PCU Exam Questions and answers 2025
What .are .normal .ABG .values? .- .ANS✓✓-pH: .acidic .7.35-7.45 .basic
CO2: .basic .35-45 .acidic
HCO3-: .acidic .22-26 .basic
normal .paO2 .- .ANS✓✓-80-100 .mmHg
what .pH .levels .are .lethal? .- .ANS✓✓-outside .6.8-7.8
where .are .ABGs .drawn .from? .what .test .is .done .to .ensure .adequate .blood .flow?
.- .ANS✓✓-peripheral .artery; .allen's .test .for .radial .artery
How .do .the .kidneys .help .maintain .acid-base .balance? .- .ANS✓✓-retain/excrete
.basic .HCO3 .and .retain/excrete .acidic .H+
treatments .for .respiratory .acidosis .- .ANS✓✓--oxygen
-intubation
-bronchodilators
-drug .reversal .agents
-incentive .spirometer
-suction
treatments .for .respiratory .alkalosis .- .ANS✓✓--breathing .into .paper .bag
-anxiolytics
-analgesics
-reduce .fever
-reduce .ventilation
-return .to .normal .altitude
treatments .for .metabolic .acidosis .- .ANS✓✓--IV .sodium .bicarbonate
-manage .blood .sugar
-antibiotics
-reversal .for .OD
-anti-diarrheal .agents
-dialysis
-encourage .respirations/ventilate
, treatments .for .metabolic .alkalosis .- .ANS✓✓--antiemetics
-stop .suctioning
-d/c .drugs .causing .acid .loss .(diuretics, .antacids)
-hydrochloric .acid .(rare)
what .is .systolic .vs .diastolic .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-systolic: .type .of .L .sided
.HF .with .reduced .EF .of .< .40%; .impaired .contraction
diastolic: .type .of .L .sided .HF .with .preserved .EF .> .50%; .impaired .relaxation
what .3 .things .occur .in .systolic .HF? .- .ANS✓✓-1. .SNS .activation .(increased .HR,
.contractility, .peripheral .vasoconstriction)
2. .RAAS .activation .(sodium .+ .water .retention, .peripheral .vasoconstriction)
3. .LV .dilation
what .are .symptoms .of .right .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-swelling: .swelling,
.weight .gain, .edema, .large .neck .vein .(JVD), .lethargy, .irregular .HR, .nocturia,
.girth, .hepatic .tenderness, .anorexia, .ascitis
what .are .treatments .for .right .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓--sodium .and .fluid
.restriction .to .manage .preload
-moderate .doses .of .diuretics
-ACE, .ARBs, .beta .blockers .if .due .to .L .ventricular .failure
what .are .symptoms .of .left .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-drowning: .dyspnea,
.rales/crackles, .orthopnea, .weakness, .nocturnal .dyspnea, .increased .HR,
.nagging .cough, .gaining .weight, .hypotension
what .are .symptoms .of .systolic .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-s3, .edema, .weight .gain,
.crackles, .dyspnea, .chest .tightness, .oliguria, .JVD, .weak .pulses, .cool .pale .skin,
.altered .mental .status
diagnostic .tests .for .heart .failure .- .ANS✓✓--ECG
-xray
-ECHO
-BNP .(normal .< .100 .75 .& .under, .< .450 .75+)
-cardiac .biomarkers
what .are .treatments .for .systolic .HF? .- .ANS✓✓--ARNIs, .ACE-Is, .ARBs
-beta .blockers
-aldosterone .antagonists
-diuretics
-vasodilators
-anticoagulation
-physical .activity
-inotropic .agents .(w/ .caution .- .can .cause .dysrhythmia)
What .are .normal .ABG .values? .- .ANS✓✓-pH: .acidic .7.35-7.45 .basic
CO2: .basic .35-45 .acidic
HCO3-: .acidic .22-26 .basic
normal .paO2 .- .ANS✓✓-80-100 .mmHg
what .pH .levels .are .lethal? .- .ANS✓✓-outside .6.8-7.8
where .are .ABGs .drawn .from? .what .test .is .done .to .ensure .adequate .blood .flow?
.- .ANS✓✓-peripheral .artery; .allen's .test .for .radial .artery
How .do .the .kidneys .help .maintain .acid-base .balance? .- .ANS✓✓-retain/excrete
.basic .HCO3 .and .retain/excrete .acidic .H+
treatments .for .respiratory .acidosis .- .ANS✓✓--oxygen
-intubation
-bronchodilators
-drug .reversal .agents
-incentive .spirometer
-suction
treatments .for .respiratory .alkalosis .- .ANS✓✓--breathing .into .paper .bag
-anxiolytics
-analgesics
-reduce .fever
-reduce .ventilation
-return .to .normal .altitude
treatments .for .metabolic .acidosis .- .ANS✓✓--IV .sodium .bicarbonate
-manage .blood .sugar
-antibiotics
-reversal .for .OD
-anti-diarrheal .agents
-dialysis
-encourage .respirations/ventilate
, treatments .for .metabolic .alkalosis .- .ANS✓✓--antiemetics
-stop .suctioning
-d/c .drugs .causing .acid .loss .(diuretics, .antacids)
-hydrochloric .acid .(rare)
what .is .systolic .vs .diastolic .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-systolic: .type .of .L .sided
.HF .with .reduced .EF .of .< .40%; .impaired .contraction
diastolic: .type .of .L .sided .HF .with .preserved .EF .> .50%; .impaired .relaxation
what .3 .things .occur .in .systolic .HF? .- .ANS✓✓-1. .SNS .activation .(increased .HR,
.contractility, .peripheral .vasoconstriction)
2. .RAAS .activation .(sodium .+ .water .retention, .peripheral .vasoconstriction)
3. .LV .dilation
what .are .symptoms .of .right .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-swelling: .swelling,
.weight .gain, .edema, .large .neck .vein .(JVD), .lethargy, .irregular .HR, .nocturia,
.girth, .hepatic .tenderness, .anorexia, .ascitis
what .are .treatments .for .right .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓--sodium .and .fluid
.restriction .to .manage .preload
-moderate .doses .of .diuretics
-ACE, .ARBs, .beta .blockers .if .due .to .L .ventricular .failure
what .are .symptoms .of .left .sided .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-drowning: .dyspnea,
.rales/crackles, .orthopnea, .weakness, .nocturnal .dyspnea, .increased .HR,
.nagging .cough, .gaining .weight, .hypotension
what .are .symptoms .of .systolic .heart .failure? .- .ANS✓✓-s3, .edema, .weight .gain,
.crackles, .dyspnea, .chest .tightness, .oliguria, .JVD, .weak .pulses, .cool .pale .skin,
.altered .mental .status
diagnostic .tests .for .heart .failure .- .ANS✓✓--ECG
-xray
-ECHO
-BNP .(normal .< .100 .75 .& .under, .< .450 .75+)
-cardiac .biomarkers
what .are .treatments .for .systolic .HF? .- .ANS✓✓--ARNIs, .ACE-Is, .ARBs
-beta .blockers
-aldosterone .antagonists
-diuretics
-vasodilators
-anticoagulation
-physical .activity
-inotropic .agents .(w/ .caution .- .can .cause .dysrhythmia)
