INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL CARE NURSING
8TH EDITION EXAMINATION TEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Of the following patients, which will the nurse expect to be
transferred to a critical care unit? The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. With an acetaminophen overdose
2. Suffering from acute mental illness
3. With chronic renal failure
4. With acute decompensated heart failure
5. With bacteremia from an infected foot wound. Answer: Correct
Answer: 1,4,5
Rationale 1: Critical care units are cost-efficient units for caring for
patients with specific organ system failure. Patients with
acetaminophen overdose often suffer liver failure as a consequence.
Rationale 2: A patient with acute mental illness would not receive
care in a critical care unit. This health problem would be considered
noncritical.
Rationale 3: Even though critical care units are cost-efficient units
for caring for patients with specific organ system failure, chronic
,renal failure is not a disease process necessitating the critical care
environment.
Rationale 4: The patient with acute decompensated heart failure
would receive care in a critical care unit. This patient has a specific
organ that has failed.
Rationale 5: Bacteremia can affect many organs and lead to
multisystem organ failure. This patient would receive care in a
critical care unit.
◉ The nurse, employed in a hospital in a small rural town, would
expect to provide which level of care in the critical care unit?
1. Level I
2. Level II
3. Level III
4. It is unlikely that the hospital would have a critical care unit..
Answer: Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: This level of care is provided most likely within teaching
hospitals and not in a rural facility.
Rationale 2: This level is able to provide comprehensive critical care
for most disorders but the unit may not be able to care for specific
types of patients. It is unlikely that this level of care would be
available in a small rural facility.
Rationale 3: Level III facilities provide initial stabilization of
critically ill patients but limited ability to provide comprehensive
critical care. A limited number of patients who require routine care
, may remain in the facility but written policies should be in place
determining which patients require transfer and where they ought
to be transferred. This level of care is most likely provided in a small
rural facility.
Rationale 4: Most hospitals have some level of critical care area.
◉ The nurse, providing patient care in an "open" ICU, would most
likely be working with a:
1. Multidisciplinary team with physicians who are also responsible
for patients on other units
2. Multidisciplinary team that includes a physician employed by the
hospital
3. Physician in charge of patient care who is a specialist in critical
care
4. Primary care physician who must consult a critical care specialist.
Answer: Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: In an open ICU, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory
therapists are ICU based but the physicians directing patient care
may have other obligations. These physicians may or may not choose
to consult an intensivist to assist with the management of their ICU
patients.
◉ The nurse, providing care to patients in a critical care unit,
realizes that technology increases the likelihood of errors when:
1. It relies heavily on human decision making.
8TH EDITION EXAMINATION TEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Of the following patients, which will the nurse expect to be
transferred to a critical care unit? The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. With an acetaminophen overdose
2. Suffering from acute mental illness
3. With chronic renal failure
4. With acute decompensated heart failure
5. With bacteremia from an infected foot wound. Answer: Correct
Answer: 1,4,5
Rationale 1: Critical care units are cost-efficient units for caring for
patients with specific organ system failure. Patients with
acetaminophen overdose often suffer liver failure as a consequence.
Rationale 2: A patient with acute mental illness would not receive
care in a critical care unit. This health problem would be considered
noncritical.
Rationale 3: Even though critical care units are cost-efficient units
for caring for patients with specific organ system failure, chronic
,renal failure is not a disease process necessitating the critical care
environment.
Rationale 4: The patient with acute decompensated heart failure
would receive care in a critical care unit. This patient has a specific
organ that has failed.
Rationale 5: Bacteremia can affect many organs and lead to
multisystem organ failure. This patient would receive care in a
critical care unit.
◉ The nurse, employed in a hospital in a small rural town, would
expect to provide which level of care in the critical care unit?
1. Level I
2. Level II
3. Level III
4. It is unlikely that the hospital would have a critical care unit..
Answer: Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: This level of care is provided most likely within teaching
hospitals and not in a rural facility.
Rationale 2: This level is able to provide comprehensive critical care
for most disorders but the unit may not be able to care for specific
types of patients. It is unlikely that this level of care would be
available in a small rural facility.
Rationale 3: Level III facilities provide initial stabilization of
critically ill patients but limited ability to provide comprehensive
critical care. A limited number of patients who require routine care
, may remain in the facility but written policies should be in place
determining which patients require transfer and where they ought
to be transferred. This level of care is most likely provided in a small
rural facility.
Rationale 4: Most hospitals have some level of critical care area.
◉ The nurse, providing patient care in an "open" ICU, would most
likely be working with a:
1. Multidisciplinary team with physicians who are also responsible
for patients on other units
2. Multidisciplinary team that includes a physician employed by the
hospital
3. Physician in charge of patient care who is a specialist in critical
care
4. Primary care physician who must consult a critical care specialist.
Answer: Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: In an open ICU, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory
therapists are ICU based but the physicians directing patient care
may have other obligations. These physicians may or may not choose
to consult an intensivist to assist with the management of their ICU
patients.
◉ The nurse, providing care to patients in a critical care unit,
realizes that technology increases the likelihood of errors when:
1. It relies heavily on human decision making.
