NUR 425 Critical Care Exam 2 Keown ASU Fall 2026
BP→ 120/80
HR→ 60-100
Normal vital signs in adults RR→ 12-20
Temp→ 36.5-37.5
O2→ > 95%
Normal MAP in adults 70-105 mmHg
Normal PEEP setting (usually 5cmH20- PEEP is set to 5 no matter what
anything higher than 10cmH20 is
considered "high")
-High ICP> 20>5 mins
ICP (and be able to define increased ICP)
-Normal→ 5-15 mmHg
MAP-ICP=CPP
CPP (be able to calculate CPP)
Normal CPP→ 60-100 mmHg
PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than 200 mmHg is ARDS (300-200 mild; 200-100 moderate; <100 severe)
SaO2 >95%
PaO2→ 80-100 mmHg
PaCO2→ 35-45 mmHg
ABG values
HCO3→ 22-26 mEq/L
pH→ 7.35-7.45
Tidal Volume every breath a person takes and how much volume of air they are inspiring
Apnea absence of breathing
completely irregular with some breaths deep and some shallow; random, irregular
pauses, slow rate
Ataxic breathing
s/s of neuro issue
, cycles of hyperventilation and apnea
Cheyne stokes
s/s of cardio and/or neuro issue
sustained, regular rapid and deep breathing
Kussmaul breathing (CNS Hyperventilation)
s/s of metabolic acidosis
-Lower BP
-Causes hypokalemia
Thiazide Diuretics (effect on ABGs) -Reduces preload
-Assess BP, BMP, BUN/Cr
-Metabolic alkalosis
-Corrects acidotic states
Sodium Bicarbonate (effect on ABGs) -Adv rxns: tetany, seizures, cardiac arrest, alkalotic states
-Assess RR, HR, rhythm and depth, lung sounds
-Dec inflamm and cap perm
Corticosteroids (the general drug category -Adv rxns: ecchymosis, atrophy, skin thinning
& their use for respiratory and ICP issues) -Watch for hyperglycemia in DM pts
-Assess: VS, BMP, I&O
-Inc BP and CO in shock states or HOTN states
Norepinephrine -Adv rxns: anaphylaxis, cerebral hemorrhage, necrosis, headache, N/V
-Assess I&O, BP, ECG
-Osmotic diuretic for ICP
-PIV or CL (must have filter)
-Osmolarity 6 hr labs, essentially tells kidneys to get rid of all water in the body
Mannitol -Can cross the blood-brain barrier (not as much data to support this unless it is an
emergent situation)
-Adv rxns: tachycardia, HF, N/V
-Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP (hypokalemia)
-Hypertonic solution for cerebral edema
-3% cont or intermittent PIV;
-Supposed to pull fluid from brain in theory,
3% NaCl
-Q6 sodium levels (more data to support this intervention for ICP and is more often
seen)
-Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP (hypokalemia)
-Hypotonic solution
0.45% NaCl ("1/2 normal saline") -Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP
-Used for hypovolemia and hypernatremia
-Opioid analgesic
-Watch for respiratory depression
Fentanyl
-Has sedative effects
-Assess VS, I&O, BP, BUN/Cr, RR
-Skeletal muscle relaxant
-Adv rxns: apnea, bronchospasm, respiratory depression, anaphylaxis
Pancuronium
-TOF test
-Assess: neuro, BMP, VS, I&O
-Beta-blocker
-Watch for bradycardia, bronchospasms, cardiac arrest
Metoprolol (effect on MAP and CPP)
-Dec MAP & therefore CPP→ dec in HR and CO
-Assess: BP, VS, angina
BP→ 120/80
HR→ 60-100
Normal vital signs in adults RR→ 12-20
Temp→ 36.5-37.5
O2→ > 95%
Normal MAP in adults 70-105 mmHg
Normal PEEP setting (usually 5cmH20- PEEP is set to 5 no matter what
anything higher than 10cmH20 is
considered "high")
-High ICP> 20>5 mins
ICP (and be able to define increased ICP)
-Normal→ 5-15 mmHg
MAP-ICP=CPP
CPP (be able to calculate CPP)
Normal CPP→ 60-100 mmHg
PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than 200 mmHg is ARDS (300-200 mild; 200-100 moderate; <100 severe)
SaO2 >95%
PaO2→ 80-100 mmHg
PaCO2→ 35-45 mmHg
ABG values
HCO3→ 22-26 mEq/L
pH→ 7.35-7.45
Tidal Volume every breath a person takes and how much volume of air they are inspiring
Apnea absence of breathing
completely irregular with some breaths deep and some shallow; random, irregular
pauses, slow rate
Ataxic breathing
s/s of neuro issue
, cycles of hyperventilation and apnea
Cheyne stokes
s/s of cardio and/or neuro issue
sustained, regular rapid and deep breathing
Kussmaul breathing (CNS Hyperventilation)
s/s of metabolic acidosis
-Lower BP
-Causes hypokalemia
Thiazide Diuretics (effect on ABGs) -Reduces preload
-Assess BP, BMP, BUN/Cr
-Metabolic alkalosis
-Corrects acidotic states
Sodium Bicarbonate (effect on ABGs) -Adv rxns: tetany, seizures, cardiac arrest, alkalotic states
-Assess RR, HR, rhythm and depth, lung sounds
-Dec inflamm and cap perm
Corticosteroids (the general drug category -Adv rxns: ecchymosis, atrophy, skin thinning
& their use for respiratory and ICP issues) -Watch for hyperglycemia in DM pts
-Assess: VS, BMP, I&O
-Inc BP and CO in shock states or HOTN states
Norepinephrine -Adv rxns: anaphylaxis, cerebral hemorrhage, necrosis, headache, N/V
-Assess I&O, BP, ECG
-Osmotic diuretic for ICP
-PIV or CL (must have filter)
-Osmolarity 6 hr labs, essentially tells kidneys to get rid of all water in the body
Mannitol -Can cross the blood-brain barrier (not as much data to support this unless it is an
emergent situation)
-Adv rxns: tachycardia, HF, N/V
-Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP (hypokalemia)
-Hypertonic solution for cerebral edema
-3% cont or intermittent PIV;
-Supposed to pull fluid from brain in theory,
3% NaCl
-Q6 sodium levels (more data to support this intervention for ICP and is more often
seen)
-Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP (hypokalemia)
-Hypotonic solution
0.45% NaCl ("1/2 normal saline") -Assess: I&O, VS, BP, BUN/Cr, BMP
-Used for hypovolemia and hypernatremia
-Opioid analgesic
-Watch for respiratory depression
Fentanyl
-Has sedative effects
-Assess VS, I&O, BP, BUN/Cr, RR
-Skeletal muscle relaxant
-Adv rxns: apnea, bronchospasm, respiratory depression, anaphylaxis
Pancuronium
-TOF test
-Assess: neuro, BMP, VS, I&O
-Beta-blocker
-Watch for bradycardia, bronchospasms, cardiac arrest
Metoprolol (effect on MAP and CPP)
-Dec MAP & therefore CPP→ dec in HR and CO
-Assess: BP, VS, angina
