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HESI CRITICAL CARE PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 |
CRITICAL CARE NURSING | 50 VERIFIED Q&A |
DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED | PASS
GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
Q1: Hemodynamic Monitoring – Pulmonary Artery Diastolic Pressure
A nurse is monitoring a client's pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP). The nurse understands
that PADP is most useful for estimating:
A. Right atrial pressure
B. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
C. Pulmonary vascular resistance
D. Systemic vascular resistance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PADP closely approximates left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left
ventricular preload when there is no pulmonary hypertension or mitral valve disease. Normal PADP
is 8–15 mmHg. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Hemodynamic Monitoring – Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation
A client has an SvO₂ of 75%. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Normal
B. Decreased oxygen delivery
C. Increased oxygen extraction
D. Tissue hypoxia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal SvO₂ is 60–80%. SvO₂ 75% indicates adequate balance between oxygen delivery
and consumption. Values <60% indicate inadequate oxygen delivery or increased extraction. [100%
CORRECT]
Q3: Shock – Compensated Shock
A client has a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg, heart rate of 118 bpm, and cool extremities. The
nurse recognizes this as:
A. Compensated shock
B. Decompensated shock
C. Irreversible shock
D. Normal finding
Correct Answer: A
, 2
Rationale: Compensated shock: vital organs maintain perfusion through compensatory mechanisms
(tachycardia, vasoconstriction). Blood pressure may remain normal initially. Cool extremities indicate
peripheral vasoconstriction. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Shock – Decompensated Shock
A client has a blood pressure of 82/48 mmHg, heart rate of 132 bpm, and altered mental status. The
nurse recognizes this as:
A. Compensated shock
B. Decompensated shock
C. Irreversible shock
D. Normal finding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decompensated shock: compensatory mechanisms fail, leading to hypotension,
tachycardia, altered mental status, and organ hypoperfusion. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Shock – Septic Shock – Early vs. Late
A client with septic shock in the early stage ("warm shock") typically presents with:
A. Cool, clammy extremities
B. Warm, flushed extremities and bounding pulses
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early septic shock: warm, flushed skin, bounding pulses, tachycardia, and normal or low
blood pressure. Late septic shock: cool, clammy extremities, hypotension. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Shock – Cardiogenic Shock – Hemodynamic Profile
A client with cardiogenic shock would have which hemodynamic profile?
A. Low CVP, low PAWP, high CO
B. High CVP, high PAWP, low CO
C. Low CVP, high PAWP, high CO
D. High CVP, low PAWP, high CO
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock: increased CVP and PAWP (fluid backs up), decreased cardiac output,
and increased SVR (compensatory vasoconstriction). [100% CORRECT]
Q7: Shock – Hypovolemic Shock – Hemodynamic Profile
HESI CRITICAL CARE PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 |
CRITICAL CARE NURSING | 50 VERIFIED Q&A |
DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED | PASS
GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
Q1: Hemodynamic Monitoring – Pulmonary Artery Diastolic Pressure
A nurse is monitoring a client's pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP). The nurse understands
that PADP is most useful for estimating:
A. Right atrial pressure
B. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
C. Pulmonary vascular resistance
D. Systemic vascular resistance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PADP closely approximates left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left
ventricular preload when there is no pulmonary hypertension or mitral valve disease. Normal PADP
is 8–15 mmHg. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Hemodynamic Monitoring – Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation
A client has an SvO₂ of 75%. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Normal
B. Decreased oxygen delivery
C. Increased oxygen extraction
D. Tissue hypoxia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal SvO₂ is 60–80%. SvO₂ 75% indicates adequate balance between oxygen delivery
and consumption. Values <60% indicate inadequate oxygen delivery or increased extraction. [100%
CORRECT]
Q3: Shock – Compensated Shock
A client has a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg, heart rate of 118 bpm, and cool extremities. The
nurse recognizes this as:
A. Compensated shock
B. Decompensated shock
C. Irreversible shock
D. Normal finding
Correct Answer: A
, 2
Rationale: Compensated shock: vital organs maintain perfusion through compensatory mechanisms
(tachycardia, vasoconstriction). Blood pressure may remain normal initially. Cool extremities indicate
peripheral vasoconstriction. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Shock – Decompensated Shock
A client has a blood pressure of 82/48 mmHg, heart rate of 132 bpm, and altered mental status. The
nurse recognizes this as:
A. Compensated shock
B. Decompensated shock
C. Irreversible shock
D. Normal finding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decompensated shock: compensatory mechanisms fail, leading to hypotension,
tachycardia, altered mental status, and organ hypoperfusion. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Shock – Septic Shock – Early vs. Late
A client with septic shock in the early stage ("warm shock") typically presents with:
A. Cool, clammy extremities
B. Warm, flushed extremities and bounding pulses
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early septic shock: warm, flushed skin, bounding pulses, tachycardia, and normal or low
blood pressure. Late septic shock: cool, clammy extremities, hypotension. [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Shock – Cardiogenic Shock – Hemodynamic Profile
A client with cardiogenic shock would have which hemodynamic profile?
A. Low CVP, low PAWP, high CO
B. High CVP, high PAWP, low CO
C. Low CVP, high PAWP, high CO
D. High CVP, low PAWP, high CO
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock: increased CVP and PAWP (fluid backs up), decreased cardiac output,
and increased SVR (compensatory vasoconstriction). [100% CORRECT]
Q7: Shock – Hypovolemic Shock – Hemodynamic Profile
