ICU EXAM COMPREHENSIVE TEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ What causes ascites in end stage liver disease?
A. Increased urinary sodium excretion
B. Excess aldosterone production leading to fluid retention in the
lungs
C. Hypoproteinemia and portal hypertension causing fluid shift into
the peritoneum
D. Impaired bile flow increasing osmotic pressure. Answer:
Hypoproteinemia and portal hypertension causing fluid shift into
the peritoneum
◉ During a paracentesis, which complication should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hyperproteinemia
C. Fever
D. Hypotension. Answer: Hypotension
,◉ What nursing intervention is appropriate for a patient post liver
biopsy?
A. Strict bed rest with HOB <10 degrees and extremity straight
B. Monitoring for the return of a gag reflex
C. Monitoring for rectal bleeding
D. Applying a pressure dressing and placing the patient on their
right side for 2 hours. Answer: Applying a pressure dressing and
placing the patient on their right side for 2 hours
◉ In a patient with suspected acute pancreatitis, which nursing
action has highest priority?
A. Begin TPN
B. Begin IV fluid resuscitation with LR and pain control
C. Place NG tube and drain to gravity
D. Collect blood cultures and begin IV antibiotics. Answer: Begin IV
fluid resuscitation and pain control
◉ What is the Pathophysiology of stress related mucosal disease?
A. Acute, widespread gastric ischemia and erosive injury following
shock and catecholemine release
,B. Enzymes become prematurely activated causing autodigestion of
the pancreas
C. Engorged and distended blood vessels of the esophagus and
proximal stomach develop as a result of portal hypertension
D. Normal protective functions cease allowing gastric contents to
autodigest the lining of the stomach or duodenum. Answer: Acute,
widespread gastric ischemia and erosive injury following shock and
catecholemine release
◉ NSAID use and H. Pylori are the most common causes of
A. Acute liver failure
B. Acute kidney failure
C. Rhabdomyolysis
D. Peptic ulcer disease. Answer: Peptic ulcer disease
◉ Difference between duodenal and gastric ulcers based on s/s
patterns?
A. Gastric ulcers are associated with burning mid Epigastric pain
while duodenal ulcers are associated with gnawing sharp left
Epigastric pain
B. Patients with gastric ulcers appear well nourished while those
with duodenal appear malnourished
, C. Gastric ulcer pain worsens with food while duodenal ulcer pain is
relieved by ingestion of food
D. Hematemesis is found with duodenal ulcers while Melena is more
common in gastric. Answer: Gastric ulcer pain worsens with food
while duodenal ulcer pain is relieved by ingestion of food
◉ A patient with liver cirrhosis has fetor hepaticus. What is the
nurse's best explanation of this late sign to the family?
A. It is a sign of pneumonia
B. It is due to toxins like ammonia passing from the liver to the lungs
C. It is due to protein rich fluid in the abdomen fulling intravascular
fluid
D. It is just small capillaries beginning to burst due to coagulopathy.
Answer: It is due to toxins like ammonia passing from the liver to the
lungs
◉ Which noninvasive diagnostic test identifies active lower and mid
GI bleeding when endoscopy fails to localize the source?
A. MRI-MCP
B. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
C. Abdominal CT
D. GI Bleeding scan. Answer: GI Bleeding scan
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ What causes ascites in end stage liver disease?
A. Increased urinary sodium excretion
B. Excess aldosterone production leading to fluid retention in the
lungs
C. Hypoproteinemia and portal hypertension causing fluid shift into
the peritoneum
D. Impaired bile flow increasing osmotic pressure. Answer:
Hypoproteinemia and portal hypertension causing fluid shift into
the peritoneum
◉ During a paracentesis, which complication should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hyperproteinemia
C. Fever
D. Hypotension. Answer: Hypotension
,◉ What nursing intervention is appropriate for a patient post liver
biopsy?
A. Strict bed rest with HOB <10 degrees and extremity straight
B. Monitoring for the return of a gag reflex
C. Monitoring for rectal bleeding
D. Applying a pressure dressing and placing the patient on their
right side for 2 hours. Answer: Applying a pressure dressing and
placing the patient on their right side for 2 hours
◉ In a patient with suspected acute pancreatitis, which nursing
action has highest priority?
A. Begin TPN
B. Begin IV fluid resuscitation with LR and pain control
C. Place NG tube and drain to gravity
D. Collect blood cultures and begin IV antibiotics. Answer: Begin IV
fluid resuscitation and pain control
◉ What is the Pathophysiology of stress related mucosal disease?
A. Acute, widespread gastric ischemia and erosive injury following
shock and catecholemine release
,B. Enzymes become prematurely activated causing autodigestion of
the pancreas
C. Engorged and distended blood vessels of the esophagus and
proximal stomach develop as a result of portal hypertension
D. Normal protective functions cease allowing gastric contents to
autodigest the lining of the stomach or duodenum. Answer: Acute,
widespread gastric ischemia and erosive injury following shock and
catecholemine release
◉ NSAID use and H. Pylori are the most common causes of
A. Acute liver failure
B. Acute kidney failure
C. Rhabdomyolysis
D. Peptic ulcer disease. Answer: Peptic ulcer disease
◉ Difference between duodenal and gastric ulcers based on s/s
patterns?
A. Gastric ulcers are associated with burning mid Epigastric pain
while duodenal ulcers are associated with gnawing sharp left
Epigastric pain
B. Patients with gastric ulcers appear well nourished while those
with duodenal appear malnourished
, C. Gastric ulcer pain worsens with food while duodenal ulcer pain is
relieved by ingestion of food
D. Hematemesis is found with duodenal ulcers while Melena is more
common in gastric. Answer: Gastric ulcer pain worsens with food
while duodenal ulcer pain is relieved by ingestion of food
◉ A patient with liver cirrhosis has fetor hepaticus. What is the
nurse's best explanation of this late sign to the family?
A. It is a sign of pneumonia
B. It is due to toxins like ammonia passing from the liver to the lungs
C. It is due to protein rich fluid in the abdomen fulling intravascular
fluid
D. It is just small capillaries beginning to burst due to coagulopathy.
Answer: It is due to toxins like ammonia passing from the liver to the
lungs
◉ Which noninvasive diagnostic test identifies active lower and mid
GI bleeding when endoscopy fails to localize the source?
A. MRI-MCP
B. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
C. Abdominal CT
D. GI Bleeding scan. Answer: GI Bleeding scan
