AACN practice test Exam Reviewed
Questions and Answers Latest 2025/2026
GRADED A
a nurse is caring for a patient admitted with myocardial ischemia. the patient has a
history of anxiety and hypothyroidism and is currently taking cyclic antidepressants.
the nurse observes a QT interval of 0.48 seconds and should monitor closely for -
CORRECT ANSWER-torsades
torsades is a ife threatening dysrhythmia often associated with a prolonged QT interval
and can result in sudden death.
a nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who is on mechanical ventilation,
receiving IV fluids, and enteral tube feedings. crackles and wheezing are heard in the
right lung fields with increased WOB. HR 124 is noted. the nurse should INITIALLY -
CORRECT ANSWER-verify the location of the feeding tube
the patients symptoms are consistent with aspiration PNA: cough, dyspnea, wheezing.
with fluid or solid object aspiration, there can be an abrupt onset of acute respiratory
distress. All interventions should be performed, but verifying feeding tube placement
will assist with diagnosis and expedite appropriate treatment
a nurse is preparing a patient with a tracheal perforation for surgery and notices
sudden hypotension, tachycardia, LOC and auscultates a loud machinery-like heart
murmur (mill wheel heart murmur). what should the nurse do initially? - CORRECT
ANSWER-place the patient in trendelenberg with left decubitus tilt
the patient with tracheal perforation has a high risk of air embolism and will suddenly
become hypotensive without bleeding. trendelenburg position will help the air float to
the left atrium and prevent a stroke.
, a patient is admitted complaining of crushing chest pain, which began 2 hours ago. an
ekg shows ST elevation in leads V2-V4 which is treated with a PCI procedure to the
LAD. following the procedure the patient develops oliguria and bilateral, diffuse
crackles. which hemodynamic findings should be expected at this point? - CORRECT
ANSWER-BP 80/50, CO 3.8, SVR 2200, PAP 40/24
the patient had an anterior infarction, which predisposes the development of LV
failure/cardiogenic shock. the hemodynamic data of BP 80/50, CO 3.8, SVR 2200, and
PAP 40/24 are consistent with LV failure/cardiogenic shock
a patient is admitted following aortic valve replacement. for which rhythm should the
nurse monitor for? - CORRECT ANSWER-second degree AV block type 2
following aortic valve replacement, patients may develop an AV block due to edema,
inflammation, hemorrhage, or suturing near node
a patient is admitted in respiratory distress after NSAID administration. breath sounds
and expiratory wheezes are no longer audible. the ABG results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 51,
PaO2 58, HCO3 23, SaO2 88%. Which is the MOST appropriate initial intervention -
CORRECT ANSWER-mechanically ventilate with prolonged expiration
for patients who are having an emergent exacerbation of asthma, management
focuses on support of oxygenation and ventilation. status asthmaticus results in
difficulty with expiration, and therefore, air trapping. respiratory acidosis is seen due to
decreased CO2 removal. a patient with no breath sounds is an emergency situation and
focus should be on assisting with ventilation. prolonged expiration will not only
increase oxygenation but can reverse the acidosis
a patient is admitted with chest heaviness, muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension
following a stab wound to the chest. for which should the nurse initially prepare the
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-echocardiogram
Questions and Answers Latest 2025/2026
GRADED A
a nurse is caring for a patient admitted with myocardial ischemia. the patient has a
history of anxiety and hypothyroidism and is currently taking cyclic antidepressants.
the nurse observes a QT interval of 0.48 seconds and should monitor closely for -
CORRECT ANSWER-torsades
torsades is a ife threatening dysrhythmia often associated with a prolonged QT interval
and can result in sudden death.
a nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who is on mechanical ventilation,
receiving IV fluids, and enteral tube feedings. crackles and wheezing are heard in the
right lung fields with increased WOB. HR 124 is noted. the nurse should INITIALLY -
CORRECT ANSWER-verify the location of the feeding tube
the patients symptoms are consistent with aspiration PNA: cough, dyspnea, wheezing.
with fluid or solid object aspiration, there can be an abrupt onset of acute respiratory
distress. All interventions should be performed, but verifying feeding tube placement
will assist with diagnosis and expedite appropriate treatment
a nurse is preparing a patient with a tracheal perforation for surgery and notices
sudden hypotension, tachycardia, LOC and auscultates a loud machinery-like heart
murmur (mill wheel heart murmur). what should the nurse do initially? - CORRECT
ANSWER-place the patient in trendelenberg with left decubitus tilt
the patient with tracheal perforation has a high risk of air embolism and will suddenly
become hypotensive without bleeding. trendelenburg position will help the air float to
the left atrium and prevent a stroke.
, a patient is admitted complaining of crushing chest pain, which began 2 hours ago. an
ekg shows ST elevation in leads V2-V4 which is treated with a PCI procedure to the
LAD. following the procedure the patient develops oliguria and bilateral, diffuse
crackles. which hemodynamic findings should be expected at this point? - CORRECT
ANSWER-BP 80/50, CO 3.8, SVR 2200, PAP 40/24
the patient had an anterior infarction, which predisposes the development of LV
failure/cardiogenic shock. the hemodynamic data of BP 80/50, CO 3.8, SVR 2200, and
PAP 40/24 are consistent with LV failure/cardiogenic shock
a patient is admitted following aortic valve replacement. for which rhythm should the
nurse monitor for? - CORRECT ANSWER-second degree AV block type 2
following aortic valve replacement, patients may develop an AV block due to edema,
inflammation, hemorrhage, or suturing near node
a patient is admitted in respiratory distress after NSAID administration. breath sounds
and expiratory wheezes are no longer audible. the ABG results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 51,
PaO2 58, HCO3 23, SaO2 88%. Which is the MOST appropriate initial intervention -
CORRECT ANSWER-mechanically ventilate with prolonged expiration
for patients who are having an emergent exacerbation of asthma, management
focuses on support of oxygenation and ventilation. status asthmaticus results in
difficulty with expiration, and therefore, air trapping. respiratory acidosis is seen due to
decreased CO2 removal. a patient with no breath sounds is an emergency situation and
focus should be on assisting with ventilation. prolonged expiration will not only
increase oxygenation but can reverse the acidosis
a patient is admitted with chest heaviness, muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension
following a stab wound to the chest. for which should the nurse initially prepare the
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-echocardiogram
