CRITICAL CARE RN HESI EXIT
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTION
SET WITH CORRECT DETAILED SOLUTIONS
⩥ Late Stages of Septic Shock. Answer: -Cold, Hypodynamic
-Pulses are weak and thready
-Hypotension
-Narrow pulse pressures
-Skin is cool, pale, mottled
-Bradypnea or tachypnea
-Anuria
-Hypothermia
-Decreased level of consciousness (coma)
-Decreased cardiac output, cardiac index, and SVO2
-Metabolic acidosis with hypoxemia
-Increased PT and PTT
-Low platelets, WBC, glucose
-Increased BUN and creatinine
-Increased serum lactate
-Increased amylase, lipase
,⩥ what does cardioversion treat?. Answer: atrial dysrhythmias
⩥ what else can cardioversion treat?. Answer: V-tach where the patient
has a pulse
⩥ whats one of the main differences between use of cardioversion and
use of defibrillation?. Answer: carioversion is used for patients who have
a pulse
⩥ what is cardioversion?. Answer: the delivery of synchronized
electrical shocks to the myocardium
⩥ What about patients with A-fib or A-flutter who need cardioversion?.
Answer: the patient must be on anticoagulant therapy for 6-8 weeks
before we can do elective cardioversion on them
⩥ who is encouraged to get an ICD?. Answer: patients who are post-
cardiac arrest/sudden death
⩥ what does the ICD do?. Answer: it delivers a shock when the patient's
heart goes into v-tach or v-fib (shockable rhythm). it's purpose is to
detect life-threatening arrhythmias and defibrillate
⩥ how to deactivate an ICD. Answer: place a magnet over it
,⩥ post op ICD complications. Answer: dysrhythmias, bleeding, cardiac
tamponade
⩥ what should patients continue to use after implantation of ICD?.
Answer: they should continue to take their anti-dysrhythmia medications
⩥ what should ICD patients do if they experience a shock?. Answer:
they should lie down and contact the physician immediately
⩥ what should ICD patient's carry after discharge?. Answer: medic-alert
bracelet
⩥ MODS. Answer: progressive dysfunction of 2 or more organ systems
as a result of uncontrolled inflammatory response to severe illness or
injury
⩥ which organs are most severely affected by MODS?. Answer: lungs,
kidneys, splanchnic bed, liver
there is a maldistribution (could be too much in one organ and too little
in another)
, ⩥ what is cell damage caused by in MODS. Answer: massive release of
toxic metabolites (widespread inflammation)
⩥ manifestations of MODS. Answer: rapid loss of consciousness (lack
of oxygenated blood to the brain)
non-palpable pulse (decreased cardiac output or extreme vasodilation)
cold, dusky extremities (lack of O2 to the tissues)
slow and shallow breaths (lack of oxygen to diaphragm so it's not
working)
unmeasurable O2 sat (very little oxygen in the extremities)
⩥ Primary injury to the heart. Answer: If the initial injury is in the heart,
blood will back up and sit in other organs such as the lungs. this will
cause lack of gas exchange. (progressive dysfunction of organs)
⩥ What organ is usually the first to be affected?. Answer: the lungs.
people with respiratory problems have a high chance of developing
MODS.
⩥ what is the goal level of ICP. Answer: goal is to keep ICP less than 20
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTION
SET WITH CORRECT DETAILED SOLUTIONS
⩥ Late Stages of Septic Shock. Answer: -Cold, Hypodynamic
-Pulses are weak and thready
-Hypotension
-Narrow pulse pressures
-Skin is cool, pale, mottled
-Bradypnea or tachypnea
-Anuria
-Hypothermia
-Decreased level of consciousness (coma)
-Decreased cardiac output, cardiac index, and SVO2
-Metabolic acidosis with hypoxemia
-Increased PT and PTT
-Low platelets, WBC, glucose
-Increased BUN and creatinine
-Increased serum lactate
-Increased amylase, lipase
,⩥ what does cardioversion treat?. Answer: atrial dysrhythmias
⩥ what else can cardioversion treat?. Answer: V-tach where the patient
has a pulse
⩥ whats one of the main differences between use of cardioversion and
use of defibrillation?. Answer: carioversion is used for patients who have
a pulse
⩥ what is cardioversion?. Answer: the delivery of synchronized
electrical shocks to the myocardium
⩥ What about patients with A-fib or A-flutter who need cardioversion?.
Answer: the patient must be on anticoagulant therapy for 6-8 weeks
before we can do elective cardioversion on them
⩥ who is encouraged to get an ICD?. Answer: patients who are post-
cardiac arrest/sudden death
⩥ what does the ICD do?. Answer: it delivers a shock when the patient's
heart goes into v-tach or v-fib (shockable rhythm). it's purpose is to
detect life-threatening arrhythmias and defibrillate
⩥ how to deactivate an ICD. Answer: place a magnet over it
,⩥ post op ICD complications. Answer: dysrhythmias, bleeding, cardiac
tamponade
⩥ what should patients continue to use after implantation of ICD?.
Answer: they should continue to take their anti-dysrhythmia medications
⩥ what should ICD patients do if they experience a shock?. Answer:
they should lie down and contact the physician immediately
⩥ what should ICD patient's carry after discharge?. Answer: medic-alert
bracelet
⩥ MODS. Answer: progressive dysfunction of 2 or more organ systems
as a result of uncontrolled inflammatory response to severe illness or
injury
⩥ which organs are most severely affected by MODS?. Answer: lungs,
kidneys, splanchnic bed, liver
there is a maldistribution (could be too much in one organ and too little
in another)
, ⩥ what is cell damage caused by in MODS. Answer: massive release of
toxic metabolites (widespread inflammation)
⩥ manifestations of MODS. Answer: rapid loss of consciousness (lack
of oxygenated blood to the brain)
non-palpable pulse (decreased cardiac output or extreme vasodilation)
cold, dusky extremities (lack of O2 to the tissues)
slow and shallow breaths (lack of oxygen to diaphragm so it's not
working)
unmeasurable O2 sat (very little oxygen in the extremities)
⩥ Primary injury to the heart. Answer: If the initial injury is in the heart,
blood will back up and sit in other organs such as the lungs. this will
cause lack of gas exchange. (progressive dysfunction of organs)
⩥ What organ is usually the first to be affected?. Answer: the lungs.
people with respiratory problems have a high chance of developing
MODS.
⩥ what is the goal level of ICP. Answer: goal is to keep ICP less than 20
