CRITICAL CARE NURSING (Surgery) PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
A male client who experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) asks the nurse
what could have caused the MI, since he had been following a lifestyle of
regular exercise and healthy food choices. Which response should the
nurse provide to the client?
A) A family history of heart disease is a risk factor for MI.
B) Foods consumed when younger can cause plaque formation.
C) Immediate medical treatment was a primary factor is survival.
D) Myocardial tissue after a minor MI can heal with no long-term effects.
Verified Answer -A) A family history of heart disease is a risk factor for
MI.
A client diagnosed with gastric ulcers is admitted for a cauterization
procedure. Which finding(s) should the nurse report to the healthcare
provider? (Select all that apply.)
A) Decreased level of consciousness.
B) Hypoactive bowel sounds.
C) Decreased urine output.
D) Coffee-ground vomitus.
E) Positive guaiac stools
Verified Answer -A) Decreased level of consciousness. Correct
C) Decreased urine output.
A client who arrived in the emergency department is experiencing status
epilepticus. Which medication should the nurse administer immediately?
A) Lorazepam IV.
,B) Phenytoin PO.
C) Morphine IV.
D) Levetiracetim PO.
Verified Answer -A) Lorazepam IV
A client falls off a ladder approximately 15 feet high and is admitted to
the ICU for observation due to a small intracranial bleed noted in the left
occipital area of the brain as observed on the CT Scan done in the
emergency department. The client has been stable for the past 12 hours.
The client reports to the nurse a new onset of pain in the left shoulder.
Which action should the nurse do next?
A) Contact the healthcare provider.
B) Perform an abdominal assessment.
C) Observe the client's pupillary response.
D) Examine the left shoulder's range of motion.
Verified Answer -B) Perform an abdominal assessment
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is admitted for strict fluid
restriction. Which assessment finding requires additional nursing action?
A) Crackles in the lungs.
B) Decreased serum creatinine level.
C) Increased weakness.
D) Increase in serum potassium
Verified Answer -A) Crackles in the lungs
A client's blood pressure drops suddenly from 160/90 mmHg to 60/40
mmHg minutes after the nurse administers a 0.3 mg sublingual dose of
nitroglycerin when the client reports crushing chest pain. The client is
, experiencing severe nausea, dizziness, and left arm numbness. Which
intervention should the nurse implement?
A) Give a PRN antiemetic medication.
B) Administer second dose of nitroglycerin.
C) Infuse a rapid0.9% normal saline bolus.
D) Apply external pace maker pads to chest.
Verified Answer -C) Infuse a rapid0.9% normal saline bolus.
Two days after surgical repair of an aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA),
the cardiac monitor is displaying sinus bradycardia and blood pressure
82/40 mmHg. Nitroprusside is infusing at 10 mcg/kg/min and 0.9%
sodium chloride at 100 mL/hr. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
A) Place the client's head flat and elevate the feet.
B) Stop the nitroprusside infusion.
C) Rapidly administer 1 liter intravenous fluids.
D) Increase the 0.9% sodium chloride to 150 mL/hr.
Verified Answer -Stop the nitroprusside infusion.
The emergency department nurse is triaging a client whose spouse reports
a sudden onset of symptoms to include fever, tremors, and decreased level
of orientation and psychotic behavior, accompanied with the tachycardia
and palpitations. The only significant medical history of the client is 4
days post-operative laparotomy appendectomy without complications and
discharged to home 2 days ago. Which intervention should the nurse do
first?
A) Initiate a large bore intravenous catheter.
B) Perform a twelve-lead electrocardiogram test.
C) Insert an indwelling urinary catheter drainage system.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
A male client who experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) asks the nurse
what could have caused the MI, since he had been following a lifestyle of
regular exercise and healthy food choices. Which response should the
nurse provide to the client?
A) A family history of heart disease is a risk factor for MI.
B) Foods consumed when younger can cause plaque formation.
C) Immediate medical treatment was a primary factor is survival.
D) Myocardial tissue after a minor MI can heal with no long-term effects.
Verified Answer -A) A family history of heart disease is a risk factor for
MI.
A client diagnosed with gastric ulcers is admitted for a cauterization
procedure. Which finding(s) should the nurse report to the healthcare
provider? (Select all that apply.)
A) Decreased level of consciousness.
B) Hypoactive bowel sounds.
C) Decreased urine output.
D) Coffee-ground vomitus.
E) Positive guaiac stools
Verified Answer -A) Decreased level of consciousness. Correct
C) Decreased urine output.
A client who arrived in the emergency department is experiencing status
epilepticus. Which medication should the nurse administer immediately?
A) Lorazepam IV.
,B) Phenytoin PO.
C) Morphine IV.
D) Levetiracetim PO.
Verified Answer -A) Lorazepam IV
A client falls off a ladder approximately 15 feet high and is admitted to
the ICU for observation due to a small intracranial bleed noted in the left
occipital area of the brain as observed on the CT Scan done in the
emergency department. The client has been stable for the past 12 hours.
The client reports to the nurse a new onset of pain in the left shoulder.
Which action should the nurse do next?
A) Contact the healthcare provider.
B) Perform an abdominal assessment.
C) Observe the client's pupillary response.
D) Examine the left shoulder's range of motion.
Verified Answer -B) Perform an abdominal assessment
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is admitted for strict fluid
restriction. Which assessment finding requires additional nursing action?
A) Crackles in the lungs.
B) Decreased serum creatinine level.
C) Increased weakness.
D) Increase in serum potassium
Verified Answer -A) Crackles in the lungs
A client's blood pressure drops suddenly from 160/90 mmHg to 60/40
mmHg minutes after the nurse administers a 0.3 mg sublingual dose of
nitroglycerin when the client reports crushing chest pain. The client is
, experiencing severe nausea, dizziness, and left arm numbness. Which
intervention should the nurse implement?
A) Give a PRN antiemetic medication.
B) Administer second dose of nitroglycerin.
C) Infuse a rapid0.9% normal saline bolus.
D) Apply external pace maker pads to chest.
Verified Answer -C) Infuse a rapid0.9% normal saline bolus.
Two days after surgical repair of an aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA),
the cardiac monitor is displaying sinus bradycardia and blood pressure
82/40 mmHg. Nitroprusside is infusing at 10 mcg/kg/min and 0.9%
sodium chloride at 100 mL/hr. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
A) Place the client's head flat and elevate the feet.
B) Stop the nitroprusside infusion.
C) Rapidly administer 1 liter intravenous fluids.
D) Increase the 0.9% sodium chloride to 150 mL/hr.
Verified Answer -Stop the nitroprusside infusion.
The emergency department nurse is triaging a client whose spouse reports
a sudden onset of symptoms to include fever, tremors, and decreased level
of orientation and psychotic behavior, accompanied with the tachycardia
and palpitations. The only significant medical history of the client is 4
days post-operative laparotomy appendectomy without complications and
discharged to home 2 days ago. Which intervention should the nurse do
first?
A) Initiate a large bore intravenous catheter.
B) Perform a twelve-lead electrocardiogram test.
C) Insert an indwelling urinary catheter drainage system.
