Surgical ICU UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
What is the nurse to patient ratio in the ICU? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1:2, with nursing
care needed every hour on the hour
Who is the primary care provider when the patient enters a closed ICU? - CORRECT
ANSWER - the ICU staff
What procedures can occur bedside in the ICU? - CORRECT ANSWER - most all,
bronch, central lines
Where can central lines be placed? - CORRECT ANSWER - subclavian, internal jugular,
and femoral
Of the these sites, which is more prone to infections and why? - CORRECT ANSWER -
the femoral site bc the groin is dark moist and grows stuff so typically don't leave it more than 24
hours
What are central lines made of and what size and type are mostly used? - CORRECT
ANSWER - polyurethane, 7 french, triple lumen
What does PIC stand for and what is it made of? - CORRECT ANSWER - peripheral
inserted catheter, made of silicone
Why is heparin preferred for anticoagulation? - CORRECT ANSWER - bc it is short
acting and reversible
What is the MOA of heparin?? - CORRECT ANSWER - inhibition of platelets, binds to
antithrombin II which then inactivates thrombin and other proteases involved in blood clotting,
most notably factor Xa.
, What reverses heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - Protamine Sulfate
What is the route and dose typically administered of heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER -
subQ injections 5000 units every 8 hours for prophylaxis
What lab would you use to guide treatment with heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - PTT-
not the PT/INR!!
What is not typically given as an anticoagulant to patients that have a risk for bleeding or renal
failure, even though it is easier than heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lovenox
Besides heparin and lovenox, what are other common anticoagulants? - CORRECT
ANSWER - aspirin, plavix, and warfarin
What GI risk are patients in the ICU prone to? - CORRECT ANSWER - stress ulcers, they
are NPO and so the acid is more concentrated, give Pepcid or PPI by I V, risk decreases once
they start eating
Why can a PIC stay in longer? - CORRECT ANSWER - bc they travel longer before
reaching a central vessel, thick fluids may be harder to push through for this reason and they are
more likely to clot
What does a PIC have for multiple meds? - CORRECT ANSWER - multiple ports
What are some uses for PIC lines? - CORRECT ANSWER - for large volume infusions, to
give caustic or irritating meds like TPN
What can lead o subclavian stenosis due to occlusion from large caliber tube? - CORRECT
ANSWER - dialysis with large caliber tube
and CORRECT Answers
What is the nurse to patient ratio in the ICU? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1:2, with nursing
care needed every hour on the hour
Who is the primary care provider when the patient enters a closed ICU? - CORRECT
ANSWER - the ICU staff
What procedures can occur bedside in the ICU? - CORRECT ANSWER - most all,
bronch, central lines
Where can central lines be placed? - CORRECT ANSWER - subclavian, internal jugular,
and femoral
Of the these sites, which is more prone to infections and why? - CORRECT ANSWER -
the femoral site bc the groin is dark moist and grows stuff so typically don't leave it more than 24
hours
What are central lines made of and what size and type are mostly used? - CORRECT
ANSWER - polyurethane, 7 french, triple lumen
What does PIC stand for and what is it made of? - CORRECT ANSWER - peripheral
inserted catheter, made of silicone
Why is heparin preferred for anticoagulation? - CORRECT ANSWER - bc it is short
acting and reversible
What is the MOA of heparin?? - CORRECT ANSWER - inhibition of platelets, binds to
antithrombin II which then inactivates thrombin and other proteases involved in blood clotting,
most notably factor Xa.
, What reverses heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - Protamine Sulfate
What is the route and dose typically administered of heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER -
subQ injections 5000 units every 8 hours for prophylaxis
What lab would you use to guide treatment with heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - PTT-
not the PT/INR!!
What is not typically given as an anticoagulant to patients that have a risk for bleeding or renal
failure, even though it is easier than heparin? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lovenox
Besides heparin and lovenox, what are other common anticoagulants? - CORRECT
ANSWER - aspirin, plavix, and warfarin
What GI risk are patients in the ICU prone to? - CORRECT ANSWER - stress ulcers, they
are NPO and so the acid is more concentrated, give Pepcid or PPI by I V, risk decreases once
they start eating
Why can a PIC stay in longer? - CORRECT ANSWER - bc they travel longer before
reaching a central vessel, thick fluids may be harder to push through for this reason and they are
more likely to clot
What does a PIC have for multiple meds? - CORRECT ANSWER - multiple ports
What are some uses for PIC lines? - CORRECT ANSWER - for large volume infusions, to
give caustic or irritating meds like TPN
What can lead o subclavian stenosis due to occlusion from large caliber tube? - CORRECT
ANSWER - dialysis with large caliber tube
