CCRN EXAM CRAM ACTUAL TEST PAPER QUESTIONS CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A
PLUS
CCRN EXAM CRAM Practice Script Updated
2026/2027 Tested Solutions Questions and Answers
Verified Solutions Latest Update
Question:
A 28-year-old woman is admitted to the critical care unit from the emergency department with a
diagnosis of asthma. Her initial arterial blood gases on a 28% Venturi mask are as follows: pH 7.48
PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 24 mEq/L PaO2 64 mm Hg Which of the following repeat arterial blood
gases on 40% oxygen indicate that the patient's condition is worsening? A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30 mm
Hg, PaO2 68 mm Hg B. pH 7.46, PaCO2 32 mm Hg, PaO2 61 mm Hg C. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40 mm
Hg, PaO2 62 mm Hg D. pH 7.39, PaCO2 30 mm Hg, PaO2 60 mm Hg
Answer:
C. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, PaO2 62 mm Hg The case study shows stage II asthma. Option c
shows stage III asthma. The patient is still breathing at a fast rate, but carbon dioxide is starting to be
retained as evidenced by the increase of the PaCO2 into normal range. Options a and b are still stage
II. Option d shows a respiratory alkalosis with a metabolic acidosis because you would have
expected the pH to be in an alkalotic range with the PaCO2 of 30.
Question:
A patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome describes the swirls in the wallpaper as being
worms. This is an example of which of the following? A. Delusion B. Hallucination C. Illusion D.
Visual impairment
Answer:
C. Illusion An illusion is a misperception or misinterpretation of an actual external stimulus.
Illusions and hallucinations (a perception that has no actual external stimulus) are common during
alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Question:
A patient arrives in the emergency department with multiple gunshot wounds. He requires massive
transfusion for blood loss from chest and abdominal wounds. The electrocardiogram should be
observed closely for changes indicative of which of the following? A. Atrioventricular block B.
Hyperkalemia C. Hypercalcemia D. Hypomagnesemia
,Answer:
Hyperkalemia Banked blood is high in potassium because of hemolysis. Look for tall, peaked T
waves and widening of the QRS complex. Other considerations with massive transfusion of banked
blood are hypocalcemia, hypothermia, and decreased tissue oxygen delivery caused by decreased
levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.
Question:
A 65-year-old woman reports severe dyspnea 2 days after abdominal surgery. She is transferred to
the critical care unit. On 5 L of oxygen by nasal cannula, her arterial blood gases are as follows: pH
7.39 PaCO2 35 mm Hg HCO3 19 mEq/L PaO2 40 mm Hg Arterial oxygen saturation 75% Why
does this patient have hypoxemia without hypercapnia? A. Because carbon dioxide is more
diffusible than oxygen B. Because carbon dioxide has more driving pressure C. Because carbon
dioxide is less diffusible than oxygen D. Because carbon dioxide excretion by the kidney is
increased
Answer:
Because carbon dioxide is more diffusible than oxygen Carbon dioxide is 20 times more diffusible
than oxygen. In conditions that affect diffusion but do not affect ventilation, expect the PaO2 to be
decreased and the PaCO2 to be normal (or decreased in hyperventilation, as in this patient). If
ventilation were affected, such as if this patient were fatiguing, the PaCO2 then would increase.
Driving pressure is the fraction of the gas in inspired air multiplied by the barometric pressure.
Because carbon dioxide is ~0.5% of inspired air, the driving pressure would be very low. The
kidney eliminates bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, but the lungs eliminate carbon dioxide.
Question:
A 55-year-old patient has headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and positive Kernig's and
Brudzinski's signs. These are consistent with which of the following? A. Intracranial hemorrhage B.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage C. Epidural hemorrhage D. Subdural hemorrhage
Answer:
Subarachnoid hemorrhage When there is bleeding from an aneurysm, that blood irritates the
meninges. The clinical presentation is very similar to meningitis. This clinical presentation is not
consistent with intracranial, epidural, or subdural bleeding because the blood is not in contact with
the meninges in those situations.
Question:
, An extra heart sound preceding S1 is most likely an S4 if the stethoscope's: A. diaphragm is over the
apex. B. bell is over the aortic area. C. diaphragm is over the aortic area. D. bell is over the apex.
Answer:
bell is over the apex. S3 and S4 are low pitched, so choose options with the bell being used. S3 and
S4 are heard at the mitral area (i.e., apex) unless the right ventricular is affected, and then they are
heard in the tricuspid area. Low-Pitched is best heard with Bell
Question:
The charge nurse on the 7 pm to 7 am shift was asked to assist a group of nurses to resolve their
conflict so that their two opposing goals are discarded and new goals are adopted. This is an
example of which of the following? A. Smoothing of conflict B. Facilitating collaboration C.
Encouraging compromise D. Democratic approach
Answer:
Facilitating collaboration This is an example of facilitating collaboration. The nurse is, in essence,
acting as mediator to assist these two groups in developing common goals. In smoothing, you would
try to reduce the emotional stress of the conflict, but the conflict really would not get resolved. In
compromising, each group would give up something that it wants. In a democratic approach,
majority rules.
Question:
Which of the following are the most clinically significant intracranial pressure (ICP) waveforms that
require immediate intervention? A. A waves B. B waves C. C waves D. D waves
Answer:
A waves, or plateau waves, are spontaneous, rapid increases in pressure between 50 and 200 mm Hg
that last 5 minutes or more. A waves cause cerebral ischemia and are the most clinically significant
ICP waveforms. Immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further brain injury and herniation.
A waves are Awful
Question:
Which of the following diagnostic tests would provide definitive evidence of a pneumothorax? A.
Arterial blood gases B. Chest x-ray film C. Pulmonary function studies D. Spiral computed
tomography
PLUS
CCRN EXAM CRAM Practice Script Updated
2026/2027 Tested Solutions Questions and Answers
Verified Solutions Latest Update
Question:
A 28-year-old woman is admitted to the critical care unit from the emergency department with a
diagnosis of asthma. Her initial arterial blood gases on a 28% Venturi mask are as follows: pH 7.48
PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 24 mEq/L PaO2 64 mm Hg Which of the following repeat arterial blood
gases on 40% oxygen indicate that the patient's condition is worsening? A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30 mm
Hg, PaO2 68 mm Hg B. pH 7.46, PaCO2 32 mm Hg, PaO2 61 mm Hg C. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40 mm
Hg, PaO2 62 mm Hg D. pH 7.39, PaCO2 30 mm Hg, PaO2 60 mm Hg
Answer:
C. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, PaO2 62 mm Hg The case study shows stage II asthma. Option c
shows stage III asthma. The patient is still breathing at a fast rate, but carbon dioxide is starting to be
retained as evidenced by the increase of the PaCO2 into normal range. Options a and b are still stage
II. Option d shows a respiratory alkalosis with a metabolic acidosis because you would have
expected the pH to be in an alkalotic range with the PaCO2 of 30.
Question:
A patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome describes the swirls in the wallpaper as being
worms. This is an example of which of the following? A. Delusion B. Hallucination C. Illusion D.
Visual impairment
Answer:
C. Illusion An illusion is a misperception or misinterpretation of an actual external stimulus.
Illusions and hallucinations (a perception that has no actual external stimulus) are common during
alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Question:
A patient arrives in the emergency department with multiple gunshot wounds. He requires massive
transfusion for blood loss from chest and abdominal wounds. The electrocardiogram should be
observed closely for changes indicative of which of the following? A. Atrioventricular block B.
Hyperkalemia C. Hypercalcemia D. Hypomagnesemia
,Answer:
Hyperkalemia Banked blood is high in potassium because of hemolysis. Look for tall, peaked T
waves and widening of the QRS complex. Other considerations with massive transfusion of banked
blood are hypocalcemia, hypothermia, and decreased tissue oxygen delivery caused by decreased
levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.
Question:
A 65-year-old woman reports severe dyspnea 2 days after abdominal surgery. She is transferred to
the critical care unit. On 5 L of oxygen by nasal cannula, her arterial blood gases are as follows: pH
7.39 PaCO2 35 mm Hg HCO3 19 mEq/L PaO2 40 mm Hg Arterial oxygen saturation 75% Why
does this patient have hypoxemia without hypercapnia? A. Because carbon dioxide is more
diffusible than oxygen B. Because carbon dioxide has more driving pressure C. Because carbon
dioxide is less diffusible than oxygen D. Because carbon dioxide excretion by the kidney is
increased
Answer:
Because carbon dioxide is more diffusible than oxygen Carbon dioxide is 20 times more diffusible
than oxygen. In conditions that affect diffusion but do not affect ventilation, expect the PaO2 to be
decreased and the PaCO2 to be normal (or decreased in hyperventilation, as in this patient). If
ventilation were affected, such as if this patient were fatiguing, the PaCO2 then would increase.
Driving pressure is the fraction of the gas in inspired air multiplied by the barometric pressure.
Because carbon dioxide is ~0.5% of inspired air, the driving pressure would be very low. The
kidney eliminates bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, but the lungs eliminate carbon dioxide.
Question:
A 55-year-old patient has headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and positive Kernig's and
Brudzinski's signs. These are consistent with which of the following? A. Intracranial hemorrhage B.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage C. Epidural hemorrhage D. Subdural hemorrhage
Answer:
Subarachnoid hemorrhage When there is bleeding from an aneurysm, that blood irritates the
meninges. The clinical presentation is very similar to meningitis. This clinical presentation is not
consistent with intracranial, epidural, or subdural bleeding because the blood is not in contact with
the meninges in those situations.
Question:
, An extra heart sound preceding S1 is most likely an S4 if the stethoscope's: A. diaphragm is over the
apex. B. bell is over the aortic area. C. diaphragm is over the aortic area. D. bell is over the apex.
Answer:
bell is over the apex. S3 and S4 are low pitched, so choose options with the bell being used. S3 and
S4 are heard at the mitral area (i.e., apex) unless the right ventricular is affected, and then they are
heard in the tricuspid area. Low-Pitched is best heard with Bell
Question:
The charge nurse on the 7 pm to 7 am shift was asked to assist a group of nurses to resolve their
conflict so that their two opposing goals are discarded and new goals are adopted. This is an
example of which of the following? A. Smoothing of conflict B. Facilitating collaboration C.
Encouraging compromise D. Democratic approach
Answer:
Facilitating collaboration This is an example of facilitating collaboration. The nurse is, in essence,
acting as mediator to assist these two groups in developing common goals. In smoothing, you would
try to reduce the emotional stress of the conflict, but the conflict really would not get resolved. In
compromising, each group would give up something that it wants. In a democratic approach,
majority rules.
Question:
Which of the following are the most clinically significant intracranial pressure (ICP) waveforms that
require immediate intervention? A. A waves B. B waves C. C waves D. D waves
Answer:
A waves, or plateau waves, are spontaneous, rapid increases in pressure between 50 and 200 mm Hg
that last 5 minutes or more. A waves cause cerebral ischemia and are the most clinically significant
ICP waveforms. Immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further brain injury and herniation.
A waves are Awful
Question:
Which of the following diagnostic tests would provide definitive evidence of a pneumothorax? A.
Arterial blood gases B. Chest x-ray film C. Pulmonary function studies D. Spiral computed
tomography
