Page 1 of 76
CRITICAL CARE NURSING EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
CRITICAL CARE NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is caring for a client with a pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter. Which
of the following values represents normal pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP)?
A. 2-6 mmHg
B. 4-12 mmHg
C. 8-15 mmHg
D. 15-20 mmHg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal PAWP (also known as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) is 4-12
mmHg. It reflects left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (preload) and is used to assess left
ventricular function and fluid status. Elevated PAWP (>12 mmHg) indicates left ventricular
dysfunction or volume overload.
2. A nurse is interpreting hemodynamic values for a client in the ICU. Which value
represents cardiac output?
A. 1-2 L/min/m²
B. 2.5-4.0 L/min/m²
C. 4-8 L/min
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D. 8-12 L/min
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal cardiac output is 4-8 L/min. Cardiac index (B) is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m², which
is cardiac output adjusted for body surface area. A cardiac output below 4 L/min indicates
decreased tissue perfusion. A cardiac index below 2.0 L/min/m² indicates cardiogenic shock.
3. A nurse is assessing a client with a central venous pressure (CVP) catheter. Which of
the following is a normal CVP value?
A. 0-2 mmHg
B. 2-6 mmHg
C. 6-10 mmHg
D. 10-15 mmHg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal CVP is 2-6 mmHg (or 3-8 cm H₂O). CVP reflects right ventricular
preload and is used to assess fluid status. Elevated CVP (>8 mmHg) indicates right
ventricular dysfunction, fluid overload, or pulmonary hypertension. Low CVP (<2 mmHg)
indicates hypovolemia.
4. A nurse is monitoring a client's arterial blood pressure via an arterial line. Which of
the following is a complication of arterial line placement?
A. Infection
B. Hemorrhage
C. Thrombosis
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Complications of arterial line placement include infection, hemorrhage,
thrombosis, distal ischemia, and pseudoaneurysm. The radial artery is the most common site
for arterial line placement. The Allen's test should be performed before insertion to assess
collateral circulation.
5. A nurse is calculating systemic vascular resistance (SVR) for a client. Which of the
following formulas is correct for calculating SVR?
A. (MAP - CVP) / CO × 80
B. (MAP - PAWP) / CO × 80
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C. (CVP - MAP) / CO × 80
D. (PAWP - MAP) / CO × 80
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SVR = (Mean Arterial Pressure - Central Venous Pressure) / Cardiac Output × 80.
Normal SVR is 800-1200 dynes/sec/cm⁻⁵. Elevated SVR indicates vasoconstriction (seen in
hypovolemic shock). Decreased SVR indicates vasodilation (seen in septic shock).
6. A nurse is assessing a client's mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO₂). Which of the
following is a normal SvO₂ value?
A. 50-55%
B. 60-65%
C. 65-70%
D. 70-80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal SvO₂ is 60-80%, with 65-70% being the typical normal range. SvO₂
reflects the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption. A decreased SvO₂
(<60%) indicates increased oxygen extraction (e.g., shock, hypovolemia). An increased SvO₂
(>80%) indicates decreased oxygen consumption (e.g., sepsis, anesthesia).
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a pulmonary artery catheter. The nurse notes that
the PAWP is 22 mmHg. Which of the following conditions is most likely present?
A. Hypovolemia
B. Left ventricular failure
C. Sepsis
D. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PAWP >12 mmHg indicates left ventricular failure or volume overload. A PAWP
of 22 mmHg suggests left-sided heart failure. Hypovolemia (A) would cause a low PAWP.
Sepsis (C) and pulmonary embolism (D) would not typically cause elevated PAWP unless
there is concurrent left ventricular dysfunction.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's cardiac index. Which of the following is a normal
cardiac index?
A. 1.5-2.0 L/min/m²
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B. 2.0-2.5 L/min/m²
C. 2.5-4.0 L/min/m²
D. 4.0-5.0 L/min/m²
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal cardiac index is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m². A cardiac index below 2.0 indicates
cardiogenic shock. Cardiac index is cardiac output adjusted for body surface area and is a
more accurate measure of cardiac function than cardiac output alone.
9. A nurse is monitoring a client's pulse oximetry. Which of the following is a limitation
of pulse oximetry?
A. It does not measure oxygen saturation
B. It is affected by carboxyhemoglobin
C. It is not affected by motion artifact
D. It is not affected by poor perfusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pulse oximetry is affected by carboxyhemoglobin (which falsely elevates
readings) and methemoglobin (which falsely lowers readings). It measures oxygen saturation
(A) but has limitations. Motion artifact (C) and poor perfusion (D) do affect pulse oximetry
readings.
10. A nurse is interpreting a client's arterial blood gas (ABG) results. Which of the
following values indicates hypoxemia?
A. PaO₂ of 80 mmHg
B. PaO₂ of 70 mmHg
C. PaO₂ of 60 mmHg
D. PaO₂ of 50 mmHg
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Normal PaO₂ is 80-100 mmHg. Hypoxemia is defined as PaO₂ <60 mmHg. A
PaO₂ of 50 mmHg indicates moderate hypoxemia requiring intervention. A PaO₂ of <60
mmHg is the threshold for oxygen therapy in many clinical situations.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's mean arterial pressure (MAP). Which of the following
is a normal MAP?
A. 60-70 mmHg
CRITICAL CARE NURSING EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
CRITICAL CARE NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is caring for a client with a pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter. Which
of the following values represents normal pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP)?
A. 2-6 mmHg
B. 4-12 mmHg
C. 8-15 mmHg
D. 15-20 mmHg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal PAWP (also known as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) is 4-12
mmHg. It reflects left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (preload) and is used to assess left
ventricular function and fluid status. Elevated PAWP (>12 mmHg) indicates left ventricular
dysfunction or volume overload.
2. A nurse is interpreting hemodynamic values for a client in the ICU. Which value
represents cardiac output?
A. 1-2 L/min/m²
B. 2.5-4.0 L/min/m²
C. 4-8 L/min
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D. 8-12 L/min
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal cardiac output is 4-8 L/min. Cardiac index (B) is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m², which
is cardiac output adjusted for body surface area. A cardiac output below 4 L/min indicates
decreased tissue perfusion. A cardiac index below 2.0 L/min/m² indicates cardiogenic shock.
3. A nurse is assessing a client with a central venous pressure (CVP) catheter. Which of
the following is a normal CVP value?
A. 0-2 mmHg
B. 2-6 mmHg
C. 6-10 mmHg
D. 10-15 mmHg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal CVP is 2-6 mmHg (or 3-8 cm H₂O). CVP reflects right ventricular
preload and is used to assess fluid status. Elevated CVP (>8 mmHg) indicates right
ventricular dysfunction, fluid overload, or pulmonary hypertension. Low CVP (<2 mmHg)
indicates hypovolemia.
4. A nurse is monitoring a client's arterial blood pressure via an arterial line. Which of
the following is a complication of arterial line placement?
A. Infection
B. Hemorrhage
C. Thrombosis
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Complications of arterial line placement include infection, hemorrhage,
thrombosis, distal ischemia, and pseudoaneurysm. The radial artery is the most common site
for arterial line placement. The Allen's test should be performed before insertion to assess
collateral circulation.
5. A nurse is calculating systemic vascular resistance (SVR) for a client. Which of the
following formulas is correct for calculating SVR?
A. (MAP - CVP) / CO × 80
B. (MAP - PAWP) / CO × 80
, Page 3 of 76
C. (CVP - MAP) / CO × 80
D. (PAWP - MAP) / CO × 80
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SVR = (Mean Arterial Pressure - Central Venous Pressure) / Cardiac Output × 80.
Normal SVR is 800-1200 dynes/sec/cm⁻⁵. Elevated SVR indicates vasoconstriction (seen in
hypovolemic shock). Decreased SVR indicates vasodilation (seen in septic shock).
6. A nurse is assessing a client's mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO₂). Which of the
following is a normal SvO₂ value?
A. 50-55%
B. 60-65%
C. 65-70%
D. 70-80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal SvO₂ is 60-80%, with 65-70% being the typical normal range. SvO₂
reflects the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption. A decreased SvO₂
(<60%) indicates increased oxygen extraction (e.g., shock, hypovolemia). An increased SvO₂
(>80%) indicates decreased oxygen consumption (e.g., sepsis, anesthesia).
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a pulmonary artery catheter. The nurse notes that
the PAWP is 22 mmHg. Which of the following conditions is most likely present?
A. Hypovolemia
B. Left ventricular failure
C. Sepsis
D. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PAWP >12 mmHg indicates left ventricular failure or volume overload. A PAWP
of 22 mmHg suggests left-sided heart failure. Hypovolemia (A) would cause a low PAWP.
Sepsis (C) and pulmonary embolism (D) would not typically cause elevated PAWP unless
there is concurrent left ventricular dysfunction.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's cardiac index. Which of the following is a normal
cardiac index?
A. 1.5-2.0 L/min/m²
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B. 2.0-2.5 L/min/m²
C. 2.5-4.0 L/min/m²
D. 4.0-5.0 L/min/m²
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal cardiac index is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m². A cardiac index below 2.0 indicates
cardiogenic shock. Cardiac index is cardiac output adjusted for body surface area and is a
more accurate measure of cardiac function than cardiac output alone.
9. A nurse is monitoring a client's pulse oximetry. Which of the following is a limitation
of pulse oximetry?
A. It does not measure oxygen saturation
B. It is affected by carboxyhemoglobin
C. It is not affected by motion artifact
D. It is not affected by poor perfusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pulse oximetry is affected by carboxyhemoglobin (which falsely elevates
readings) and methemoglobin (which falsely lowers readings). It measures oxygen saturation
(A) but has limitations. Motion artifact (C) and poor perfusion (D) do affect pulse oximetry
readings.
10. A nurse is interpreting a client's arterial blood gas (ABG) results. Which of the
following values indicates hypoxemia?
A. PaO₂ of 80 mmHg
B. PaO₂ of 70 mmHg
C. PaO₂ of 60 mmHg
D. PaO₂ of 50 mmHg
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Normal PaO₂ is 80-100 mmHg. Hypoxemia is defined as PaO₂ <60 mmHg. A
PaO₂ of 50 mmHg indicates moderate hypoxemia requiring intervention. A PaO₂ of <60
mmHg is the threshold for oxygen therapy in many clinical situations.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's mean arterial pressure (MAP). Which of the following
is a normal MAP?
A. 60-70 mmHg
