NR341 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026
Types of transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -cornea
heart
trachea
lung
liver
bowel
kidney
pancreas
skin
vascular
Reason for increased liver transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -
Cure for hep C; recipients must accept and sign consent to receive organ infected with hep C
Types of patients high risk of hep C AND high risk of potential to donate organs -
CORRECT ANSWER -Drug users
Pathway to organ donation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. ABO compatibility
2. HLA compatibility
3. Sensitization to HLA antigens
4. Donor needs complete physical to look for HIV/AIDS, cancer, hepatitis, glucose intolerance, electr
olyte balances
5. Psychological testing to ensure medication compliance
Referral process - CORRECT ANSWER -
Potential organ donor identified, healthcare team member (nurse) will call 1-800-447-
9477 (Donor Network of Arizona Referral Hotline). Keeping in mind that timely referral of patients
who meet the criteria for donation is crucial to this process.
,The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires facilities and Donor Network of Arizona (D
NA) to identify specific clinical trigger to determine when patients should be referred. Clinical trigg
ers to refer patients within one hour are:
-
When a patient with a severe neuro injury or insult who is ventilated and has a Glasgow Coma Sc
ore < 5.
-
When withdrawal of support being considered before there is a plan to discontinue mechanical or
pharmacological support.
- At time of cardiac death (regardless if the patient has already been referred).
Hospitals should also call DNA at 1-800-447-9477 to report any of the following:
- Brain death testing is being discussed or planned
- Discussion of withdrawal of support
- EOL/Comfort care measures being considered
- if the family inquires about donation.
Who pays for transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -medicare/medicaid
How many lives can be saved by one person? - CORRECT ANSWER -
8 lives with organ, 100 with tissue
Clinical triggers - CORRECT ANSWER -
All patients with a severe brain injury requiring mechanical ventilation
Call immediately if:
- brain death testing being discussed
-
discussionx forx withdrawalx ofx ventilatorx orx vasopressorx supportx isx isx initiatedx byx familyx orx physicia
n
(terminalx weening)
- EOL/comfortx carex measuresx beingx considered
,x
Callx withinx 1x hourx if:
- GCSx 5x orx lessx andx ventilated
- Atx timex ofx cardiacx deathx (always)
Complicationsx ofx brainx deadx donor/ptx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --x DI
- hyperglycemia
- reducedx thyroidx function
- hypotension
- acidx basex imbalances
Complicationsx ofx transplantx ptx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --x infection
- rejection
- HTN
- hyperglycemia
- hyperlipidemia
- nephrotoxicity
AZx donorx networkx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -OPOx /x UNOS
Howx tox knowx ifx ptx isx donorx candidatex (ICUx ptx only)x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
BRAINx DEATH
- absentx cerebralx &x brainx stemx functionx withx non-survivablex headx injury
- absentx CNx reflexes,x GCSx =x 3x (minimum),x flatx line
-dilatedx unreactivex pupilsx (bewarex ofx atropine)
- EEG:x Nox electricalx activity
- positivex apneax testx =x nox respiratoryx movementx andx increasedx CO2x level/respiratoryx acidosi
s
-
cerebralx angiography;x nox bloodx flowx seen
- radionuclidex CPPx scan;x allx white
- dox notx feelx painx sox dox notx needx analgesia
- dox notx needx sedation
,x
CIRCULATORYx DEATH
-
patientsx whox havex codedx andx diex withinx minutesx ofx lifex supportx removalx (notx COPD,x notx termin
al
weenx patients)
- circulatoryx collapse
-
Organsx recoveredx aſterx w/dx lifex support:x ptx dies,x limitedx familyx saysx goodbyex andx timex ofx death
x is
clocked,x thenx ptx broughtx backx inx tox ORx andx rehookedx upx tox lifex supportx tox oxygenatex organsx a
nd
-tissues
Donorx networkx assumesx HCPx rolex tox determinex howx tox preservex organ
s
Brainx reflexx testsx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
1.x corneal:x cottonx swabx acrossx eyeballx andx normalx responsex isx tox blink;x brainx deadx willx notx bli
nk
2
.x oculovestibularx test:x coldx waterx inx ptx ear;x normalx responsex isx eyesx deviatex tox thatx ear
3
.x earx vsx eyex irrigations???x Lookx thisx up
4.x Doll'sx eyes:x turnx patientsx headx andx normalx responsex isx eyesx forx deviatex tox oppositex side.x Brain
x dx eyesx willx followx direction.
ead
5.x swallowx andx gagx reflex:x mustx bex absentx forx brainx deadx tox bex determine
d
6
.x babinskix returnsx uponx brainx death,x sox positivex babinskix isx veryx bad
7.x apneax test:x determinex ifx ptx hasx anyx spontaneousx respirations.x Hyperoxygenatex forx 30x minutes;x
OTNx extubatingx patient,x justx turningx offx vent.x Keepx offx forx 4x mi
n
apneax testx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --
RTx stopsx ventilatorx butx continuesx O2x therapyx tox lookx forx respiratoryx movementx orx triggerx tox bre
at
he.
- Donex forx 8-
10x minutesx sox there'sx timex forx CO2x levelx tox risex andx respiratoryx canx dox ABG
-
Everyonex requiredx atx bedsidex tox watchx forx lossx ofx hemodynamicx stability
-
positivex resultx ifx nox respiratoryx movementx andx increasingx CO2x =x nox ventilationx happeningx withinx
p
atient
ANSWERS 2026
Types of transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -cornea
heart
trachea
lung
liver
bowel
kidney
pancreas
skin
vascular
Reason for increased liver transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -
Cure for hep C; recipients must accept and sign consent to receive organ infected with hep C
Types of patients high risk of hep C AND high risk of potential to donate organs -
CORRECT ANSWER -Drug users
Pathway to organ donation - CORRECT ANSWER -1. ABO compatibility
2. HLA compatibility
3. Sensitization to HLA antigens
4. Donor needs complete physical to look for HIV/AIDS, cancer, hepatitis, glucose intolerance, electr
olyte balances
5. Psychological testing to ensure medication compliance
Referral process - CORRECT ANSWER -
Potential organ donor identified, healthcare team member (nurse) will call 1-800-447-
9477 (Donor Network of Arizona Referral Hotline). Keeping in mind that timely referral of patients
who meet the criteria for donation is crucial to this process.
,The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires facilities and Donor Network of Arizona (D
NA) to identify specific clinical trigger to determine when patients should be referred. Clinical trigg
ers to refer patients within one hour are:
-
When a patient with a severe neuro injury or insult who is ventilated and has a Glasgow Coma Sc
ore < 5.
-
When withdrawal of support being considered before there is a plan to discontinue mechanical or
pharmacological support.
- At time of cardiac death (regardless if the patient has already been referred).
Hospitals should also call DNA at 1-800-447-9477 to report any of the following:
- Brain death testing is being discussed or planned
- Discussion of withdrawal of support
- EOL/Comfort care measures being considered
- if the family inquires about donation.
Who pays for transplants - CORRECT ANSWER -medicare/medicaid
How many lives can be saved by one person? - CORRECT ANSWER -
8 lives with organ, 100 with tissue
Clinical triggers - CORRECT ANSWER -
All patients with a severe brain injury requiring mechanical ventilation
Call immediately if:
- brain death testing being discussed
-
discussionx forx withdrawalx ofx ventilatorx orx vasopressorx supportx isx isx initiatedx byx familyx orx physicia
n
(terminalx weening)
- EOL/comfortx carex measuresx beingx considered
,x
Callx withinx 1x hourx if:
- GCSx 5x orx lessx andx ventilated
- Atx timex ofx cardiacx deathx (always)
Complicationsx ofx brainx deadx donor/ptx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --x DI
- hyperglycemia
- reducedx thyroidx function
- hypotension
- acidx basex imbalances
Complicationsx ofx transplantx ptx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --x infection
- rejection
- HTN
- hyperglycemia
- hyperlipidemia
- nephrotoxicity
AZx donorx networkx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -OPOx /x UNOS
Howx tox knowx ifx ptx isx donorx candidatex (ICUx ptx only)x -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
BRAINx DEATH
- absentx cerebralx &x brainx stemx functionx withx non-survivablex headx injury
- absentx CNx reflexes,x GCSx =x 3x (minimum),x flatx line
-dilatedx unreactivex pupilsx (bewarex ofx atropine)
- EEG:x Nox electricalx activity
- positivex apneax testx =x nox respiratoryx movementx andx increasedx CO2x level/respiratoryx acidosi
s
-
cerebralx angiography;x nox bloodx flowx seen
- radionuclidex CPPx scan;x allx white
- dox notx feelx painx sox dox notx needx analgesia
- dox notx needx sedation
,x
CIRCULATORYx DEATH
-
patientsx whox havex codedx andx diex withinx minutesx ofx lifex supportx removalx (notx COPD,x notx termin
al
weenx patients)
- circulatoryx collapse
-
Organsx recoveredx aſterx w/dx lifex support:x ptx dies,x limitedx familyx saysx goodbyex andx timex ofx death
x is
clocked,x thenx ptx broughtx backx inx tox ORx andx rehookedx upx tox lifex supportx tox oxygenatex organsx a
nd
-tissues
Donorx networkx assumesx HCPx rolex tox determinex howx tox preservex organ
s
Brainx reflexx testsx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
1.x corneal:x cottonx swabx acrossx eyeballx andx normalx responsex isx tox blink;x brainx deadx willx notx bli
nk
2
.x oculovestibularx test:x coldx waterx inx ptx ear;x normalx responsex isx eyesx deviatex tox thatx ear
3
.x earx vsx eyex irrigations???x Lookx thisx up
4.x Doll'sx eyes:x turnx patientsx headx andx normalx responsex isx eyesx forx deviatex tox oppositex side.x Brain
x dx eyesx willx followx direction.
ead
5.x swallowx andx gagx reflex:x mustx bex absentx forx brainx deadx tox bex determine
d
6
.x babinskix returnsx uponx brainx death,x sox positivex babinskix isx veryx bad
7.x apneax test:x determinex ifx ptx hasx anyx spontaneousx respirations.x Hyperoxygenatex forx 30x minutes;x
OTNx extubatingx patient,x justx turningx offx vent.x Keepx offx forx 4x mi
n
apneax testx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx --
RTx stopsx ventilatorx butx continuesx O2x therapyx tox lookx forx respiratoryx movementx orx triggerx tox bre
at
he.
- Donex forx 8-
10x minutesx sox there'sx timex forx CO2x levelx tox risex andx respiratoryx canx dox ABG
-
Everyonex requiredx atx bedsidex tox watchx forx lossx ofx hemodynamicx stability
-
positivex resultx ifx nox respiratoryx movementx andx increasingx CO2x =x nox ventilationx happeningx withinx
p
atient
