 indicates no compensation has occurred yet.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient in the early stage of Septic Shock. Which clinical
manifestation is most characteristic of this stage?
A. Cold, clammy skin
B. Increased cardiac output and warm, flushed skin
C. Bradycardia
D. Severe oliguria
Answer: B
Rationale: The early (hyperdynamic) phase of septic shock is characterized by
vasodilation, warm/flushed skin, and a compensatory increase in cardiac output.
4. During the emergent phase of a 45% total body surface area (TBSA) burn, which laboratory
finding does the nurse expect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Elevated Hematocrit
C. Hypernatremia
D. Decreased BUN
Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam
1 - Critical Care Concepts
Exam 1 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 1 - Critical Care Concepts 2026/2027
UPDATE – USA
1. A patient with ARDS is on mechanical ventilation with high PEEP. The nurse notes a sudden
drop in blood pressure and absent breath sounds on the right side. What is the priority
action?
A. Prepare for immediate needle decompression
B. Suction the patient’s endotracheal tube
C. Increase the Fio2 to 100%
D. Obtain a STAT arterial blood gas (ABG)
Answer: A
Rationale: High PEEP levels increase the risk of barotrauma, potentially leading to a
tension pneumothorax. Absent breath sounds and hypotension are classic signs requiring
immediate decompression.
2. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should
the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
B. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Alkalosis
, D. Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 (>45) matches the
acidic pH, while the normal HCO3 indicates no compensation has occurred yet.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient in the early stage of Septic Shock. Which clinical
manifestation is most characteristic of this stage?
A. Cold, clammy skin
B. Increased cardiac output and warm, flushed skin
C. Bradycardia
D. Severe oliguria
Answer: B
Rationale: The early (hyperdynamic) phase of septic shock is characterized by
vasodilation, warm/flushed skin, and a compensatory increase in cardiac output.
4. During the emergent phase of a 45% total body surface area (TBSA) burn, which laboratory
finding does the nurse expect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Elevated Hematocrit
C. Hypernatremia
D. Decreased BUN
