PROGRESSIVE CARE RN A 2026 FINAL EXAM
PAPER WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS
◉ Your patient with triple cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 3.
Chest tubes have been removed. They suddenly report palpitations.
Their blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140 bpm. What
would you do NEXT? Answer: Perform a bedside EKG
◉ Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of
analgesics would MOST likely be contraindicated for them? Answer:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
◉ Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication
administration would likely be LEAST effective? Answer:
Intramuscular
◉ You are working with the code team to resuscitate a patient in
ventricular fibrillation. Chest compressions are ongoing and the
patient has been shocked twice. What emergency medication, if any,
would you administer at this juncture? Answer: Epinephrine
(Adrenaline) 1 mg IV
, ◉ Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging
them and provide patient education.
Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the
education? Answer: I will not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
◉ Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment
would be appropriate? Answer: • Visual pain scale
◉ Your patient has returned from the cath lab post angioplasty.
Upon assessment you note a large hematoma at the sheath site.
What would be your immediate action? Answer: Apply manual
pressure to the site and call for help.
◉ Your patient has new onset seizures. They ask you what they
should know about taking levetiracetam (Keppra®). What would be
your BEST response? Answer: Common side effects are fatigue and
depression
◉ Your patient with cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 2. The
nursing assistant reports that your patient has a temp of 101.3°F
and blood pressure of 82/56. Their urine output has decreased to
less than 30 mL in the past 4 hours. You suspect a post-surgery
complication. After calling the physician you receive orders for STAT
CBC, CMP, and coagulation test. What results would you expect to
see after these labs are completed? Answer: WBC greater than
19,000
PAPER WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS
◉ Your patient with triple cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 3.
Chest tubes have been removed. They suddenly report palpitations.
Their blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140 bpm. What
would you do NEXT? Answer: Perform a bedside EKG
◉ Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of
analgesics would MOST likely be contraindicated for them? Answer:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
◉ Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication
administration would likely be LEAST effective? Answer:
Intramuscular
◉ You are working with the code team to resuscitate a patient in
ventricular fibrillation. Chest compressions are ongoing and the
patient has been shocked twice. What emergency medication, if any,
would you administer at this juncture? Answer: Epinephrine
(Adrenaline) 1 mg IV
, ◉ Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging
them and provide patient education.
Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the
education? Answer: I will not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
◉ Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment
would be appropriate? Answer: • Visual pain scale
◉ Your patient has returned from the cath lab post angioplasty.
Upon assessment you note a large hematoma at the sheath site.
What would be your immediate action? Answer: Apply manual
pressure to the site and call for help.
◉ Your patient has new onset seizures. They ask you what they
should know about taking levetiracetam (Keppra®). What would be
your BEST response? Answer: Common side effects are fatigue and
depression
◉ Your patient with cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 2. The
nursing assistant reports that your patient has a temp of 101.3°F
and blood pressure of 82/56. Their urine output has decreased to
less than 30 mL in the past 4 hours. You suspect a post-surgery
complication. After calling the physician you receive orders for STAT
CBC, CMP, and coagulation test. What results would you expect to
see after these labs are completed? Answer: WBC greater than
19,000
