ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
Nociceptors differ from other nerve receptors in the body in that
they: -
correct answer ✅adapt very little to continual pain response
A postsurgical patient is on a ventilator in the critical care unit. The
patient has been tolerating the ventilator well and has not required
any sedation. On assessment, the nurse notes the patient is
tachycardic and hypertensive with an increased respiratory rate of
28 breaths/min. The patient has been suctioned recently via the
endotracheal tube, and the airway is clear. The patient responds
appropriately to the nurse's commands. The nurse should -
correct answer ✅assess the patient's level of pain.
The assessment of pain and anxiety is a continuous process. When
critically ill patients exhibit signs of anxiety, the nurse's first priority
is to -
correct answer ✅identify and treat the underlying cause.
Both the electroencephalogram (EEG) monitor and the Bispectral
Index Score (BIS) or Patient State Index (PSI) analyzer monitors are
used to assess patient sedation levels in critically ill patients. The
BIS and PSI monitors are simpler to use because they -
correct answer ✅provide raw EEG data and a numeric value.
,ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
The nurse is caring for a patient who requires administration of a
neuromuscular blocking agent to facilitate ventilation with
nontraditional modes. The nurse understands that neuromuscular
blocking agents provide: -
correct answer ✅no sedation or analgesia.
The patient is receiving neuromuscular blockade. Which nursing
assessment indicates a target level of paralysis? -
correct answer ✅Train-of-four yields two twitches
The nurse is concerned that the patient will pull out the
endotracheal tube. As part of the nursing management, the nurse
obtains an order for -
correct answer ✅soft wrist restraints.
The primary mode of action for neuromuscular blocking agents
used in the management of some ventilated patients is -
correct answer ✅paralysis.
The most important nursing intervention for patients who receive
neuromuscular blocking agents is to -
,ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
correct answer ✅administer sedatives in conjunction with the
neuromuscular blocking agents
The best way to monitor agitation and effectiveness of treating it in
the critically ill patient is to use a/the: -
correct answer ✅Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale.
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving intravenous ibuprofen for
pain management. The nurse recognizes which laboratory
assessment to be a possible side effect of the ibuprofen? -
correct answer ✅Creatinine: 3.1 mg/dL
The nurse is assessing pain levels in a critically ill patient using the
Behavioral Pain Scale. The nurse recognizes __________ as
indicating the greatest level of pain. -
correct answer ✅grimacing
The nurse wishes to assess the quality of a patient's pain. Which of
the following questions is appropriate to obtain this assessment if
the patient is able to give a verbal response? -
correct answer ✅"Is the pain sharp, dull, or crushing?"
, ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
The nurse is assessing the patient's pain using the Critical Care Pain
Observation Tool. Which of the following assessments would
indicate the greatest likelihood of pain and need for nursing
intervention? -
correct answer ✅Fighting the ventilator
The nurse is caring for four patients on the progressive care unit.
Which patient is at greatest risk for developing delirium? -
correct answer ✅86-year-old from nursing home with dementia,
postoperative from colon resection, still being
mechanically ventilated
The nurse is caring for a patient with hyperactive delirium. The
nurse focuses interventions toward keeping the patient: -
correct answer ✅safe
The nurse is caring for a critically ill trauma patient who is expected
to be hospitalized for an extended period. Which of the following
nursing interventions would improve the patient's well-being and
reduce anxiety the most? -
correct answer ✅Arrange for the patient's dog to be brought into
the unit (per protocol).
Answers 2026
Nociceptors differ from other nerve receptors in the body in that
they: -
correct answer ✅adapt very little to continual pain response
A postsurgical patient is on a ventilator in the critical care unit. The
patient has been tolerating the ventilator well and has not required
any sedation. On assessment, the nurse notes the patient is
tachycardic and hypertensive with an increased respiratory rate of
28 breaths/min. The patient has been suctioned recently via the
endotracheal tube, and the airway is clear. The patient responds
appropriately to the nurse's commands. The nurse should -
correct answer ✅assess the patient's level of pain.
The assessment of pain and anxiety is a continuous process. When
critically ill patients exhibit signs of anxiety, the nurse's first priority
is to -
correct answer ✅identify and treat the underlying cause.
Both the electroencephalogram (EEG) monitor and the Bispectral
Index Score (BIS) or Patient State Index (PSI) analyzer monitors are
used to assess patient sedation levels in critically ill patients. The
BIS and PSI monitors are simpler to use because they -
correct answer ✅provide raw EEG data and a numeric value.
,ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
The nurse is caring for a patient who requires administration of a
neuromuscular blocking agent to facilitate ventilation with
nontraditional modes. The nurse understands that neuromuscular
blocking agents provide: -
correct answer ✅no sedation or analgesia.
The patient is receiving neuromuscular blockade. Which nursing
assessment indicates a target level of paralysis? -
correct answer ✅Train-of-four yields two twitches
The nurse is concerned that the patient will pull out the
endotracheal tube. As part of the nursing management, the nurse
obtains an order for -
correct answer ✅soft wrist restraints.
The primary mode of action for neuromuscular blocking agents
used in the management of some ventilated patients is -
correct answer ✅paralysis.
The most important nursing intervention for patients who receive
neuromuscular blocking agents is to -
,ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
correct answer ✅administer sedatives in conjunction with the
neuromuscular blocking agents
The best way to monitor agitation and effectiveness of treating it in
the critically ill patient is to use a/the: -
correct answer ✅Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale.
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving intravenous ibuprofen for
pain management. The nurse recognizes which laboratory
assessment to be a possible side effect of the ibuprofen? -
correct answer ✅Creatinine: 3.1 mg/dL
The nurse is assessing pain levels in a critically ill patient using the
Behavioral Pain Scale. The nurse recognizes __________ as
indicating the greatest level of pain. -
correct answer ✅grimacing
The nurse wishes to assess the quality of a patient's pain. Which of
the following questions is appropriate to obtain this assessment if
the patient is able to give a verbal response? -
correct answer ✅"Is the pain sharp, dull, or crushing?"
, ICU Exam 1 Actual Questions and
Answers 2026
The nurse is assessing the patient's pain using the Critical Care Pain
Observation Tool. Which of the following assessments would
indicate the greatest likelihood of pain and need for nursing
intervention? -
correct answer ✅Fighting the ventilator
The nurse is caring for four patients on the progressive care unit.
Which patient is at greatest risk for developing delirium? -
correct answer ✅86-year-old from nursing home with dementia,
postoperative from colon resection, still being
mechanically ventilated
The nurse is caring for a patient with hyperactive delirium. The
nurse focuses interventions toward keeping the patient: -
correct answer ✅safe
The nurse is caring for a critically ill trauma patient who is expected
to be hospitalized for an extended period. Which of the following
nursing interventions would improve the patient's well-being and
reduce anxiety the most? -
correct answer ✅Arrange for the patient's dog to be brought into
the unit (per protocol).
