HEALTHSTREAM TEST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS2026
A patient is admitted to the ICU with suspected cervical spinal cord injury following a motor
vehicle accident. The most important nursing intervention for this patient is to: - ANSWER-
immobilize his head.
The nurse assesses a patient's chest tube drainage 2 hours following thoracic surgery. The total
drainage in the system is 200 mL. The nurse knows that: - ANSWER-this is an excessive amount
of drainage
A patient assessment reveals distended neck veins, pulsus paradoxus, and decreased systolic
pressure. This assessment is most consistent with: - ANSWER-cardiac tamponade.
The nurse is caring for a patient with severe sepsis and third-degree heart block. The patient is
hypotensive. The treatment for this life-threatening rhythm change includes: - ANSWER-
transcutaneous pacing.
The patient experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) arrived on the unit an hour ago
with TPA infusing. Initially, the patient's neurologic exam was normal. The nurse assesses the
patient and finds him now disoriented. The next nursing action should be to: - ANSWER-
discontinue the TPA.
A patient has cardiomyopathy and is unstable. The nurse understands that the treatment goal is to
improve contractility, reduce preload and reduce afterload. The nurse anticipates that medication
management will include: - ANSWER-dobutamine and nitroprusside infusions
A continuous drip of a medication is ordered at a rate of 2 mg/min. The standard mixture of this
medication to yield a final concentration of 2 mg/mL is 1 g of the medication in 500 mL of IV
fluid. At what rate in milliliters per hour should the IV pump be set? - ANSWER-60 mL/hr
A practitioner has ordered 700 mg of an antibiotic. The medication label states, "Add 5 mL
sterile water to 1 g of this medication; 0.5 g = 2 mL." How many milliliters should be given? -
ANSWER-2.8 mL
A practitioner order is written for a continuous infusion of insulin at 3 units/hr; the premixed
solution is composed of 100 units of regular U-100 insulin in 100 mL normal saline. At which
rate should the infusion run? - ANSWER-3 ml/hr
A dose of 35 mg of a corticosteroid is ordered to be given IM to treat inflammation. The
medication is available as 250 mg/10 mL. How many milliliters should be administered? -
ANSWER-1.4 ml
A practitioner's order prescribes levothyroxine 0.075 mg PO daily. The available medication is
levothyroxine 25-mcg tablets. What will the nurse administer? - ANSWER-3 tabs
, The actions of nitroglycerin in the management of angina include - ANSWER-coronary artery
dilation and peripheral venous dilation.
The most common cause of right heart failure is: - ANSWER-left heart failure.
The nurse is differentiating between right- and left-sided heart failure in an assigned patient. For
right-sided heart failure, the patient presents with edematous extremities, nausea/vomiting, and: -
ANSWER-anorexia.
The patient being admitted requires CRRT therapy. The nurse assigned to admit the patient has
not been educated on this therapy. The charge nurse adjusts the assignment so that a nurse with 3
years experience in CRRT therapy is assigned to the patient. This type of
decision making is an example of: - ANSWER-the synergy model for patient care.
The patient diagnosed with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and experiencing severe dehydration,
sepsis, and pneumonia is now in the polyureic stage of ATN. The most important nursing action
is to: - ANSWER-monitor electrolyte levels and signs of fluid depletion.
A patient has an elevated central venous pressure (CVP) measurement. The most likely reason is:
- ANSWER-right heart failure.
Diabetes insipidus is usually treated with - ANSWER-vasopressin.
Which physiologic effect is produced by alpha-1 receptors? - ANSWER-Vasoconstriction
The nurse is assigned to a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency (Addisonian crisis). The
practitioner orders the steroids to be discontinued quickly. The nurse knows to question the order
because: - ANSWER-steroids should be withdrawn slowly to allow for pituitary production of
ACTH
The nurse is caring for a patient who has atrial fibrillation. The patient is attempting to
understand why this dysrhythmia developed in him. The nurse educates this patient about his risk
factors, including: - ANSWER-diabetes mellitus.
The nurse is assigned a patient who is experiencing chest pain resulting from coronary artery
spasms while at rest. The nurse quickly realizes that the patient is suffering from: - ANSWER-
variant (Prinzmetal's) angina.
A blood transfusion is: indicated in cases of - ANSWER-active hemorrhage resulting in shock
Prior to administering digoxin to a patient, the nurse assesses the: - ANSWER-apical pulse for 1
minute.
ANSWERS2026
A patient is admitted to the ICU with suspected cervical spinal cord injury following a motor
vehicle accident. The most important nursing intervention for this patient is to: - ANSWER-
immobilize his head.
The nurse assesses a patient's chest tube drainage 2 hours following thoracic surgery. The total
drainage in the system is 200 mL. The nurse knows that: - ANSWER-this is an excessive amount
of drainage
A patient assessment reveals distended neck veins, pulsus paradoxus, and decreased systolic
pressure. This assessment is most consistent with: - ANSWER-cardiac tamponade.
The nurse is caring for a patient with severe sepsis and third-degree heart block. The patient is
hypotensive. The treatment for this life-threatening rhythm change includes: - ANSWER-
transcutaneous pacing.
The patient experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) arrived on the unit an hour ago
with TPA infusing. Initially, the patient's neurologic exam was normal. The nurse assesses the
patient and finds him now disoriented. The next nursing action should be to: - ANSWER-
discontinue the TPA.
A patient has cardiomyopathy and is unstable. The nurse understands that the treatment goal is to
improve contractility, reduce preload and reduce afterload. The nurse anticipates that medication
management will include: - ANSWER-dobutamine and nitroprusside infusions
A continuous drip of a medication is ordered at a rate of 2 mg/min. The standard mixture of this
medication to yield a final concentration of 2 mg/mL is 1 g of the medication in 500 mL of IV
fluid. At what rate in milliliters per hour should the IV pump be set? - ANSWER-60 mL/hr
A practitioner has ordered 700 mg of an antibiotic. The medication label states, "Add 5 mL
sterile water to 1 g of this medication; 0.5 g = 2 mL." How many milliliters should be given? -
ANSWER-2.8 mL
A practitioner order is written for a continuous infusion of insulin at 3 units/hr; the premixed
solution is composed of 100 units of regular U-100 insulin in 100 mL normal saline. At which
rate should the infusion run? - ANSWER-3 ml/hr
A dose of 35 mg of a corticosteroid is ordered to be given IM to treat inflammation. The
medication is available as 250 mg/10 mL. How many milliliters should be administered? -
ANSWER-1.4 ml
A practitioner's order prescribes levothyroxine 0.075 mg PO daily. The available medication is
levothyroxine 25-mcg tablets. What will the nurse administer? - ANSWER-3 tabs
, The actions of nitroglycerin in the management of angina include - ANSWER-coronary artery
dilation and peripheral venous dilation.
The most common cause of right heart failure is: - ANSWER-left heart failure.
The nurse is differentiating between right- and left-sided heart failure in an assigned patient. For
right-sided heart failure, the patient presents with edematous extremities, nausea/vomiting, and: -
ANSWER-anorexia.
The patient being admitted requires CRRT therapy. The nurse assigned to admit the patient has
not been educated on this therapy. The charge nurse adjusts the assignment so that a nurse with 3
years experience in CRRT therapy is assigned to the patient. This type of
decision making is an example of: - ANSWER-the synergy model for patient care.
The patient diagnosed with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and experiencing severe dehydration,
sepsis, and pneumonia is now in the polyureic stage of ATN. The most important nursing action
is to: - ANSWER-monitor electrolyte levels and signs of fluid depletion.
A patient has an elevated central venous pressure (CVP) measurement. The most likely reason is:
- ANSWER-right heart failure.
Diabetes insipidus is usually treated with - ANSWER-vasopressin.
Which physiologic effect is produced by alpha-1 receptors? - ANSWER-Vasoconstriction
The nurse is assigned to a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency (Addisonian crisis). The
practitioner orders the steroids to be discontinued quickly. The nurse knows to question the order
because: - ANSWER-steroids should be withdrawn slowly to allow for pituitary production of
ACTH
The nurse is caring for a patient who has atrial fibrillation. The patient is attempting to
understand why this dysrhythmia developed in him. The nurse educates this patient about his risk
factors, including: - ANSWER-diabetes mellitus.
The nurse is assigned a patient who is experiencing chest pain resulting from coronary artery
spasms while at rest. The nurse quickly realizes that the patient is suffering from: - ANSWER-
variant (Prinzmetal's) angina.
A blood transfusion is: indicated in cases of - ANSWER-active hemorrhage resulting in shock
Prior to administering digoxin to a patient, the nurse assesses the: - ANSWER-apical pulse for 1
minute.
