UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENTIALS OF
CRITICAL CARE NURSING COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE AND CRITICAL CARE NURSING REVIEW
2026
◉ The nurse realizes that which stressor is one of the primary
concerns of critically ill patients and should be routinely included
during assessments?
1. Inability to control elimination
2. Lack of family support
3. Hunger
4. Altered ability to communicate.
Answer: 4
◉ A patient has just completed a preoperative education session
prior to undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Which patient
statements indicate that teaching has been effective?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. "I understand that I will have to blink my eyes to respond after the
breathing tube is in my throat."
2. "I will be given frequent mouth care to help me when I am thirsty."
,3. "I will be able to move about freely in bed and into the chair
without help while connected to the electronic equipment for
monitoring."
4. "I may need something to help me rest due to the unfamiliar lights
and sounds of the ICU unit."
5. "I might not behave like my usual self after the surgery but it will
be because of the medications and my illness.".
Answer: 1,2,4,5
◉ When providing care to critically ill patients, whether they are
responsive or unresponsive, the nurse should:
1. Clearly explain what care is to be done before starting the activity.
2. Perform the activity and then let the patient rest without
explaining the care.
3. Make sure the patient always responds and is cooperative before
giving care.
4. Explain to the family that the patient will not understand or
remember any of the discomfort associated with care..
Answer: 1
◉ Which communication strategy is most appropriate for a critical
care nurse to use when communicating with a ventilated patient?
The nurse should:
1. Use professional terminology and provide the patient with
detailed information.
, 2. Use simple language and explain in other terms if the patient does
not seem to understand.
3. Provide minimal information so the patient is not overwhelmed.
4. Discuss issues primarily with the family because the patient is
unlikely to understand the information..
Answer: 2
◉ During an assessment, a ventilated patient begins to frown and
wiggle about in bed. Which assessment strategy would be most
helpful for the nurse to validate these observations?
1. Glasgow Scale
2. Maslow's hierarchy levels
3. Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
4. Vital signs trends.
Answer: 3
◉ Which parameters indicate that a patient in the intensive care unit
being mechanically ventilated is ready for an interruption in
sedation? The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Had a MAP of 75 and heart rate of 76
2. Was sleeping but awakened with verbal stimuli
CRITICAL CARE NURSING COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE AND CRITICAL CARE NURSING REVIEW
2026
◉ The nurse realizes that which stressor is one of the primary
concerns of critically ill patients and should be routinely included
during assessments?
1. Inability to control elimination
2. Lack of family support
3. Hunger
4. Altered ability to communicate.
Answer: 4
◉ A patient has just completed a preoperative education session
prior to undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Which patient
statements indicate that teaching has been effective?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. "I understand that I will have to blink my eyes to respond after the
breathing tube is in my throat."
2. "I will be given frequent mouth care to help me when I am thirsty."
,3. "I will be able to move about freely in bed and into the chair
without help while connected to the electronic equipment for
monitoring."
4. "I may need something to help me rest due to the unfamiliar lights
and sounds of the ICU unit."
5. "I might not behave like my usual self after the surgery but it will
be because of the medications and my illness.".
Answer: 1,2,4,5
◉ When providing care to critically ill patients, whether they are
responsive or unresponsive, the nurse should:
1. Clearly explain what care is to be done before starting the activity.
2. Perform the activity and then let the patient rest without
explaining the care.
3. Make sure the patient always responds and is cooperative before
giving care.
4. Explain to the family that the patient will not understand or
remember any of the discomfort associated with care..
Answer: 1
◉ Which communication strategy is most appropriate for a critical
care nurse to use when communicating with a ventilated patient?
The nurse should:
1. Use professional terminology and provide the patient with
detailed information.
, 2. Use simple language and explain in other terms if the patient does
not seem to understand.
3. Provide minimal information so the patient is not overwhelmed.
4. Discuss issues primarily with the family because the patient is
unlikely to understand the information..
Answer: 2
◉ During an assessment, a ventilated patient begins to frown and
wiggle about in bed. Which assessment strategy would be most
helpful for the nurse to validate these observations?
1. Glasgow Scale
2. Maslow's hierarchy levels
3. Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
4. Vital signs trends.
Answer: 3
◉ Which parameters indicate that a patient in the intensive care unit
being mechanically ventilated is ready for an interruption in
sedation? The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Had a MAP of 75 and heart rate of 76
2. Was sleeping but awakened with verbal stimuli
