CRITICAL CARE HESI PRACTICE EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS UPDATED VERSON VERIFIED BY EXPERTS…2026 |GRADE A+.
update2026.
The triage nurse is assessing a victim of a stab wound. According to the
paramedics, the victim was stabbed by a male attacker. The knife blade is 6
inches (7.2 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. The "point of entry" of the
stab wound is two inches above and left of the victim's xiphoid process. Which
vital organ(s) are at an increased risk of being in the direct path of injury? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Heart
Lungs
Diaphragm
What way do females stab? - CORRECT ANSWER-Downwards
What way do males stab? - CORRECT ANSWER-Upwards
A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and coughing all
the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats. The client's
assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout the lungs, dependent
peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds, temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C),
heart rate of 110 beats/minute, respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood
pressure of 105/60 mmHg with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic
procedure should the nurse prepare to do first? - CORRECT ANSWERBlood culture
,Define: Infective endocarditis - CORRECT ANSWER-Infection of the endocardial
surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
What indicates ineffective endocarditis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Edema &
S1/S3 sounds
According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle collision was
sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle. The vehicle was
stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the left side by another
vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97 kmh). The client reports slight
tenderness and achiness on (L) side of thorax and body. The significant
assessment findings include: weak and thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain,
tenderness and guarding present upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and
extremities cool to touch, capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present
in the (L) flank area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are
temperature- 97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse oximetry 90%
on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula. - CORRECT ANSWER-Fractured liver & ruptured
spleen
Define: Intercostal muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWER-Critical sign of
respiratory muscle fatigue which is likely to lead to acute respiratory failure
Define: Cistacurium - CORRECT ANSWER-Paralytic during surgery
A client who experienced an intracranial hemorrhage is receiving cistracurium to
induce a pharmacological state of paralysis. Which intervention should the nurse
, implement during the therapeutic paralysis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administer a
sedating medication
A client returns to the intensive care unit (ICU) after having a permanent
pacemaker inserted. Which finding should the nurse observe for during the
immediate hours after insertion? - CORRECT ANSWER-Beck's Triad
What are pacemakers & defibrillators able to cause? - CORRECT ANSWERBleeding
into the pericardial sac which causes a high risk for cardiac tamponade
Define: Cardiac tamponade - CORRECT ANSWER-Blood or fluid fills the space
between the heart & its sac
Define: Beck's triad - CORRECT ANSWER-Signs of pericardial tamponade with low
arterial BP, distended neck veins, & muffled heart sounds
What is a normal arterial BP? - CORRECT ANSWER-70-100mmHg
A client with a demand pacemaker has a telemetry tracing with a pacing spike but
no corresponding QRS complex. The client's myocardium is illiciting a QRS after a
delay of several seconds. Which telemetry interpretation should the nurse
conclude? - CORRECT ANSWERLoss of capture
What is indicated if there is a pacemaker spike that does not produce a QRS
complex? - CORRECT ANSWER-Loss of capture
SOLUTIONS UPDATED VERSON VERIFIED BY EXPERTS…2026 |GRADE A+.
update2026.
The triage nurse is assessing a victim of a stab wound. According to the
paramedics, the victim was stabbed by a male attacker. The knife blade is 6
inches (7.2 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. The "point of entry" of the
stab wound is two inches above and left of the victim's xiphoid process. Which
vital organ(s) are at an increased risk of being in the direct path of injury? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Heart
Lungs
Diaphragm
What way do females stab? - CORRECT ANSWER-Downwards
What way do males stab? - CORRECT ANSWER-Upwards
A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and coughing all
the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats. The client's
assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout the lungs, dependent
peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds, temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C),
heart rate of 110 beats/minute, respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood
pressure of 105/60 mmHg with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic
procedure should the nurse prepare to do first? - CORRECT ANSWERBlood culture
,Define: Infective endocarditis - CORRECT ANSWER-Infection of the endocardial
surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
What indicates ineffective endocarditis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Edema &
S1/S3 sounds
According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle collision was
sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle. The vehicle was
stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the left side by another
vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97 kmh). The client reports slight
tenderness and achiness on (L) side of thorax and body. The significant
assessment findings include: weak and thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain,
tenderness and guarding present upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and
extremities cool to touch, capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present
in the (L) flank area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are
temperature- 97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse oximetry 90%
on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula. - CORRECT ANSWER-Fractured liver & ruptured
spleen
Define: Intercostal muscle contraction - CORRECT ANSWER-Critical sign of
respiratory muscle fatigue which is likely to lead to acute respiratory failure
Define: Cistacurium - CORRECT ANSWER-Paralytic during surgery
A client who experienced an intracranial hemorrhage is receiving cistracurium to
induce a pharmacological state of paralysis. Which intervention should the nurse
, implement during the therapeutic paralysis? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administer a
sedating medication
A client returns to the intensive care unit (ICU) after having a permanent
pacemaker inserted. Which finding should the nurse observe for during the
immediate hours after insertion? - CORRECT ANSWER-Beck's Triad
What are pacemakers & defibrillators able to cause? - CORRECT ANSWERBleeding
into the pericardial sac which causes a high risk for cardiac tamponade
Define: Cardiac tamponade - CORRECT ANSWER-Blood or fluid fills the space
between the heart & its sac
Define: Beck's triad - CORRECT ANSWER-Signs of pericardial tamponade with low
arterial BP, distended neck veins, & muffled heart sounds
What is a normal arterial BP? - CORRECT ANSWER-70-100mmHg
A client with a demand pacemaker has a telemetry tracing with a pacing spike but
no corresponding QRS complex. The client's myocardium is illiciting a QRS after a
delay of several seconds. Which telemetry interpretation should the nurse
conclude? - CORRECT ANSWERLoss of capture
What is indicated if there is a pacemaker spike that does not produce a QRS
complex? - CORRECT ANSWER-Loss of capture
