NUR 445 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NUR 445
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
What medication is used to decrease ICP? - correct answer ✔✔Mannitol
-osmotic diuretic
-reduces ICP by inducing diuresis (creates an osmotic gradient across the blood-brain barrier [BBB] and
increased serum osmolality -> pulls fluid out of brain cells and shifts it into the intravascular
compartment)
What medication would you plan on administering to a patient who is experiencing bradycardia or heart
block? - correct answer ✔✔Atropine
-administer over 1 minute
-therapeutic effect desired = increased HR
-rapid administration may be used during cardiac resuscitation (follow with 20 mL saline flush)
A patient suffering from a hypertensive crisis enters the ED. What medication is used to treat this
emergent situation? - correct answer ✔✔Nitroprusside
-arteriole vasodilator
-rapidly lowers BP
-decreases preload and afterload
What is clonidine used for? - correct answer ✔✔lowering of BP
Nitroprusside is the preferred agent if BP needs to be lowered quickly
What medication prevents the absorption of ammonia from the GI tract in order to treat hepatic
encephalopathy? - correct answer ✔✔Lactulose
-expect more frequent bowel movements
-should see clearing of confusion, apathy, and irritation and improved mental status (24-48 hours after
oral administration)
Under what condition would you administer tPA? - correct answer ✔✔patient that is suffering from an
ischemic stroke
What is mutual support? - correct answer ✔✔assisting others
providing feedback
advocacy behaviors when patient safety is threatened
What is the difference between formal and informal feedback? - correct answer ✔✔Formal should be
retrospective and scheduled in advance
Informal occurs in real time and includes huddles/debriefs
, Explain the phenomenon of alarm fatigue - correct answer ✔✔Frequency of alarms becomes
overwhelming, resulting in delayed response to alarms and deliberate alarm deactivation which may
impact patient safety
What is the purpose of palliative care? - correct answer ✔✔nursing and medical treatments are
combined with control of pain and symptoms
What is the CUS method of advocacy? - correct answer ✔✔I am concerned
I am uncomfortable
This is a safety issue
What does DESC stand for? - correct answer ✔✔Describe the situation
Express what you think and feel
Suggest a solution
Consequences if no changes
What is the normal rate of the SA node, AV node, and ventricular rate? - correct answer ✔✔SA = 60-100
AV = 40-60
Ventricular = 20-40
What is the normal length of a P wave, QRS complex, and QT interval? - correct answer ✔✔P = 0.12-0.20
sec
QRS = ≤ 0.12 sec
QT = 0.32-0.40 sec
What nursing care should be provided to a patient with PACs? - correct answer ✔✔Nothing unless
symptomatic
beta blocker, CCB
What are the causes of asystole? - correct answer ✔✔Hs & Ts
Hypovolemia, hypoxemia, hypo/hyperkalemia
Tension pneumo, tamponade, thrombosis
What are treatments for asystole? - correct answer ✔✔Epi and CPR/ACLS
-Unable to shock because no electrical activity
How do we treat Vtach? - correct answer ✔✔defibrillation and/or amiodarone
How do we treat Torsades de pointes? - correct answer ✔✔Magnesium sulfate and amiodarone
What would we do in the event of pulseless Vtach? - correct answer ✔✔SCREAM
Shock
CPR
Rhythm check
Epi
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
What medication is used to decrease ICP? - correct answer ✔✔Mannitol
-osmotic diuretic
-reduces ICP by inducing diuresis (creates an osmotic gradient across the blood-brain barrier [BBB] and
increased serum osmolality -> pulls fluid out of brain cells and shifts it into the intravascular
compartment)
What medication would you plan on administering to a patient who is experiencing bradycardia or heart
block? - correct answer ✔✔Atropine
-administer over 1 minute
-therapeutic effect desired = increased HR
-rapid administration may be used during cardiac resuscitation (follow with 20 mL saline flush)
A patient suffering from a hypertensive crisis enters the ED. What medication is used to treat this
emergent situation? - correct answer ✔✔Nitroprusside
-arteriole vasodilator
-rapidly lowers BP
-decreases preload and afterload
What is clonidine used for? - correct answer ✔✔lowering of BP
Nitroprusside is the preferred agent if BP needs to be lowered quickly
What medication prevents the absorption of ammonia from the GI tract in order to treat hepatic
encephalopathy? - correct answer ✔✔Lactulose
-expect more frequent bowel movements
-should see clearing of confusion, apathy, and irritation and improved mental status (24-48 hours after
oral administration)
Under what condition would you administer tPA? - correct answer ✔✔patient that is suffering from an
ischemic stroke
What is mutual support? - correct answer ✔✔assisting others
providing feedback
advocacy behaviors when patient safety is threatened
What is the difference between formal and informal feedback? - correct answer ✔✔Formal should be
retrospective and scheduled in advance
Informal occurs in real time and includes huddles/debriefs
, Explain the phenomenon of alarm fatigue - correct answer ✔✔Frequency of alarms becomes
overwhelming, resulting in delayed response to alarms and deliberate alarm deactivation which may
impact patient safety
What is the purpose of palliative care? - correct answer ✔✔nursing and medical treatments are
combined with control of pain and symptoms
What is the CUS method of advocacy? - correct answer ✔✔I am concerned
I am uncomfortable
This is a safety issue
What does DESC stand for? - correct answer ✔✔Describe the situation
Express what you think and feel
Suggest a solution
Consequences if no changes
What is the normal rate of the SA node, AV node, and ventricular rate? - correct answer ✔✔SA = 60-100
AV = 40-60
Ventricular = 20-40
What is the normal length of a P wave, QRS complex, and QT interval? - correct answer ✔✔P = 0.12-0.20
sec
QRS = ≤ 0.12 sec
QT = 0.32-0.40 sec
What nursing care should be provided to a patient with PACs? - correct answer ✔✔Nothing unless
symptomatic
beta blocker, CCB
What are the causes of asystole? - correct answer ✔✔Hs & Ts
Hypovolemia, hypoxemia, hypo/hyperkalemia
Tension pneumo, tamponade, thrombosis
What are treatments for asystole? - correct answer ✔✔Epi and CPR/ACLS
-Unable to shock because no electrical activity
How do we treat Vtach? - correct answer ✔✔defibrillation and/or amiodarone
How do we treat Torsades de pointes? - correct answer ✔✔Magnesium sulfate and amiodarone
What would we do in the event of pulseless Vtach? - correct answer ✔✔SCREAM
Shock
CPR
Rhythm check
Epi
