Practice Questions Exam 1 with
Accurate Answers
. A patient is admitted with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The
patient has been intubated and is mechanically ventilated. The patient is
becoming increasingly agitated, and the high-pressure alarm on the ventilator has
been frequently triggered. What action should be the nurse take first?
A. Administer midazolam 5 mg by intravenous push immediately.
B. Assess the patient to see if a physiologic reason exists for his agitation.
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas level to ensure the patient is not hypoxemic.
D. Apply soft wrist restraints to keep him from pulling out the endotracheal tube.
correct answer B. Assess the patient to see if a physiologic reason exists for his
agitation.
. A patient was admitted 5 days ago and has just been weaned from mechanical
ventilation. The patient suddenly becomes confused, seeing nonexistent animals
in the room and pulling at the bedding. What parameter should be monitored
while the patient is haloperidol?
A. Sedation level
B. QTc-interval
C. Oxygen saturation level
D. Brain waves correct answer B. QTc-interval
. A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. After a family
conference, the practitioner writes a DNR order, and palliative care is begun. How
does this affect the patient's treatment?
,A. The patient will continue to receive the same aggressive treatment short of
resuscitation if he has another cardiac arrest.
B. All treatment will be stopped, and the patient will be allowed to die.
C. All attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging
his life.
D. The patient will be immediately transferred to hospice. correct answer C. All
attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging his
life.
. A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. The patient is placed
on a morphine drip to alleviate suspected operative pain and assist in sedation.
The patient continues to grimace and fight the ventilator. What nursing
intervention would be appropriate?
A. Increase the morphine dosage until no signs of pain or discomfort are present.
B. Increase the morphine drip, but if the patient's respiratory rate drops below 10
breaths/min, return to the original dosage.
C. Gradually decrease the morphine and switch to Versed to avoid respiratory
depression.
D. Ask the family to leave the room because their presence is causing undue
stress to the patient. correct answer A. Increase the morphine dosage until no
signs of pain or discomfort are present.
. The patient is sedated and breathing with the use of mechanical ventilation. The
patient is unable to communicate any aspects of his pain to the nurse. What tool
should the nurse use to assess the patient's pain?
A. FLACC
,B. Wong-Baker FACES
C. BIS
D. BPS correct answer D. BPS
. To achieve ventilator synchrony in a mechanically ventilated patient with acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which level of sedation might be most
effective?
A. Light
B. Moderate
C. Conscious
D. Deep correct answer D. Deep
. What are the risk factors for delirium?
A. Hypertension, alcohol abuse, and benzodiazepine administration
B. Coma, hypoxemia, and trauma
C. Dementia, hypertension, and pneumonia
D. Coma, alcohol abuse, and hyperglycemia correct answer A. Hypertension,
alcohol abuse, and benzodiazepine administration
. Which form is considered medical orders and is honored across all treatment
settings and are especially important to emergency responders in the
community?
A. POLST
B. Living will
C. Last wishes
D. Health care power of attorney correct answer A. POLST
, 1. A 79-year-old patient received a liver transplant 3 days ago. The patient is
extubated and hemodynamically stable. His spouse is coming for a visit, and the
nurse has some time to discuss immune suppression drug therapy with both of
them. The patient is hearing and sight impaired. The spouse brought the patient's
hearing aids 2 days ago and will bring the patient's glasses today. Which of the
following teaching strategies would be least effective in the critical care unit
setting?
a. Patient education channel
b. Written materials
c. Lecture
d. Discussion correct answer c. Lecture
1. A lack of true understanding can often be misread by the nurse as
noncompliance. Which of the following statements demonstrate effective
questioning methods to assess a patient's understanding?
a. "Do you take your heart medication every morning?"
b. "Can you tell me what you know about your different heart medications?"
c. "Do you take all of your medications?"
d. "Do you ever miss taking your medication?" correct answer b. "Can you tell me
what you know about your different heart medications?"
1. A mechanically ventilated patient is being weaned off sedation. The patient
begins to wake up and becomes increasingly agitated, pulling at the gown,
kicking, and grimacing. What action should the nurse take next?
a. Administer additional sedation until the patient stops kicking
b. Initiate wrist restraints to prevent the patient from pulling
c. Tell the patient to stop moving around to avoid accidental extubation
Accurate Answers
. A patient is admitted with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The
patient has been intubated and is mechanically ventilated. The patient is
becoming increasingly agitated, and the high-pressure alarm on the ventilator has
been frequently triggered. What action should be the nurse take first?
A. Administer midazolam 5 mg by intravenous push immediately.
B. Assess the patient to see if a physiologic reason exists for his agitation.
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas level to ensure the patient is not hypoxemic.
D. Apply soft wrist restraints to keep him from pulling out the endotracheal tube.
correct answer B. Assess the patient to see if a physiologic reason exists for his
agitation.
. A patient was admitted 5 days ago and has just been weaned from mechanical
ventilation. The patient suddenly becomes confused, seeing nonexistent animals
in the room and pulling at the bedding. What parameter should be monitored
while the patient is haloperidol?
A. Sedation level
B. QTc-interval
C. Oxygen saturation level
D. Brain waves correct answer B. QTc-interval
. A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. After a family
conference, the practitioner writes a DNR order, and palliative care is begun. How
does this affect the patient's treatment?
,A. The patient will continue to receive the same aggressive treatment short of
resuscitation if he has another cardiac arrest.
B. All treatment will be stopped, and the patient will be allowed to die.
C. All attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging
his life.
D. The patient will be immediately transferred to hospice. correct answer C. All
attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging his
life.
. A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. The patient is placed
on a morphine drip to alleviate suspected operative pain and assist in sedation.
The patient continues to grimace and fight the ventilator. What nursing
intervention would be appropriate?
A. Increase the morphine dosage until no signs of pain or discomfort are present.
B. Increase the morphine drip, but if the patient's respiratory rate drops below 10
breaths/min, return to the original dosage.
C. Gradually decrease the morphine and switch to Versed to avoid respiratory
depression.
D. Ask the family to leave the room because their presence is causing undue
stress to the patient. correct answer A. Increase the morphine dosage until no
signs of pain or discomfort are present.
. The patient is sedated and breathing with the use of mechanical ventilation. The
patient is unable to communicate any aspects of his pain to the nurse. What tool
should the nurse use to assess the patient's pain?
A. FLACC
,B. Wong-Baker FACES
C. BIS
D. BPS correct answer D. BPS
. To achieve ventilator synchrony in a mechanically ventilated patient with acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which level of sedation might be most
effective?
A. Light
B. Moderate
C. Conscious
D. Deep correct answer D. Deep
. What are the risk factors for delirium?
A. Hypertension, alcohol abuse, and benzodiazepine administration
B. Coma, hypoxemia, and trauma
C. Dementia, hypertension, and pneumonia
D. Coma, alcohol abuse, and hyperglycemia correct answer A. Hypertension,
alcohol abuse, and benzodiazepine administration
. Which form is considered medical orders and is honored across all treatment
settings and are especially important to emergency responders in the
community?
A. POLST
B. Living will
C. Last wishes
D. Health care power of attorney correct answer A. POLST
, 1. A 79-year-old patient received a liver transplant 3 days ago. The patient is
extubated and hemodynamically stable. His spouse is coming for a visit, and the
nurse has some time to discuss immune suppression drug therapy with both of
them. The patient is hearing and sight impaired. The spouse brought the patient's
hearing aids 2 days ago and will bring the patient's glasses today. Which of the
following teaching strategies would be least effective in the critical care unit
setting?
a. Patient education channel
b. Written materials
c. Lecture
d. Discussion correct answer c. Lecture
1. A lack of true understanding can often be misread by the nurse as
noncompliance. Which of the following statements demonstrate effective
questioning methods to assess a patient's understanding?
a. "Do you take your heart medication every morning?"
b. "Can you tell me what you know about your different heart medications?"
c. "Do you take all of your medications?"
d. "Do you ever miss taking your medication?" correct answer b. "Can you tell me
what you know about your different heart medications?"
1. A mechanically ventilated patient is being weaned off sedation. The patient
begins to wake up and becomes increasingly agitated, pulling at the gown,
kicking, and grimacing. What action should the nurse take next?
a. Administer additional sedation until the patient stops kicking
b. Initiate wrist restraints to prevent the patient from pulling
c. Tell the patient to stop moving around to avoid accidental extubation
