SOLE’S INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL CARE NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS. LATEST
UPDATE 2026
A newly licensed nurse working in the ED is learning about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active
Labor Act. During a current disaster, the ED is transferring some patients to another facility prior to the
patients being stabilized. Which statement by the nurse manager explains this to the newly licensed
nurse? - ANSWER -A provision of EMTALA permits the transfer of patients before they are completely
stabilized.
- QUESTION- An ED nurse is reporting on a patient who is being transferred to ICU. Which of the
following sets of people are responsible for the transfer report? - ANSWER -The ED nurse and the ICU
nurse
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the ED following an injury. The nurse
demonstrates concern and involves the patient's family in decision making. Which of the following
outcomes is the nurse's primary goal from this interaction? - ANSWER -Creating a trusting relationship
- QUESTION- A newly licensed nurse is providing care to a patient admitted to the ED who is
experiencing heroin toxicity. The patient becomes violent and strikes the nurse. The nurse speaks with
the manager about violence in the ED. Which of the following statements represents how the nurse
manager should respond to the nurse? - ANSWER -Patients may fear the possible outcome of their
clinical situation, leading to stress
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a 30 year old patient who experience sexual assault 2 days ago. Which
of the following is the most important to ask the patient? - ANSWER -Do you know if you were exposed
to HIV
- QUESTION- A preceptor in CCU is orienting a new nurse to the code chart. The preceptor
communicates to the new nurse that the code charts should be checked at which of the following
intervals? - ANSWER -Every 24 hours
- QUESTION- A triage nurse is evaluating a patient who reports taking anticoagulation medication and
arrived at the ED with bleeding from both nares, which slowed after applying direct pressure to the
,nose. Which of the following Emergency Severity Index (ESI) levels should the nurse assign to this
patient? - ANSWER -ESI level 2
- QUESTION- A nurse in the ED is triaging a patient who is accompanied by an individual that refuses to
leave the patient alone with the nurse. While assessing the patient, the nurse notes an unusual tattoo
on the patients inner thigh, as well as multiple bruises near the groin and lower abdomen. the nurse
should consider that the client may need further evaluation for which of the following? - ANSWER -
Potential human trafficking
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the ED by ambulance. the patients BP is
110/62, HR is 100 bpm, and Resp is 28/min. Which of the following represents how the nurse should
perform the "D" portion of the ABCDE assessment? - ANSWER -The nurse should check alertness and
response to voice and pain
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a group of patients in the ED who were exposed to a chemical spill at
their work. A student nurse asks the charge nurse where to find the info about safety regarding the
chemical spill. Where should the charge nurse instruct the student nurse to find more info about a
chemical spill in the workplace? - ANSWER -Look up the Safety Data Sheets (SDS0 on the hospital WiFi
network.
- QUESTION- A nurse is triaging patients in the ED using the three-tiered triaging system. Which of the
following patients should the nurse place in the delayed category? - ANSWER -A patient is reporting
generalized abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 3 days. Findings indicate the VS are
stable and the patient has no comorbidities and is taking no medications.
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the Med Surg unit via the ED 1 week
ago following a head injury. Upon further review the patient was DX with a hip fracture. While the nurse
was providing D/C instructions, the patient began to report left wrist pain. Follow up xrays were
obtained and the patient was D/C with a cast for a wrist fracture. Which of the following describes the
process performed by nurse during discharge? - ANSWER -The nurse performed a tertiary survey
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who is 1 day postop and is currently receiving ventilation.
The nurse is organizing staff to move the patient to a chair. the patients family asks why it is necessary
to move the patient. Which statement best represents how the nurse should respond? - ANSWER -
Patients must be ambulated as early as possible so they can keep their muscle strength
, - QUESTION- An ED nurse is preparing for a pandemic disaster situations that requires more PPE than
what is avail. Which of the following elements of resource allocation would be most appropriate for the
nurse to implement? - ANSWER -Reusing
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient in the ED who will most likely not survive. The patients family
member asks for an update. Which of the following is the best response by the nurse? - ANSWER -Work
with the provider to frequently update the family on the status of the patient in a compassionate way.
- QUESTION- A nurse is preparing to D/C a patient who was treated for injuries related to sexual assault.
Which of the following is the most important action for the nurse to take before the patient leaves the
facility? - ANSWER -Ask the patient if they wish to return to their home
- QUESTION- An ED nurse is providing care for a patient during a chemical disaster situation. The patient
is A/O and can walk and follow commands. Which of the following is the priority action the nurse should
take? - ANSWER -Direct the patient to the decontamination area.
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient in the ED who reports a HX of MI. Which of the following
findings is most concerning? - ANSWER -Chest pain unrelieved by nitroglycerine
- QUESTION- A nurse turns of lights in an older patients room every night. Which of the following is the
basis for the nurses intervention? - ANSWER -The nurse is implementing this strategy to prevent the
development of delirium in the patient.
- QUESTION- A new nurse is working in the ED is caring for a patient who has been sexually assaulted.
Which of the following reasons is the most frequently cited for not reporting sexual assaults? - ANSWER
-Fear of being stigmatized
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness whose life support equipment is
scheduled to be removed. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? - ANSWER -
Prepare in advance how to discuss the situation with the family
- QUESTION- A new nurse assigned to the critical care unit is caring for a patient who requires
immediate IV access. the nurse does not have the skills, so they ask a colleague to insert the IV line.
Which question should the nurse consider? - ANSWER -What knowledge can I improve upon
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS. LATEST
UPDATE 2026
A newly licensed nurse working in the ED is learning about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active
Labor Act. During a current disaster, the ED is transferring some patients to another facility prior to the
patients being stabilized. Which statement by the nurse manager explains this to the newly licensed
nurse? - ANSWER -A provision of EMTALA permits the transfer of patients before they are completely
stabilized.
- QUESTION- An ED nurse is reporting on a patient who is being transferred to ICU. Which of the
following sets of people are responsible for the transfer report? - ANSWER -The ED nurse and the ICU
nurse
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the ED following an injury. The nurse
demonstrates concern and involves the patient's family in decision making. Which of the following
outcomes is the nurse's primary goal from this interaction? - ANSWER -Creating a trusting relationship
- QUESTION- A newly licensed nurse is providing care to a patient admitted to the ED who is
experiencing heroin toxicity. The patient becomes violent and strikes the nurse. The nurse speaks with
the manager about violence in the ED. Which of the following statements represents how the nurse
manager should respond to the nurse? - ANSWER -Patients may fear the possible outcome of their
clinical situation, leading to stress
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a 30 year old patient who experience sexual assault 2 days ago. Which
of the following is the most important to ask the patient? - ANSWER -Do you know if you were exposed
to HIV
- QUESTION- A preceptor in CCU is orienting a new nurse to the code chart. The preceptor
communicates to the new nurse that the code charts should be checked at which of the following
intervals? - ANSWER -Every 24 hours
- QUESTION- A triage nurse is evaluating a patient who reports taking anticoagulation medication and
arrived at the ED with bleeding from both nares, which slowed after applying direct pressure to the
,nose. Which of the following Emergency Severity Index (ESI) levels should the nurse assign to this
patient? - ANSWER -ESI level 2
- QUESTION- A nurse in the ED is triaging a patient who is accompanied by an individual that refuses to
leave the patient alone with the nurse. While assessing the patient, the nurse notes an unusual tattoo
on the patients inner thigh, as well as multiple bruises near the groin and lower abdomen. the nurse
should consider that the client may need further evaluation for which of the following? - ANSWER -
Potential human trafficking
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the ED by ambulance. the patients BP is
110/62, HR is 100 bpm, and Resp is 28/min. Which of the following represents how the nurse should
perform the "D" portion of the ABCDE assessment? - ANSWER -The nurse should check alertness and
response to voice and pain
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a group of patients in the ED who were exposed to a chemical spill at
their work. A student nurse asks the charge nurse where to find the info about safety regarding the
chemical spill. Where should the charge nurse instruct the student nurse to find more info about a
chemical spill in the workplace? - ANSWER -Look up the Safety Data Sheets (SDS0 on the hospital WiFi
network.
- QUESTION- A nurse is triaging patients in the ED using the three-tiered triaging system. Which of the
following patients should the nurse place in the delayed category? - ANSWER -A patient is reporting
generalized abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 3 days. Findings indicate the VS are
stable and the patient has no comorbidities and is taking no medications.
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the Med Surg unit via the ED 1 week
ago following a head injury. Upon further review the patient was DX with a hip fracture. While the nurse
was providing D/C instructions, the patient began to report left wrist pain. Follow up xrays were
obtained and the patient was D/C with a cast for a wrist fracture. Which of the following describes the
process performed by nurse during discharge? - ANSWER -The nurse performed a tertiary survey
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who is 1 day postop and is currently receiving ventilation.
The nurse is organizing staff to move the patient to a chair. the patients family asks why it is necessary
to move the patient. Which statement best represents how the nurse should respond? - ANSWER -
Patients must be ambulated as early as possible so they can keep their muscle strength
, - QUESTION- An ED nurse is preparing for a pandemic disaster situations that requires more PPE than
what is avail. Which of the following elements of resource allocation would be most appropriate for the
nurse to implement? - ANSWER -Reusing
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient in the ED who will most likely not survive. The patients family
member asks for an update. Which of the following is the best response by the nurse? - ANSWER -Work
with the provider to frequently update the family on the status of the patient in a compassionate way.
- QUESTION- A nurse is preparing to D/C a patient who was treated for injuries related to sexual assault.
Which of the following is the most important action for the nurse to take before the patient leaves the
facility? - ANSWER -Ask the patient if they wish to return to their home
- QUESTION- An ED nurse is providing care for a patient during a chemical disaster situation. The patient
is A/O and can walk and follow commands. Which of the following is the priority action the nurse should
take? - ANSWER -Direct the patient to the decontamination area.
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient in the ED who reports a HX of MI. Which of the following
findings is most concerning? - ANSWER -Chest pain unrelieved by nitroglycerine
- QUESTION- A nurse turns of lights in an older patients room every night. Which of the following is the
basis for the nurses intervention? - ANSWER -The nurse is implementing this strategy to prevent the
development of delirium in the patient.
- QUESTION- A new nurse is working in the ED is caring for a patient who has been sexually assaulted.
Which of the following reasons is the most frequently cited for not reporting sexual assaults? - ANSWER
-Fear of being stigmatized
- QUESTION- A nurse is caring for a patient who has a terminal illness whose life support equipment is
scheduled to be removed. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? - ANSWER -
Prepare in advance how to discuss the situation with the family
- QUESTION- A new nurse assigned to the critical care unit is caring for a patient who requires
immediate IV access. the nurse does not have the skills, so they ask a colleague to insert the IV line.
Which question should the nurse consider? - ANSWER -What knowledge can I improve upon
