TEST#1 Critical Care Questions | 2026/2027 | Answers
Correct | With Complete Solutions
A 75-year-old patient, who suffered a massive stroke 3 weeks
ago, has been unresponsive and has required ventilatory support
since the time of the stroke. The physician has approached the
spouse regarding placement of a permanent feeding tube. The
spouse states that the patient never wanted to be kept alive by
tubes and personally didn't want what was being done. After
holding a family conference with the spouse, the medical team
concurs, and the feeding tube is not placed. This situation is an
example of
a) euthanasia
b) palliative care
c) withdrawal of life support
d) withholding life support Correct Answers D. Withholding
life support
A critically ill patient has a living will in the chart. The patient's
condition has deteriorated, but the spouse wants "everything
done," regardless of the patient's wishes. Which ethical principle
is the spouse violating?
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Justice
d. Nonmaleficence Correct Answers A. Autonomy
A nurse caring for a patient with neurological impairment often
must use painful stimuli to elicit the patient's response. The
,nurse uses subtle measures of painful stimuli, such as nailbed
pressure. She neither slaps the patient nor pinches the nipple to
elicit a response to pain. In this scenario, the nurse is
exemplifying the ethical principle of
a. beneficence.
b. fidelity.
c. nonmaleficence.
d. veracity. Correct Answers C. Nonmaleficence
A patient has been admitted to the critical care unit after a
stroke. After "failing" a swallow study, the patient is placed on
enteral feedings. Following placement of a nasogastric tube for
tube feeding, what is the next critical step?
a. Administer medications.
b. Cap off and wait 24 hours before starting feedings.
c. Obtain a chest radiograph.
d. Start the tube feeding. Correct Answers C. Obtain a chest
radiograph
A patient is being ventilated and has been started on enteral
feedings with a nasogastric small-bore feeding tube. What is the
primary reason the nurse must frequently assess tube placement?
a. To assess for paralytic ileus
b. To maintain the patency of the feeding tube
c. To monitor for skin breakdown on the nose
d. To prevent aspiration of the feedings Correct Answers D. To
prevent aspiration of the feedings
,A patient is receiving enteral feedings and reports fullness and
abdominal discomfort. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Connect the feeding tube to suction.
b. Continue the tube feeding.
c. Decrease the tube feeding.
d. Assess the patient's gastric residual. Correct Answers D.
Assess the patient's gastric residual
A patient is receiving enteral tube feedings and has developed
drug-nutrient interactions. The nurse recognizes which drug as
having the potential for causing drug-nutrient reactions?
a. Aspirin
b. Enoxaparin
c. Ibuprofen
d. Phenytoin Correct Answers D. Phenytoin
A patient who is receiving continuous enteral feedings has just
vomited 250 mL of milky green fluid. What action by the nurse
takes priority?
a. Notify the provider.
b. Assess the patient's lungs and oxygen saturation.
c. Stop the tube feeding.
d. Slow the rate of the infusion. Correct Answers C. Stop the
tube feeding
A patient who is undergoing withdrawal of mechanical
ventilation appears anxious and agitated. The patient is on a
continuous morphine infusion and has an additional order for
, lorazepam (Ativan) 1 to 2 mg IV as needed (prn). The patient
has received no lorazepam (Ativan) during this course of illness.
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to control
agitation?
a) Administer fentanyl (Duragesic) 25 mg IV bolus.
b) Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IV now.
c) Increase the rate of the morphine infusion by 50%
d) Request an order for a paralytic agent. Correct Answers B.
Administer Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IV now
A patient with end-stage heart failure is experiencing
considerable dyspnea. Appropriate palliative management of
this symptom includes:
a) administration of midazolam (Versed).
b) administration of morphine.
c) an increase in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the
patient.
d) aggressive use of inotropic and vasoactive medications to
improve heart function. Correct Answers B. Administration of
Morphine
A patient with metastatic lung carcinoma has been unresponsive
to chemotherapy. The medical team has determined that there
are no additional treatments available that will prolong life or
improve the quality of life in any meaningful way. Despite the
poor prognosis, the patient continues to receive chemotherapy
and full nutritional support. This is an example of which end-of-
life concept?
Correct | With Complete Solutions
A 75-year-old patient, who suffered a massive stroke 3 weeks
ago, has been unresponsive and has required ventilatory support
since the time of the stroke. The physician has approached the
spouse regarding placement of a permanent feeding tube. The
spouse states that the patient never wanted to be kept alive by
tubes and personally didn't want what was being done. After
holding a family conference with the spouse, the medical team
concurs, and the feeding tube is not placed. This situation is an
example of
a) euthanasia
b) palliative care
c) withdrawal of life support
d) withholding life support Correct Answers D. Withholding
life support
A critically ill patient has a living will in the chart. The patient's
condition has deteriorated, but the spouse wants "everything
done," regardless of the patient's wishes. Which ethical principle
is the spouse violating?
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Justice
d. Nonmaleficence Correct Answers A. Autonomy
A nurse caring for a patient with neurological impairment often
must use painful stimuli to elicit the patient's response. The
,nurse uses subtle measures of painful stimuli, such as nailbed
pressure. She neither slaps the patient nor pinches the nipple to
elicit a response to pain. In this scenario, the nurse is
exemplifying the ethical principle of
a. beneficence.
b. fidelity.
c. nonmaleficence.
d. veracity. Correct Answers C. Nonmaleficence
A patient has been admitted to the critical care unit after a
stroke. After "failing" a swallow study, the patient is placed on
enteral feedings. Following placement of a nasogastric tube for
tube feeding, what is the next critical step?
a. Administer medications.
b. Cap off and wait 24 hours before starting feedings.
c. Obtain a chest radiograph.
d. Start the tube feeding. Correct Answers C. Obtain a chest
radiograph
A patient is being ventilated and has been started on enteral
feedings with a nasogastric small-bore feeding tube. What is the
primary reason the nurse must frequently assess tube placement?
a. To assess for paralytic ileus
b. To maintain the patency of the feeding tube
c. To monitor for skin breakdown on the nose
d. To prevent aspiration of the feedings Correct Answers D. To
prevent aspiration of the feedings
,A patient is receiving enteral feedings and reports fullness and
abdominal discomfort. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Connect the feeding tube to suction.
b. Continue the tube feeding.
c. Decrease the tube feeding.
d. Assess the patient's gastric residual. Correct Answers D.
Assess the patient's gastric residual
A patient is receiving enteral tube feedings and has developed
drug-nutrient interactions. The nurse recognizes which drug as
having the potential for causing drug-nutrient reactions?
a. Aspirin
b. Enoxaparin
c. Ibuprofen
d. Phenytoin Correct Answers D. Phenytoin
A patient who is receiving continuous enteral feedings has just
vomited 250 mL of milky green fluid. What action by the nurse
takes priority?
a. Notify the provider.
b. Assess the patient's lungs and oxygen saturation.
c. Stop the tube feeding.
d. Slow the rate of the infusion. Correct Answers C. Stop the
tube feeding
A patient who is undergoing withdrawal of mechanical
ventilation appears anxious and agitated. The patient is on a
continuous morphine infusion and has an additional order for
, lorazepam (Ativan) 1 to 2 mg IV as needed (prn). The patient
has received no lorazepam (Ativan) during this course of illness.
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to control
agitation?
a) Administer fentanyl (Duragesic) 25 mg IV bolus.
b) Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IV now.
c) Increase the rate of the morphine infusion by 50%
d) Request an order for a paralytic agent. Correct Answers B.
Administer Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IV now
A patient with end-stage heart failure is experiencing
considerable dyspnea. Appropriate palliative management of
this symptom includes:
a) administration of midazolam (Versed).
b) administration of morphine.
c) an increase in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the
patient.
d) aggressive use of inotropic and vasoactive medications to
improve heart function. Correct Answers B. Administration of
Morphine
A patient with metastatic lung carcinoma has been unresponsive
to chemotherapy. The medical team has determined that there
are no additional treatments available that will prolong life or
improve the quality of life in any meaningful way. Despite the
poor prognosis, the patient continues to receive chemotherapy
and full nutritional support. This is an example of which end-of-
life concept?
