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