NUR 425 Critical Care Exam 2 Practice
Questions with complete solutions
Acidosis - correct answer ✔✔Hypercapnia causes vasodilation increasing blood flow to the brian
PEEP - correct answer ✔✔Increases thoracic pressure, prevents optimal jugular venous outflow
Restraints - correct answer ✔✔Causes increased agitation
Fever - correct answer ✔✔Causes cerebral hyper metabolism
Hyperextension, flexion of the neck - correct answer ✔✔Prevents optimal jugular venous outflow
Low protein - correct answer ✔✔Decreases serum oncotic pressure, fluid displaces from vasculature into
cells
Alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔Hypocapnia causes vasoconstriction, decreases blood flow to the brain
Hypotonic solution - correct answer ✔✔Fluid moves from the vasculature into the cells
T/F: Hyperventilation is an acceptable method used to decrease ICP for patients - correct answer
✔✔False
T/F: Hypotonic fluids such as 0.45% NS or D5W would be an appropriate treatment for a patient with
increased ICP - correct answer ✔✔True
Which of the following are appropriate strategies to help lower ICP via decreasing blood volume? SATA
,1. positioning patient upright
2. mannitol
3. furosemide
4. place patient in trendelenburg
5. 3% saline
6. 0.45% NS
7. Place a ventriculostomy - correct answer ✔✔1. positioning patient upright
2. mannitol
3. furosemide
5. 3% saline
What of the following are LATE signs of increased ICP and impending herniation of the brain? SATA
1. SBP <90mmHg
2. bradycardia
3. kussmaul's breathing
4. RR of 15
5. increased SBP with widened pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔2. bradycardia
3. kussmaul's breathing
5. increased SBP with widened pulse pressure
How will the lungs compensate if for a patient in metabolic alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔The lungs will
decrease breathing rate/depth to retain CO2 to decrease the pH
How will the kidneys compensate if for a patient in respiratory acidosis - correct answer ✔✔The kidneys
will retain HCO3 and/or excrete H+ to increase the pH
How will the lungs compensate if for a patient in metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔The lungs will
increase breathing rate/depth to blow off more CO2 to increase the pH
,How will the kidneys compensate if for a patient in respiratory alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔The kidneys
will excrete HCO3 and/or retain H+ to decrease the pH
Extreme Anxiety - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Shock (lactic acid) - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Opioid overdose - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory acidosis
Severe pain - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Constant NGT suction - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Vomiting - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Initial response to hypoxia - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Untreated CKD - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
DKA - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Antacid overdose - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Oversedation - correct answer ✔✔Resp acidosis
Thiazide/Loop diuretics - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Brainstem injury inhibiting respiratory drive - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory acidosis
, High altitude - correct answer ✔✔Resp alkalosis
Diarrhea - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.24
PaCO2 50
HCO3 25 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated resp acidosis
When we see that a PaCO2 is high >45, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The patient is breathing slow and/or shallow
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.49
PaCO2 30
HCO3 24 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated Respiratory Alkalosis
When we see that a PaCO2 is low <35, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The patient is breathing fast and/or deep.
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.52
PaCO2 38
HCO3 30 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
When we see that a HCO3 is low <22, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The kidney's are excreting too much HCO3
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.31
Questions with complete solutions
Acidosis - correct answer ✔✔Hypercapnia causes vasodilation increasing blood flow to the brian
PEEP - correct answer ✔✔Increases thoracic pressure, prevents optimal jugular venous outflow
Restraints - correct answer ✔✔Causes increased agitation
Fever - correct answer ✔✔Causes cerebral hyper metabolism
Hyperextension, flexion of the neck - correct answer ✔✔Prevents optimal jugular venous outflow
Low protein - correct answer ✔✔Decreases serum oncotic pressure, fluid displaces from vasculature into
cells
Alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔Hypocapnia causes vasoconstriction, decreases blood flow to the brain
Hypotonic solution - correct answer ✔✔Fluid moves from the vasculature into the cells
T/F: Hyperventilation is an acceptable method used to decrease ICP for patients - correct answer
✔✔False
T/F: Hypotonic fluids such as 0.45% NS or D5W would be an appropriate treatment for a patient with
increased ICP - correct answer ✔✔True
Which of the following are appropriate strategies to help lower ICP via decreasing blood volume? SATA
,1. positioning patient upright
2. mannitol
3. furosemide
4. place patient in trendelenburg
5. 3% saline
6. 0.45% NS
7. Place a ventriculostomy - correct answer ✔✔1. positioning patient upright
2. mannitol
3. furosemide
5. 3% saline
What of the following are LATE signs of increased ICP and impending herniation of the brain? SATA
1. SBP <90mmHg
2. bradycardia
3. kussmaul's breathing
4. RR of 15
5. increased SBP with widened pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔2. bradycardia
3. kussmaul's breathing
5. increased SBP with widened pulse pressure
How will the lungs compensate if for a patient in metabolic alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔The lungs will
decrease breathing rate/depth to retain CO2 to decrease the pH
How will the kidneys compensate if for a patient in respiratory acidosis - correct answer ✔✔The kidneys
will retain HCO3 and/or excrete H+ to increase the pH
How will the lungs compensate if for a patient in metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔The lungs will
increase breathing rate/depth to blow off more CO2 to increase the pH
,How will the kidneys compensate if for a patient in respiratory alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔The kidneys
will excrete HCO3 and/or retain H+ to decrease the pH
Extreme Anxiety - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Shock (lactic acid) - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Opioid overdose - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory acidosis
Severe pain - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Constant NGT suction - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Vomiting - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Initial response to hypoxia - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory alkalosis
Untreated CKD - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
DKA - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Antacid overdose - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Oversedation - correct answer ✔✔Resp acidosis
Thiazide/Loop diuretics - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic alkalosis
Brainstem injury inhibiting respiratory drive - correct answer ✔✔Respiratory acidosis
, High altitude - correct answer ✔✔Resp alkalosis
Diarrhea - correct answer ✔✔Metabolic acidosis
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.24
PaCO2 50
HCO3 25 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated resp acidosis
When we see that a PaCO2 is high >45, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The patient is breathing slow and/or shallow
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.49
PaCO2 30
HCO3 24 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated Respiratory Alkalosis
When we see that a PaCO2 is low <35, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The patient is breathing fast and/or deep.
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.52
PaCO2 38
HCO3 30 - correct answer ✔✔Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
When we see that a HCO3 is low <22, what is happening in the body to cause this? - correct answer
✔✔The kidney's are excreting too much HCO3
Interpret this ABG:
pH 7.31
