HFHS CRITICAL CARE EXAMINATION TEST
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ What way do females stab? Answer: Downwards
◉ What way do males stab? Answer: Upwards
◉ A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and
coughing all the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats.
The client's assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout
the lungs, dependent peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds,
temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C), heart rate of 110 beats/minute,
respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood pressure of 105/60 mmHg
with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic procedure should
the nurse prepare to do first? Answer: Blood culture
◉ Define: Infective endocarditis Answer: Infection of the endocardial
surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
◉ What indicates ineffective endocarditis? Answer: Edema & S1/S3
sounds
,◉ According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle
collision was sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle.
The vehicle was stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the
left side by another vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97
kmh). The client reports slight tenderness and achiness on (L) side of
thorax and body. The significant assessment findings include: weak and
thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain, tenderness and guarding present
upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and extremities cool to touch,
capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present in the (L) flank
area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are temperature-
97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse
oximetry 90% on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula. Answer: Fractured liver
& ruptured spleen
◉ The nurse is analyzing an arterial blood gas (ABG) of a client who is
mechanicallly ventilated. The ABG results are pH- 7.52; paCO2- 30
mmHg; HCO3- 28 mEq/liter. How should the nurse interpret this blood
gas? Answer: Respiratory alkalosis
◉ Define: Respiratory alkalosis Answer: HCO3 & pH is increased
while the CO2 is decreased
◉ What is the effect if blood sugar continues to rise? Answer: Change
in level of consciousness
, ◉ What precaution should a patient be on with a high sodium? Answer:
Seizure precautions
◉ Why do people with diabetes have an increased urinary output?
Answer: Low ADH
◉ What is the effect of a low ADH? Answer: Dehydration & increased
serum Sodium
◉ A client with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic
hormone (SIADH) is admitted to the intensive care unit with a serum
sodium level of 112 mEq/L or mmol/L. Which protocol prescription
should the nurse implement first? Answer: Obtain serum sodium every
4 hours
◉ The nurse is caring for a client who is demonstrating signs of
impending death. The family is experiencing emotional distress as the
client's condition declines. Which information should the nurse provide
the family to facilitate the process? Answer: Encourage the family to
give the patient permission to die
◉ The nurse is caring for a client with severe sepsis related to a ruptured
appendix.The clientis diaphoretic and reports lower extremity spasms.
The nurse observes respirations that are uneven and labored. Arterial
blood gas (ABG) results are pH 7.60, PaCO2 25 mmHg, HCO3 24
mEq/L, and PaO2 24 mmHg. Which assessment finding warrants
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ What way do females stab? Answer: Downwards
◉ What way do males stab? Answer: Upwards
◉ A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and
coughing all the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats.
The client's assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout
the lungs, dependent peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds,
temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C), heart rate of 110 beats/minute,
respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood pressure of 105/60 mmHg
with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic procedure should
the nurse prepare to do first? Answer: Blood culture
◉ Define: Infective endocarditis Answer: Infection of the endocardial
surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
◉ What indicates ineffective endocarditis? Answer: Edema & S1/S3
sounds
,◉ According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle
collision was sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle.
The vehicle was stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the
left side by another vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97
kmh). The client reports slight tenderness and achiness on (L) side of
thorax and body. The significant assessment findings include: weak and
thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain, tenderness and guarding present
upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and extremities cool to touch,
capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present in the (L) flank
area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are temperature-
97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse
oximetry 90% on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula. Answer: Fractured liver
& ruptured spleen
◉ The nurse is analyzing an arterial blood gas (ABG) of a client who is
mechanicallly ventilated. The ABG results are pH- 7.52; paCO2- 30
mmHg; HCO3- 28 mEq/liter. How should the nurse interpret this blood
gas? Answer: Respiratory alkalosis
◉ Define: Respiratory alkalosis Answer: HCO3 & pH is increased
while the CO2 is decreased
◉ What is the effect if blood sugar continues to rise? Answer: Change
in level of consciousness
, ◉ What precaution should a patient be on with a high sodium? Answer:
Seizure precautions
◉ Why do people with diabetes have an increased urinary output?
Answer: Low ADH
◉ What is the effect of a low ADH? Answer: Dehydration & increased
serum Sodium
◉ A client with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic
hormone (SIADH) is admitted to the intensive care unit with a serum
sodium level of 112 mEq/L or mmol/L. Which protocol prescription
should the nurse implement first? Answer: Obtain serum sodium every
4 hours
◉ The nurse is caring for a client who is demonstrating signs of
impending death. The family is experiencing emotional distress as the
client's condition declines. Which information should the nurse provide
the family to facilitate the process? Answer: Encourage the family to
give the patient permission to die
◉ The nurse is caring for a client with severe sepsis related to a ruptured
appendix.The clientis diaphoretic and reports lower extremity spasms.
The nurse observes respirations that are uneven and labored. Arterial
blood gas (ABG) results are pH 7.60, PaCO2 25 mmHg, HCO3 24
mEq/L, and PaO2 24 mmHg. Which assessment finding warrants
