Critical Care Exam 1 Questions with Answers Graded A+
You have just received change of shift report. dye
Which patient should you assess first? 3-Inform the patient that his wife should stay at
a. 62 year-old man who is scheduled for a home until the procedure is finished, as family
cardiac cath, and is ready to be transported now members often distract the team in the cath lab
b. 58 year-old woman with COPD with an O2 4-Review and reconcile his medications. Confirm
saturation of 92% on 2 liters of O2, who is that he did not take his warfarin
scheduled to be discharged home on O2 5-Check the patient's most recent labs paying
c. 36 year-old man admitted with an exacerbation particular attention to the PT INR -
of asthma with RR 36 at rest, and whose ANSWER -2, 4, 5
wheezing has diminished Contrast dyes contain iodine and allergy could
d. 72 year-old woman with history of asthma with lead to anaphylactic response; might receive light
HR 90 and is due for her beta-blocker - sedation but needs to be awake and able to
ANSWER -C follow directions
RR 36 and diminished wheezing indicative of
respiratory distress and needs prompt attention
A 62 year-old man, who is s/p coronary artery
bypass surgery, is about to be transferred from
You are about to handover patient care to your the ICU to the cardiac stepdown unit. What is the
on-coming nurse colleague. Which patient most effective way for the ICU (reporting) nurse
requires the most immediate attention? and cardiac stepdown (receiving) nurse to ensure
that essential patient information is conveyed?
1.) 62 year-old man with COPD who has just 1- A face-to-face verbal report with both nurses
completed his scheduled bronchodilator present in a quiet room
2.) 68 year-old woman with type 2 diabetes who 2- The ICU nurse will provide an audio-recorded
had CVA 2 days ago report for future reference and documentation
3.) 72 year-old woman with history of asthma 3- The ICU nurse will document essential transfer
with HR 90 and is due for her beta-blocker information in the patient's medical record
4.) 48 year-old man admitted with cellulitis of his 4- The ICU nurse will accompany the patient to
right hand after a construction accident, currently the stepdown unit and provide a face-to-face
on IV antibiotics, with a temperature of 101.8 - report, using a unit-approved, standardized guide
ANSWER -4 - ANSWER -4
Cellulitis is serious infection, involving swelling of
subcutaneous tissue, fluid displacement due to
3rd spacing. What else would you assess?
What is the most common outcome associated
with poorly managed hospital discharge? -
ANSWER -Adverse Drug events
You are assigned to care for a 58 year-old man
who is scheduled for a cardiac angiogram during
your shift. What actions should you take? Check
all that apply. The nurse is tracking data on a group of patients
1-Explain that the patient will receive short-acting with heart failure, who have been discharged
anesthesia from the unit where you work and are now being
2-Review the patient's allergies, specifically followed in clinic. What is the best indicator that
checking to see if he has an allergy to contrast the nursing interventions of monitoring and
, Critical Care Exam 1 Questions with Answers Graded A+
teaching have been effective?
1- Eighty-five percent of patients have not gained
weight
2- Seventy-five percent of family caregivers have The MOST common cause of delayed surgical
reported watching an educational DVD wound healing is:
3- Five percent of patients have been readmitted A) diabetes
to the hospital in the last 90 days B) surgical site infection
4- Eighty percent report that they are taking their C) malnutrition
medications - ANSWER -3 D) impaired circulation - ANSWER -B
All are important but lower resource utilization is Purlent discharge, signs of infection, open
best indicator and one used by accrediting wound. Can occur <30 days up to 1 year post op
agencies, payors, etc.
An adult Jehovah's' Witness patient is
You are the nurse preparing to discharge a 46 hemorrhaging and might die without transfusions,
year-old man with hypertension who was started but he refused blood products prior to surgery.
on chlorothiazide. You ask the patient to share The correct procedure is?
with you his understanding of his new A) use volume replacement and fractionated
medication. Which of the following statements blood cells only, as permitted by the religion
indicates your teaching has been effective? B) contact family and ask permission
Select all that apply. C) ask legal authorities to grant permission
1- I will weigh myself every day at the same time. D) give transfusions because the patient may die
2- I will notify Charles, the nurse practitioner in - ANSWER -ANSWER: A
my primary care doctor's office if I gain 3 pounds
or more, have increased swelling in my feet and This patients religion only permits fractions from
ankles, or feel more tired than usual. red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.
3- I will reduce my medication if I feel very thirsty Some JW request no blood products at all
or dizzy.
4- I will wear sunscreen if I will be out in the sun
for a long period of time.
5- If I want to drink alcohol, I will wait and take The nurse is taking care of Ms. Smith. She is a
my medication right before I go to bed. - 85 year old with severe congestive heart failure
ANSWER -1, 2, 4 and has history of severe dementia and CVA.
She has had multiple admissions for CHF
exacerbation. Despite aggressive treatment, she
remains dyspneic and is requiring high flow
The following should NOT be used to reduce oxygen at 10L. During rounds, the team
pressure, as it may increase friction injuries: discusses sending the patient to the ICU due to
A) rolled towels her probable need for mechanical ventilation. As
B) convoluted foam mattress overlay the nurse you are concerned that this plan of
C) foam pads care is inappropriate, what is the best action?
D) viscoelastic overlay - ANSWER -A
Rolled towels and sheets should not be used and A. Discuss the concern with the physician and
may negate pressure-reducing function of other treatment team and recommend consultation with
pads palliative care
You have just received change of shift report. dye
Which patient should you assess first? 3-Inform the patient that his wife should stay at
a. 62 year-old man who is scheduled for a home until the procedure is finished, as family
cardiac cath, and is ready to be transported now members often distract the team in the cath lab
b. 58 year-old woman with COPD with an O2 4-Review and reconcile his medications. Confirm
saturation of 92% on 2 liters of O2, who is that he did not take his warfarin
scheduled to be discharged home on O2 5-Check the patient's most recent labs paying
c. 36 year-old man admitted with an exacerbation particular attention to the PT INR -
of asthma with RR 36 at rest, and whose ANSWER -2, 4, 5
wheezing has diminished Contrast dyes contain iodine and allergy could
d. 72 year-old woman with history of asthma with lead to anaphylactic response; might receive light
HR 90 and is due for her beta-blocker - sedation but needs to be awake and able to
ANSWER -C follow directions
RR 36 and diminished wheezing indicative of
respiratory distress and needs prompt attention
A 62 year-old man, who is s/p coronary artery
bypass surgery, is about to be transferred from
You are about to handover patient care to your the ICU to the cardiac stepdown unit. What is the
on-coming nurse colleague. Which patient most effective way for the ICU (reporting) nurse
requires the most immediate attention? and cardiac stepdown (receiving) nurse to ensure
that essential patient information is conveyed?
1.) 62 year-old man with COPD who has just 1- A face-to-face verbal report with both nurses
completed his scheduled bronchodilator present in a quiet room
2.) 68 year-old woman with type 2 diabetes who 2- The ICU nurse will provide an audio-recorded
had CVA 2 days ago report for future reference and documentation
3.) 72 year-old woman with history of asthma 3- The ICU nurse will document essential transfer
with HR 90 and is due for her beta-blocker information in the patient's medical record
4.) 48 year-old man admitted with cellulitis of his 4- The ICU nurse will accompany the patient to
right hand after a construction accident, currently the stepdown unit and provide a face-to-face
on IV antibiotics, with a temperature of 101.8 - report, using a unit-approved, standardized guide
ANSWER -4 - ANSWER -4
Cellulitis is serious infection, involving swelling of
subcutaneous tissue, fluid displacement due to
3rd spacing. What else would you assess?
What is the most common outcome associated
with poorly managed hospital discharge? -
ANSWER -Adverse Drug events
You are assigned to care for a 58 year-old man
who is scheduled for a cardiac angiogram during
your shift. What actions should you take? Check
all that apply. The nurse is tracking data on a group of patients
1-Explain that the patient will receive short-acting with heart failure, who have been discharged
anesthesia from the unit where you work and are now being
2-Review the patient's allergies, specifically followed in clinic. What is the best indicator that
checking to see if he has an allergy to contrast the nursing interventions of monitoring and
, Critical Care Exam 1 Questions with Answers Graded A+
teaching have been effective?
1- Eighty-five percent of patients have not gained
weight
2- Seventy-five percent of family caregivers have The MOST common cause of delayed surgical
reported watching an educational DVD wound healing is:
3- Five percent of patients have been readmitted A) diabetes
to the hospital in the last 90 days B) surgical site infection
4- Eighty percent report that they are taking their C) malnutrition
medications - ANSWER -3 D) impaired circulation - ANSWER -B
All are important but lower resource utilization is Purlent discharge, signs of infection, open
best indicator and one used by accrediting wound. Can occur <30 days up to 1 year post op
agencies, payors, etc.
An adult Jehovah's' Witness patient is
You are the nurse preparing to discharge a 46 hemorrhaging and might die without transfusions,
year-old man with hypertension who was started but he refused blood products prior to surgery.
on chlorothiazide. You ask the patient to share The correct procedure is?
with you his understanding of his new A) use volume replacement and fractionated
medication. Which of the following statements blood cells only, as permitted by the religion
indicates your teaching has been effective? B) contact family and ask permission
Select all that apply. C) ask legal authorities to grant permission
1- I will weigh myself every day at the same time. D) give transfusions because the patient may die
2- I will notify Charles, the nurse practitioner in - ANSWER -ANSWER: A
my primary care doctor's office if I gain 3 pounds
or more, have increased swelling in my feet and This patients religion only permits fractions from
ankles, or feel more tired than usual. red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.
3- I will reduce my medication if I feel very thirsty Some JW request no blood products at all
or dizzy.
4- I will wear sunscreen if I will be out in the sun
for a long period of time.
5- If I want to drink alcohol, I will wait and take The nurse is taking care of Ms. Smith. She is a
my medication right before I go to bed. - 85 year old with severe congestive heart failure
ANSWER -1, 2, 4 and has history of severe dementia and CVA.
She has had multiple admissions for CHF
exacerbation. Despite aggressive treatment, she
remains dyspneic and is requiring high flow
The following should NOT be used to reduce oxygen at 10L. During rounds, the team
pressure, as it may increase friction injuries: discusses sending the patient to the ICU due to
A) rolled towels her probable need for mechanical ventilation. As
B) convoluted foam mattress overlay the nurse you are concerned that this plan of
C) foam pads care is inappropriate, what is the best action?
D) viscoelastic overlay - ANSWER -A
Rolled towels and sheets should not be used and A. Discuss the concern with the physician and
may negate pressure-reducing function of other treatment team and recommend consultation with
pads palliative care
