NURS 480 CORE MAIN QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What pH indicates alkalosis? - ✔✔Greater than 7.45.
✔✔What organ system regulates carbon dioxide? - ✔✔The lungs.
✔✔What organ system regulates bicarbonate and hydrogen ions? - ✔✔The kidneys.
✔✔What ABG value reflects respiratory function? - ✔✔PaCO₂.
✔✔What ABG value reflects metabolic or kidney function? - ✔✔HCO₃⁻.
✔✔What are the expected ABG reference ranges? - ✔✔pH 7.35-7.45, PaO₂ 80-100
mmHg, PaCO₂ 35-45 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 22-26 mEq/L, SaO₂ 95%-100%.
✔✔ What is the main focus of Advanced Med-Surg nursing? - ✔✔Care of the critically ill
patient using rapid assessment, prioritization, clinical judgment, and timely
interventions.
✔✔Why must nurses recognize subtle changes in critically ill patients? - ✔✔Because
small changes can indicate early deterioration before a major crisis occurs.
✔✔What is one of the most important goals in emergency nursing? - ✔✔Recognizing
life-threatening problems quickly.
✔✔What does triage mean? - ✔✔To sort patients based on acuity and urgency of care.
✔✔What is the first step in triage? - ✔✔Assessment of vital signs and interview about
the chief complaint and history of present illness.
, ✔✔What is an emergent patient? - ✔✔A patient with a life-threatening illness or injury
who needs immediate care.
✔✔What is an urgent patient? - ✔✔A patient whose condition is not immediately life-
threatening but needs treatment within a reasonable time.
✔✔What is a nonurgent or delayed patient? - ✔✔A patient with minor illness or injury
whose care can safely wait.
✔✔What does ESI stand for? - ✔✔Emergency Severity Index.
✔✔In the ESI system, what does Level 1 mean? - ✔✔Resuscitation; highest acuity.
✔✔In the ESI system, what does Level 5 mean? - ✔✔No resources needed; lowest
acuity.
✔✔What federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care regardless of ability
to pay? - ✔✔EMTALA.
✔✔What does EMTALA require hospitals to do? - ✔✔Provide emergency screening,
stabilize emergency conditions, and transfer when necessary.
✔✔What is the purpose of the primary survey? - ✔✔To rapidly identify and treat life-
threatening conditions.
✔✔What does ABCDE stand for in the primary survey? - ✔✔Airway, Breathing,
Circulation, Disability, Exposure.
✔✔What is the first priority in the primary survey? - ✔✔Airway with cervical spine
protection.
✔✔Why is airway the first priority? - ✔✔Because hypoxia can cause brain injury or
death within minutes.
✔✔What should the nurse assess for when checking airway obstruction? - ✔✔Blood,
vomit, broken teeth, foreign objects, tongue obstruction, or swelling.
✔✔What airway maneuver is used when trauma is not suspected? - ✔✔Head-tilt/chin-
lift.
✔✔What airway maneuver is used when trauma is suspected? - ✔✔Modified jaw-thrust.
✔✔Why is the jaw-thrust used for trauma patients? - ✔✔It opens the airway while
maintaining cervical spine alignment.
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What pH indicates alkalosis? - ✔✔Greater than 7.45.
✔✔What organ system regulates carbon dioxide? - ✔✔The lungs.
✔✔What organ system regulates bicarbonate and hydrogen ions? - ✔✔The kidneys.
✔✔What ABG value reflects respiratory function? - ✔✔PaCO₂.
✔✔What ABG value reflects metabolic or kidney function? - ✔✔HCO₃⁻.
✔✔What are the expected ABG reference ranges? - ✔✔pH 7.35-7.45, PaO₂ 80-100
mmHg, PaCO₂ 35-45 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 22-26 mEq/L, SaO₂ 95%-100%.
✔✔ What is the main focus of Advanced Med-Surg nursing? - ✔✔Care of the critically ill
patient using rapid assessment, prioritization, clinical judgment, and timely
interventions.
✔✔Why must nurses recognize subtle changes in critically ill patients? - ✔✔Because
small changes can indicate early deterioration before a major crisis occurs.
✔✔What is one of the most important goals in emergency nursing? - ✔✔Recognizing
life-threatening problems quickly.
✔✔What does triage mean? - ✔✔To sort patients based on acuity and urgency of care.
✔✔What is the first step in triage? - ✔✔Assessment of vital signs and interview about
the chief complaint and history of present illness.
, ✔✔What is an emergent patient? - ✔✔A patient with a life-threatening illness or injury
who needs immediate care.
✔✔What is an urgent patient? - ✔✔A patient whose condition is not immediately life-
threatening but needs treatment within a reasonable time.
✔✔What is a nonurgent or delayed patient? - ✔✔A patient with minor illness or injury
whose care can safely wait.
✔✔What does ESI stand for? - ✔✔Emergency Severity Index.
✔✔In the ESI system, what does Level 1 mean? - ✔✔Resuscitation; highest acuity.
✔✔In the ESI system, what does Level 5 mean? - ✔✔No resources needed; lowest
acuity.
✔✔What federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care regardless of ability
to pay? - ✔✔EMTALA.
✔✔What does EMTALA require hospitals to do? - ✔✔Provide emergency screening,
stabilize emergency conditions, and transfer when necessary.
✔✔What is the purpose of the primary survey? - ✔✔To rapidly identify and treat life-
threatening conditions.
✔✔What does ABCDE stand for in the primary survey? - ✔✔Airway, Breathing,
Circulation, Disability, Exposure.
✔✔What is the first priority in the primary survey? - ✔✔Airway with cervical spine
protection.
✔✔Why is airway the first priority? - ✔✔Because hypoxia can cause brain injury or
death within minutes.
✔✔What should the nurse assess for when checking airway obstruction? - ✔✔Blood,
vomit, broken teeth, foreign objects, tongue obstruction, or swelling.
✔✔What airway maneuver is used when trauma is not suspected? - ✔✔Head-tilt/chin-
lift.
✔✔What airway maneuver is used when trauma is suspected? - ✔✔Modified jaw-thrust.
✔✔Why is the jaw-thrust used for trauma patients? - ✔✔It opens the airway while
maintaining cervical spine alignment.
