NUR 2755 Exam 2
Multidimensional Care IV – Shock, Burns, ARDS,
and Critical Care Questions with Answers and
Rationales
Instructions: This exam contains multiple-choice questions covering the core content tested on NUR
2755 Exam 2 at Rasmussen University. Topics include shock states, burn management, acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS), mechanical ventilation, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, increased
intracranial pressure, and critical care prioritization.
1. Which of the following is the priority assessment for a nurse
performing triage in the Emergency Department?
A. Level of consciousness
B. ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
C. Pain level
D. Mechanism of injury
Correct Answer: B — ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
Rationale: The ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) are the priority
assessment in triage to identify immediate life threats. Level of
consciousness, pain level, and mechanism of injury are secondary
assessments .
,2. Which triage tag color is assigned to a patient who is an immediate
threat to life (Class I)?
A. Red
B. Yellow
C. Green
D. Black
Correct Answer: A — Red
Rationale: Red (Class I) indicates an immediate threat to life requiring
immediate treatment. Yellow is delayed, green is minor, and black is
expectant/deceased .
3. Which of the following are types of shock?
A. Hypovolemic, Cardiogenic, Obstructive, Distributive
B. Acute, Chronic, Terminal, Reversible
C. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary
D. Mild, Moderate, Severe, Critical
Correct Answer: A — Hypovolemic, Cardiogenic, Obstructive,
Distributive
,Rationale: The four main types of shock are hypovolemic, cardiogenic,
obstructive, and distributive (which includes septic, anaphylactic, and
neurogenic shock) .
4. Burn shock is caused by:
A. Massive fluid shifts of plasma, electrolytes, and proteins into the burn wound
causing the inability of the circulatory system to meet the needs of cells, tissues,
and vital organs
B. Direct thermal damage to the heart muscle
C. Infection from burn wound contamination
D. Airway obstruction from inhalation injury
Correct Answer: A — Massive fluid shifts of plasma, electrolytes, and
proteins into the burn wound causing the inability of the circulatory
system to meet the needs of cells, tissues, and vital organs
Rationale: Burn shock is a form of hypovolemic shock caused by
massive fluid shifts into the burn wound, leading to inadequate
circulatory volume to meet cellular and organ needs .
, 5. In the nonprogressive (compensatory) stage of shock, the body
shunts blood away from nonvital organs to maintain perfusion to vital
organs. This results in:
A. Hypoxia in vital organs
B. Hypoxia in nonvital organs
C. Hyperoxia in nonvital organs
D. No change in perfusion
Correct Answer: B — Hypoxia in nonvital organs
Rationale: In the compensatory stage, blood is shunted away from
nonvital organs (skin, GI tract, kidneys) to maintain perfusion to vital
organs (brain, heart), resulting in hypoxia in nonvital organs .
6. A patient in shock has a blood pressure of 88/52 mmHg, heart rate
of 118 bpm, and respiratory rate of 28/min. The nurse recognizes
these findings as indicative of:
A. Compensated shock
B. Uncompensated shock
C. Neurogenic shock
D. Anaphylactic shock
Multidimensional Care IV – Shock, Burns, ARDS,
and Critical Care Questions with Answers and
Rationales
Instructions: This exam contains multiple-choice questions covering the core content tested on NUR
2755 Exam 2 at Rasmussen University. Topics include shock states, burn management, acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS), mechanical ventilation, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, increased
intracranial pressure, and critical care prioritization.
1. Which of the following is the priority assessment for a nurse
performing triage in the Emergency Department?
A. Level of consciousness
B. ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
C. Pain level
D. Mechanism of injury
Correct Answer: B — ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
Rationale: The ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) are the priority
assessment in triage to identify immediate life threats. Level of
consciousness, pain level, and mechanism of injury are secondary
assessments .
,2. Which triage tag color is assigned to a patient who is an immediate
threat to life (Class I)?
A. Red
B. Yellow
C. Green
D. Black
Correct Answer: A — Red
Rationale: Red (Class I) indicates an immediate threat to life requiring
immediate treatment. Yellow is delayed, green is minor, and black is
expectant/deceased .
3. Which of the following are types of shock?
A. Hypovolemic, Cardiogenic, Obstructive, Distributive
B. Acute, Chronic, Terminal, Reversible
C. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary
D. Mild, Moderate, Severe, Critical
Correct Answer: A — Hypovolemic, Cardiogenic, Obstructive,
Distributive
,Rationale: The four main types of shock are hypovolemic, cardiogenic,
obstructive, and distributive (which includes septic, anaphylactic, and
neurogenic shock) .
4. Burn shock is caused by:
A. Massive fluid shifts of plasma, electrolytes, and proteins into the burn wound
causing the inability of the circulatory system to meet the needs of cells, tissues,
and vital organs
B. Direct thermal damage to the heart muscle
C. Infection from burn wound contamination
D. Airway obstruction from inhalation injury
Correct Answer: A — Massive fluid shifts of plasma, electrolytes, and
proteins into the burn wound causing the inability of the circulatory
system to meet the needs of cells, tissues, and vital organs
Rationale: Burn shock is a form of hypovolemic shock caused by
massive fluid shifts into the burn wound, leading to inadequate
circulatory volume to meet cellular and organ needs .
, 5. In the nonprogressive (compensatory) stage of shock, the body
shunts blood away from nonvital organs to maintain perfusion to vital
organs. This results in:
A. Hypoxia in vital organs
B. Hypoxia in nonvital organs
C. Hyperoxia in nonvital organs
D. No change in perfusion
Correct Answer: B — Hypoxia in nonvital organs
Rationale: In the compensatory stage, blood is shunted away from
nonvital organs (skin, GI tract, kidneys) to maintain perfusion to vital
organs (brain, heart), resulting in hypoxia in nonvital organs .
6. A patient in shock has a blood pressure of 88/52 mmHg, heart rate
of 118 bpm, and respiratory rate of 28/min. The nurse recognizes
these findings as indicative of:
A. Compensated shock
B. Uncompensated shock
C. Neurogenic shock
D. Anaphylactic shock
