NUR 401 CRITICAL CARE 2025 FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Where can Central Venous Lines be inserted? Correct
Answer - subclavian vein
- internal jugular vein
- femoral vein
What are indications of Central Venous Lines? Correct
Answer - significant alteration in fluid volume status
- administration of caustic medications (vasopressors,
sedatives)
- central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring
- emergency venous access
- inability to obtain peripheral venous access
What are contraindications of Central Venous Lines?
Correct Answer - infection, previous surgery, or trauma at
insertion site
- coagulopathy issues
Which port do you use for CVP monitoring? Correct
Answer the brown port without a pressure cap
What are potential complications with central venous
lines? Correct Answer - pneumothorax during insertion
- air embolus
- bleeding
,- hematoma
- thrombus formation
- infection--> central line associated blood stream infection
(CLABSI)
What are some nursing managements that need to be
done for central venous lines? Correct Answer - ensure
initial line placement confirmed via chest x-ray
- assess CVP waveform, reading, and fluid volume status
q1h
- monitor alarms --> must remain on at all times
- monitor site for bleeding, hematoma, infection
- infection prevention
- flush ports routinely (per facility protocol) to maintain
patency
What are potential removal complications for central
venous lines? Correct Answer air embolus and bleeding
What supplies do you need to remove a central venous
line? Correct Answer clean gloves, sterile gauze, tape,
and suture removal kit
What removal steps of a central venous line do you need
to take to prevent an air embolus? Correct Answer -supine
position in bed
- HOB flat or Trendelenburg position if not contraindicated
- loosen tape while stabilizing the catheter
- cut and remove sutures
,- ASK CLIENT TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND HOLD IT
DURING REMOVAL TO RAISE INTRATHORACIC
PRESSURE
- remove catheter while client holding a deep breath
without applying pressure
- immediately apply dressing and secure with foam tape
(occlusive)
- hold pressure and assess for bleeding
- inspect catheter tip to ensure intact
- discard flush system and transducer setup
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's red/pink balloon
port, and where is it located? Correct Answer - 1 cm from
tip
- it is used to determine pulmonary artery occlusive
"wedge" pressure
- 1.5 mL special syringe is connected (ALWAYS remove
air after use)
- When the balloon is inflated the catheter "wedges" in the
PA, which senses left atrial pressure and left ventricular
end diastolic pressure (LVEDP)
- must be measured at end of expiration, never inflate
longer than 10-15 seconds
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's white/clear port and
what is it used for? Correct Answer it is an infusion port
used for fluid infusion
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's yellow port and
where is it located? Correct Answer it is the distal port
, located at the tip and is used to measure pulmonary artery
pressure and information about left heart
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's blue port and where
is it located? Correct Answer it is the proximal port 30 cm
from tip and is used to measure CVP/RA pressure and
injectate port for measurement of CO
What does the thermistor that connects to the pulmonary
artery catheter? Correct Answer It measures core body
temperature and temp changes in relation to CO
Where can a pulmonary artery catheter be inserted?
Correct Answer subclavian and internal jugular veins
(femoral site mostly used in cath lab)
What are indications of using a pulmonary artery catheter?
Correct Answer - any deficit or loss of cardiac function:
AMI, CHF, cardiomyopathy
- all types of shock
- multiorgan failure
- assess volume status
- pulmonary hypertension
- open heart surgery
What are contraindications of using a pulmonary artery
catheter? Correct Answer - endocarditis
- tricuspid or pulmonary valve prosthesis or vegetation
- coagulopathy issues
- infection, previous surgery, or trauma at insertion site
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Where can Central Venous Lines be inserted? Correct
Answer - subclavian vein
- internal jugular vein
- femoral vein
What are indications of Central Venous Lines? Correct
Answer - significant alteration in fluid volume status
- administration of caustic medications (vasopressors,
sedatives)
- central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring
- emergency venous access
- inability to obtain peripheral venous access
What are contraindications of Central Venous Lines?
Correct Answer - infection, previous surgery, or trauma at
insertion site
- coagulopathy issues
Which port do you use for CVP monitoring? Correct
Answer the brown port without a pressure cap
What are potential complications with central venous
lines? Correct Answer - pneumothorax during insertion
- air embolus
- bleeding
,- hematoma
- thrombus formation
- infection--> central line associated blood stream infection
(CLABSI)
What are some nursing managements that need to be
done for central venous lines? Correct Answer - ensure
initial line placement confirmed via chest x-ray
- assess CVP waveform, reading, and fluid volume status
q1h
- monitor alarms --> must remain on at all times
- monitor site for bleeding, hematoma, infection
- infection prevention
- flush ports routinely (per facility protocol) to maintain
patency
What are potential removal complications for central
venous lines? Correct Answer air embolus and bleeding
What supplies do you need to remove a central venous
line? Correct Answer clean gloves, sterile gauze, tape,
and suture removal kit
What removal steps of a central venous line do you need
to take to prevent an air embolus? Correct Answer -supine
position in bed
- HOB flat or Trendelenburg position if not contraindicated
- loosen tape while stabilizing the catheter
- cut and remove sutures
,- ASK CLIENT TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND HOLD IT
DURING REMOVAL TO RAISE INTRATHORACIC
PRESSURE
- remove catheter while client holding a deep breath
without applying pressure
- immediately apply dressing and secure with foam tape
(occlusive)
- hold pressure and assess for bleeding
- inspect catheter tip to ensure intact
- discard flush system and transducer setup
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's red/pink balloon
port, and where is it located? Correct Answer - 1 cm from
tip
- it is used to determine pulmonary artery occlusive
"wedge" pressure
- 1.5 mL special syringe is connected (ALWAYS remove
air after use)
- When the balloon is inflated the catheter "wedges" in the
PA, which senses left atrial pressure and left ventricular
end diastolic pressure (LVEDP)
- must be measured at end of expiration, never inflate
longer than 10-15 seconds
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's white/clear port and
what is it used for? Correct Answer it is an infusion port
used for fluid infusion
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's yellow port and
where is it located? Correct Answer it is the distal port
, located at the tip and is used to measure pulmonary artery
pressure and information about left heart
What is a pulmonary artery catheter's blue port and where
is it located? Correct Answer it is the proximal port 30 cm
from tip and is used to measure CVP/RA pressure and
injectate port for measurement of CO
What does the thermistor that connects to the pulmonary
artery catheter? Correct Answer It measures core body
temperature and temp changes in relation to CO
Where can a pulmonary artery catheter be inserted?
Correct Answer subclavian and internal jugular veins
(femoral site mostly used in cath lab)
What are indications of using a pulmonary artery catheter?
Correct Answer - any deficit or loss of cardiac function:
AMI, CHF, cardiomyopathy
- all types of shock
- multiorgan failure
- assess volume status
- pulmonary hypertension
- open heart surgery
What are contraindications of using a pulmonary artery
catheter? Correct Answer - endocarditis
- tricuspid or pulmonary valve prosthesis or vegetation
- coagulopathy issues
- infection, previous surgery, or trauma at insertion site
