HEALTHSTREAM ICU KNOWLEDGE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS
◉ The nurse is assigned to a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency
(Addisonian crisis). The practitioner orders the steroids to be
discontinued quickly. The nurse knows to question the order
because: Answer: steroids should be withdrawn slowly to allow for
pituitary production of ACTH
◉ The nurse is caring for a patient who has atrial fibrillation. The
patient is attempting to understand why this dysrhythmia developed
in him. The nurse educates this patient about his risk factors,
including: Answer: diabetes mellitus.
◉ The nurse is assigned a patient who is experiencing chest pain
resulting from coronary artery spasms while at rest. The nurse
quickly realizes that the patient is suffering from: Answer: variant
(Prinzmetal's) angina.
◉ A blood transfusion is: indicated in cases of Answer: active
hemorrhage resulting in shock
, ◉ Prior to administering digoxin to a patient, the nurse assesses the:
Answer: apical pulse for 1 minute.
◉ The nurse has a patient who has sustained paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). The medication that is most
effective for treatment is: Answer: adenosine.
◉ A patient with a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has a chest
tube in place. The nurse suspects an air leak, because the collection
unit displays: Answer: bubbling in the water seal chamber.
◉ A patient has been admitted to the telemetry unit with infective
endocarditis. During the nursing assessment, the nurse notes the
confirmatory findings of petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, and:
Answer: Osler's nodes.
◉ A patient reports unrelenting, crushing chest pain; nausea; and
dyspnea. The nurse suspects an acute myocardial infarction. What
change should the nurse expect to see on the patient's ECG? Answer:
ST-segment elevation
◉ During an acute lateral myocardial infarction, changes will be seen
in which ECG leads? Answer: I, aVL, V5, V6
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS
◉ The nurse is assigned to a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency
(Addisonian crisis). The practitioner orders the steroids to be
discontinued quickly. The nurse knows to question the order
because: Answer: steroids should be withdrawn slowly to allow for
pituitary production of ACTH
◉ The nurse is caring for a patient who has atrial fibrillation. The
patient is attempting to understand why this dysrhythmia developed
in him. The nurse educates this patient about his risk factors,
including: Answer: diabetes mellitus.
◉ The nurse is assigned a patient who is experiencing chest pain
resulting from coronary artery spasms while at rest. The nurse
quickly realizes that the patient is suffering from: Answer: variant
(Prinzmetal's) angina.
◉ A blood transfusion is: indicated in cases of Answer: active
hemorrhage resulting in shock
, ◉ Prior to administering digoxin to a patient, the nurse assesses the:
Answer: apical pulse for 1 minute.
◉ The nurse has a patient who has sustained paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). The medication that is most
effective for treatment is: Answer: adenosine.
◉ A patient with a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has a chest
tube in place. The nurse suspects an air leak, because the collection
unit displays: Answer: bubbling in the water seal chamber.
◉ A patient has been admitted to the telemetry unit with infective
endocarditis. During the nursing assessment, the nurse notes the
confirmatory findings of petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, and:
Answer: Osler's nodes.
◉ A patient reports unrelenting, crushing chest pain; nausea; and
dyspnea. The nurse suspects an acute myocardial infarction. What
change should the nurse expect to see on the patient's ECG? Answer:
ST-segment elevation
◉ During an acute lateral myocardial infarction, changes will be seen
in which ECG leads? Answer: I, aVL, V5, V6
