PROGRESSIVE CARE RN A EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026
Which of the following medications is MOST commonly indicated for patients
with CHF? - CORRECT ANSWER Ace inhibitors
A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and CAT scan results reveal a
right sided SDH. What would be an expected neurological assessment finding in
this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER Dilated right pupil
What is the most common symptom of SIADH? - CORRECT ANSWER Fluid
retention
Upon arrival to the unit, you receive report on four PCU patients. Which patient
should you attend to FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER A patient complaining of
shortness of breathe on continuous BiPAP with a BP of 189/109
Of the following patients, which one would you see FIRST? - CORRECT
ANSWER A 30 year suicidal female that took an unknown number of alprazolam
with an O2 saturation of 85%
You are caring for a patient with new onset atrial fibrillation with a blood pressure
of 80/60. Which of the following treatment options is MOST appropriate? -
CORRECT ANSWER Electrical cardioversion
Which of the following supplemental medications is frequently ordered in
conjunction with furosemide? - CORRECT ANSWER Potassium
,Which of the following positions is the BEST way to assess for JVD? -
CORRECT ANSWER Position the patient on his/her back with the head of bed
30-45 degrees
Your patient is on the midday schedule for hemodialysis. He has 100 mg of
metoprolol XL ordered for this morning and his blood pressure if 150/98. Which of
the following would be an appropriate action? - CORRECT ANSWER Hold the
metoprolol because of the upcoming dialysis
You walk into your patient's room and notice that the chest tube collection chamber
has been knocked over on the floor. There appears to be drainage dispersed
throughout the chambers. What should you do NEXT? - CORRECT ANSWER
Replace the chamber with a new one
Your patient is complaining of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. His blood pressure
is 89/55, heart rate is 122 bpm, and the temperature is 100.8 F. What condition is
this patient most likely experiencing? - CORRECT ANSWER Hypovolemic
shock
You are caring for a patient with a chest tube that has become dislodged. Which of
the following would you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER Cover the insertion
site immediately with Vaseline gauze
A 78 year old male is admitted from the ED for syncope with ground level fall.
You note his heart rate is 50 and the patient is confused. His daughter states she
thinks he has dementia but he has not been diagnosed yet. Blood pressure is stable.
What order do you anticipate? - CORRECT ANSWER Stat head CT
A patient with an upper GI bleed has a hgb of 6.1 g/dL. Which of the following
orders should you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to administer 2
units PRBCs
, Which of the following should be checked before administering digoxin? -
CORRECT ANSWER Apical pulse
A patient with a history of acute seizure activity of unknown etiology is admitted
to the PCU from the ED. Which of the following orders would you expect to
receive from the admitting provider? - CORRECT ANSWER Levetiracetam
(Keppra) 500 mg IV every 12 hours and seizure precautions
You are caring for a patient post left pneumonectomy with a chest tube in place for
drainage. Which of the following is a priority in caring for this patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
You are caring for a patient with an order for "furosemide 80 mg BID". Which of
the following actions is the MOST appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER Call the
provider to clarify the order
You are caring for a patient with a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The patient
goes into cardiac arrest and the patient's daughter states "Do whatever you can to
save my dad." Which of the following is the BEST response? - CORRECT
ANSWER Follow the patient's wishes and honor the DNR
You are educating your patient about reducing sodium intake. You know that the
patient understands when they make the statement: - CORRECT ANSWER "I
will avoid canned food because it's salty"
The trough for vancomycin is measured: - CORRECT ANSWER Immediately
before the next scheduled dose
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026
Which of the following medications is MOST commonly indicated for patients
with CHF? - CORRECT ANSWER Ace inhibitors
A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and CAT scan results reveal a
right sided SDH. What would be an expected neurological assessment finding in
this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER Dilated right pupil
What is the most common symptom of SIADH? - CORRECT ANSWER Fluid
retention
Upon arrival to the unit, you receive report on four PCU patients. Which patient
should you attend to FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER A patient complaining of
shortness of breathe on continuous BiPAP with a BP of 189/109
Of the following patients, which one would you see FIRST? - CORRECT
ANSWER A 30 year suicidal female that took an unknown number of alprazolam
with an O2 saturation of 85%
You are caring for a patient with new onset atrial fibrillation with a blood pressure
of 80/60. Which of the following treatment options is MOST appropriate? -
CORRECT ANSWER Electrical cardioversion
Which of the following supplemental medications is frequently ordered in
conjunction with furosemide? - CORRECT ANSWER Potassium
,Which of the following positions is the BEST way to assess for JVD? -
CORRECT ANSWER Position the patient on his/her back with the head of bed
30-45 degrees
Your patient is on the midday schedule for hemodialysis. He has 100 mg of
metoprolol XL ordered for this morning and his blood pressure if 150/98. Which of
the following would be an appropriate action? - CORRECT ANSWER Hold the
metoprolol because of the upcoming dialysis
You walk into your patient's room and notice that the chest tube collection chamber
has been knocked over on the floor. There appears to be drainage dispersed
throughout the chambers. What should you do NEXT? - CORRECT ANSWER
Replace the chamber with a new one
Your patient is complaining of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. His blood pressure
is 89/55, heart rate is 122 bpm, and the temperature is 100.8 F. What condition is
this patient most likely experiencing? - CORRECT ANSWER Hypovolemic
shock
You are caring for a patient with a chest tube that has become dislodged. Which of
the following would you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER Cover the insertion
site immediately with Vaseline gauze
A 78 year old male is admitted from the ED for syncope with ground level fall.
You note his heart rate is 50 and the patient is confused. His daughter states she
thinks he has dementia but he has not been diagnosed yet. Blood pressure is stable.
What order do you anticipate? - CORRECT ANSWER Stat head CT
A patient with an upper GI bleed has a hgb of 6.1 g/dL. Which of the following
orders should you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to administer 2
units PRBCs
, Which of the following should be checked before administering digoxin? -
CORRECT ANSWER Apical pulse
A patient with a history of acute seizure activity of unknown etiology is admitted
to the PCU from the ED. Which of the following orders would you expect to
receive from the admitting provider? - CORRECT ANSWER Levetiracetam
(Keppra) 500 mg IV every 12 hours and seizure precautions
You are caring for a patient post left pneumonectomy with a chest tube in place for
drainage. Which of the following is a priority in caring for this patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
You are caring for a patient with an order for "furosemide 80 mg BID". Which of
the following actions is the MOST appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER Call the
provider to clarify the order
You are caring for a patient with a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The patient
goes into cardiac arrest and the patient's daughter states "Do whatever you can to
save my dad." Which of the following is the BEST response? - CORRECT
ANSWER Follow the patient's wishes and honor the DNR
You are educating your patient about reducing sodium intake. You know that the
patient understands when they make the statement: - CORRECT ANSWER "I
will avoid canned food because it's salty"
The trough for vancomycin is measured: - CORRECT ANSWER Immediately
before the next scheduled dose
