Page 1 of 70
HESI RN CRITICAL CARE COMPLETE 300 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
QUESTION: 1. In positioning the patient with acute respiratory failure, the nurse would place
which area of the lung in the most dependent position?
a. The side opposite the most affected area
b. The same side as the most affected area
c. The least affected area
d. The area with the most pronounced breath sounds - ANSWER-ANS: C
the goal of positioning is to place the least affected area of the patient's lung in the most
dependent position to maximize ventilation/perfusion matching.
QUESTION: 2. Which of the following nursing interventions should be used to optimize
oxygenation and ventilation in the patient with acute respiratory failure?
a. Provide adequate rest and recovery time between procedures.
b. Position the patient with the good lung up.
c. Suction the patient every hour.
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,Page 2 of 70
d. Avoid hyperventilating the patient. - ANSWER-ANS: A
Providing adequate rest and recovery time between various procedures prevents desaturation
and optimizes oxygenation.
QUESTION: 3. Which of the following causes of hypoxemia is the result of blood passing
through unventilated portions of the lungs?
a. Alveolar hypoventilation
b. Dead space ventilation
c. Intrapulmonary shunting
d. Ventilation/perfusion mismatching - ANSWER-ANS: C
The main causes of hypoxemia are alveolar hypoventilation, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q)
mismatching, and intrapulmonary shunting. Intrapulmonary shunting occurs when blood passes
through a portion of a lung that is not ventilated.
QUESTION: 4. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is suspected when:
a. hypoxemia exists despite efforts to give more oxygen.
b. the patient complains of dyspnea and exhibits shortness of breath.
c. the PaO2 level falls into the range of 60 to 70 mm Hg.
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,Page 3 of 70
d. the SaO2 level falls into the range of 82% to 86%. - ANSWER-ANS: A
ARDS is characterized by intrapulmonary shunting which is refractory hypoxemia. ARDS is
identified by the same diagnostic criteria as ALI except that the ratio of PaO2 to FIO2 is less
than or equal to 200 mm Hg.
ch 14 5. V/Q scans are ordered to evaluate the possibility of which of the following?
a. Pulmonary emboli
b. Acute myocardial infarction
c. Emphysema
d. Acute respiratory distress syndrome - ANSWER-ANS: A
QUESTION: 6. The patient is intubated, and sputum for culture and sensitivity is ordered. Which
of the following is important for obtaining the best specimen?
a. Once the specimen is in the container, dilute thick secretions with sterile water.
b. Apply suction when the catheter is advanced to obtain secretions from within the
endotracheal tube.
c. Do not apply suction while the catheter is being withdrawn because this can contaminate the
sample with sputum left in the endotracheal tube.
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, Page 4 of 70
d. Do not clear the endotracheal tube of all local secretions before obtaining the specimen. -
ANSWER-ANS: C
To prevent contamination of secretions in the upper portion of the endotracheal tube, do not
apply suction while the catheter is being withdrawn.
QUESTION: 7. Which of the following describes the major difference between tachypnea and
hyperventilation?
a. Tachypnea has increased rate; hyperventilation has decreased rate.
b. Tachypnea has decreased rate; hyperventilation has increased rate.
c. Tachypnea has increased depth; hyperventilation has decreased depth.
d. Tachypnea has decreased depth; hyperventilation has increased depth. - ANSWER-ANS: D
Tachypnea is manifested by an increase in the rate and decrease in the depth of ventilation.
Hyperventilation is manifested by an increase in both the rate and depth of ventilation.
QUESTION: ch 15 4. Which of the following medications are used to facilitate dilatation of the
airways in the patient with acute respiratory failure?
a. Aminophylline or theophylline
b. Acetylcysteine or iodinated glycerol
4
HESI RN CRITICAL CARE COMPLETE 300 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
QUESTION: 1. In positioning the patient with acute respiratory failure, the nurse would place
which area of the lung in the most dependent position?
a. The side opposite the most affected area
b. The same side as the most affected area
c. The least affected area
d. The area with the most pronounced breath sounds - ANSWER-ANS: C
the goal of positioning is to place the least affected area of the patient's lung in the most
dependent position to maximize ventilation/perfusion matching.
QUESTION: 2. Which of the following nursing interventions should be used to optimize
oxygenation and ventilation in the patient with acute respiratory failure?
a. Provide adequate rest and recovery time between procedures.
b. Position the patient with the good lung up.
c. Suction the patient every hour.
1
,Page 2 of 70
d. Avoid hyperventilating the patient. - ANSWER-ANS: A
Providing adequate rest and recovery time between various procedures prevents desaturation
and optimizes oxygenation.
QUESTION: 3. Which of the following causes of hypoxemia is the result of blood passing
through unventilated portions of the lungs?
a. Alveolar hypoventilation
b. Dead space ventilation
c. Intrapulmonary shunting
d. Ventilation/perfusion mismatching - ANSWER-ANS: C
The main causes of hypoxemia are alveolar hypoventilation, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q)
mismatching, and intrapulmonary shunting. Intrapulmonary shunting occurs when blood passes
through a portion of a lung that is not ventilated.
QUESTION: 4. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is suspected when:
a. hypoxemia exists despite efforts to give more oxygen.
b. the patient complains of dyspnea and exhibits shortness of breath.
c. the PaO2 level falls into the range of 60 to 70 mm Hg.
2
,Page 3 of 70
d. the SaO2 level falls into the range of 82% to 86%. - ANSWER-ANS: A
ARDS is characterized by intrapulmonary shunting which is refractory hypoxemia. ARDS is
identified by the same diagnostic criteria as ALI except that the ratio of PaO2 to FIO2 is less
than or equal to 200 mm Hg.
ch 14 5. V/Q scans are ordered to evaluate the possibility of which of the following?
a. Pulmonary emboli
b. Acute myocardial infarction
c. Emphysema
d. Acute respiratory distress syndrome - ANSWER-ANS: A
QUESTION: 6. The patient is intubated, and sputum for culture and sensitivity is ordered. Which
of the following is important for obtaining the best specimen?
a. Once the specimen is in the container, dilute thick secretions with sterile water.
b. Apply suction when the catheter is advanced to obtain secretions from within the
endotracheal tube.
c. Do not apply suction while the catheter is being withdrawn because this can contaminate the
sample with sputum left in the endotracheal tube.
3
, Page 4 of 70
d. Do not clear the endotracheal tube of all local secretions before obtaining the specimen. -
ANSWER-ANS: C
To prevent contamination of secretions in the upper portion of the endotracheal tube, do not
apply suction while the catheter is being withdrawn.
QUESTION: 7. Which of the following describes the major difference between tachypnea and
hyperventilation?
a. Tachypnea has increased rate; hyperventilation has decreased rate.
b. Tachypnea has decreased rate; hyperventilation has increased rate.
c. Tachypnea has increased depth; hyperventilation has decreased depth.
d. Tachypnea has decreased depth; hyperventilation has increased depth. - ANSWER-ANS: D
Tachypnea is manifested by an increase in the rate and decrease in the depth of ventilation.
Hyperventilation is manifested by an increase in both the rate and depth of ventilation.
QUESTION: ch 15 4. Which of the following medications are used to facilitate dilatation of the
airways in the patient with acute respiratory failure?
a. Aminophylline or theophylline
b. Acetylcysteine or iodinated glycerol
4
