American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Exam | 2026/2027
Update| Graded A+
If bleeding is in pericardial sac, what must be ruled out? - ANSWER If bleeding is in pericardial sac,
cardiac tamponade must be ruled out.
Oxygen reperfusion injury - ANSWER Oxygen promotes systemic vasodilation and is the source of
toxic metabolites and had been associated with poor outcomes.
Carotid artery stenosis risk factors, signs and symptoms, and priority intervention. - ANSWER Risk
factors are Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
Signs/symptoms are transient blindness in one eye, memory loss, numbness in the face, headache,
and dizziness.
Carotid artery duplex would confirm it's presence.
Anterior Wall MI on EKG would show what? Papillary muscle rupture on an Pulmonary Artery
Occlusive pressure waveform readings look like what? - ANSWER V2, V3, V4, V5: ST segment
elevation.
Large, Giant, elevated V-waves.
After a CABG and mediastinal chest tube in place, what are the signs of an acute bleed? What is the
priority intervention? - ANSWER Warm bloody drainage.
Return to the OR Stop the bleeding.
cardiac tamponade occurs when what infiltrates the pericardial sac? - ANSWER Blood or fluid.
Cardiac Tamponade s/s - ANSWER JVD, narrow pulse pressure, hypotension (on inspiration), muffled
heart sounds.
, Chest heaviness, tachycardia, tachypnea, decreased cardiac output, decreased stroke volume.
Afib to WPW syndrome is common. What does the ECG show in WPW? - ANSWER Short PR interval.
Inverted T waves seen in WPW.
INR 5-10 and uncontrolled bleeding treatments. What to administer? - ANSWER Fresh frozen plasma
or prothrombin complex concentrate.
Signs of instability for possible cardioversion - ANSWER Hypotension.
Mental status changes.
Chest pain.
SOB.
Crackles.
Cold clammy skin.
Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia and hyperkalemia treatment? - ANSWER Calcium to prevent
ventricular fibrillation.
Calcium stabilizes cardiac heart tissues.
Idiopathic cardiomyopathy signs and symptoms - ANSWER SOB, 4+ edema, O2% decreases, EF <40%
or less, lack of energy, S3 and S4 heart sounds.
Signs of pulmonary edema - ANSWER HTN.
Heart failure with EF 15%.
S3 heart sounds.
Increased work of breathing.
Accessory muscle use.
What always indicates myocardial contusion due to blunt cardiac trauma? - ANSWER Cardiac
dysrhythmia.
Signs of Papillary muscle rupture in an acute myocardial infarction. - ANSWER New murmur with
acute myocardial infarction.
Update| Graded A+
If bleeding is in pericardial sac, what must be ruled out? - ANSWER If bleeding is in pericardial sac,
cardiac tamponade must be ruled out.
Oxygen reperfusion injury - ANSWER Oxygen promotes systemic vasodilation and is the source of
toxic metabolites and had been associated with poor outcomes.
Carotid artery stenosis risk factors, signs and symptoms, and priority intervention. - ANSWER Risk
factors are Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
Signs/symptoms are transient blindness in one eye, memory loss, numbness in the face, headache,
and dizziness.
Carotid artery duplex would confirm it's presence.
Anterior Wall MI on EKG would show what? Papillary muscle rupture on an Pulmonary Artery
Occlusive pressure waveform readings look like what? - ANSWER V2, V3, V4, V5: ST segment
elevation.
Large, Giant, elevated V-waves.
After a CABG and mediastinal chest tube in place, what are the signs of an acute bleed? What is the
priority intervention? - ANSWER Warm bloody drainage.
Return to the OR Stop the bleeding.
cardiac tamponade occurs when what infiltrates the pericardial sac? - ANSWER Blood or fluid.
Cardiac Tamponade s/s - ANSWER JVD, narrow pulse pressure, hypotension (on inspiration), muffled
heart sounds.
, Chest heaviness, tachycardia, tachypnea, decreased cardiac output, decreased stroke volume.
Afib to WPW syndrome is common. What does the ECG show in WPW? - ANSWER Short PR interval.
Inverted T waves seen in WPW.
INR 5-10 and uncontrolled bleeding treatments. What to administer? - ANSWER Fresh frozen plasma
or prothrombin complex concentrate.
Signs of instability for possible cardioversion - ANSWER Hypotension.
Mental status changes.
Chest pain.
SOB.
Crackles.
Cold clammy skin.
Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia and hyperkalemia treatment? - ANSWER Calcium to prevent
ventricular fibrillation.
Calcium stabilizes cardiac heart tissues.
Idiopathic cardiomyopathy signs and symptoms - ANSWER SOB, 4+ edema, O2% decreases, EF <40%
or less, lack of energy, S3 and S4 heart sounds.
Signs of pulmonary edema - ANSWER HTN.
Heart failure with EF 15%.
S3 heart sounds.
Increased work of breathing.
Accessory muscle use.
What always indicates myocardial contusion due to blunt cardiac trauma? - ANSWER Cardiac
dysrhythmia.
Signs of Papillary muscle rupture in an acute myocardial infarction. - ANSWER New murmur with
acute myocardial infarction.
