PROGRESSIVE CARE RN A 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Your patient is post-op day 3 after triple bypass surgery. Chest
tubes have been removed. The patient suddenly complains of
palpitations. His blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140
bpm. What would you do NEXT? Answer: Immediately perform a
bedside EKG
◉ What abnormal heart sound would you expect to hear in a patient
with mitral stenosis? Answer: Diastolic murmur
◉ You are performing auscultation on your patient and note an
absence of breath sounds in the right lower lobe. Which of the
following would you suspect? Answer: Pneumothorax
◉ Which of the following are primary goals in diabetic ketoacidosis
therapy? Answer: Correct fluid deficit and replace potassium
◉ You receive an 84 year old patient from the ED with pneumonia.
Antibiotics and steroids have already been initiated by the provider.
The patient complains of abdominal pain and has a large, loose
bowel movement and notifies you this is the third one. What should
, you do FIRST? Answer: Initiate contact isolation precautions for
possible C. difficile
◉ You have completed a blood transfusion and are unsure of how to
dispose of the empty bag. What should you do? Answer: Locate the
MSDS book to find policy and procedures
◉ Which of the following is an early indication of a stroke? Answer:
Ptosis
◉ Which of the following are clinical manifestations typically seen in
a patient with left ventricular failure? Answer: Dyspnea/distant
heart sounds/bilateral crackles???
◉ A patient is admitted to the PCU with COPD exacerbation. Which
of the following assessment findings would you expect to find
knowing that the patient has been taking prednisone 40 mg PO once
daily for 18 years? Answer: Hyperglycemia
◉ A 16 year old patient was admitted to the unit for asthma
exacerbation. The patient has a suicide attempt the previous shift
and states "I want to die because I am being bullied at school."
Which of the following is the MOST important action? Answer: Place
the patient on suicide precautions to prevent a second suicide
attempt
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Your patient is post-op day 3 after triple bypass surgery. Chest
tubes have been removed. The patient suddenly complains of
palpitations. His blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140
bpm. What would you do NEXT? Answer: Immediately perform a
bedside EKG
◉ What abnormal heart sound would you expect to hear in a patient
with mitral stenosis? Answer: Diastolic murmur
◉ You are performing auscultation on your patient and note an
absence of breath sounds in the right lower lobe. Which of the
following would you suspect? Answer: Pneumothorax
◉ Which of the following are primary goals in diabetic ketoacidosis
therapy? Answer: Correct fluid deficit and replace potassium
◉ You receive an 84 year old patient from the ED with pneumonia.
Antibiotics and steroids have already been initiated by the provider.
The patient complains of abdominal pain and has a large, loose
bowel movement and notifies you this is the third one. What should
, you do FIRST? Answer: Initiate contact isolation precautions for
possible C. difficile
◉ You have completed a blood transfusion and are unsure of how to
dispose of the empty bag. What should you do? Answer: Locate the
MSDS book to find policy and procedures
◉ Which of the following is an early indication of a stroke? Answer:
Ptosis
◉ Which of the following are clinical manifestations typically seen in
a patient with left ventricular failure? Answer: Dyspnea/distant
heart sounds/bilateral crackles???
◉ A patient is admitted to the PCU with COPD exacerbation. Which
of the following assessment findings would you expect to find
knowing that the patient has been taking prednisone 40 mg PO once
daily for 18 years? Answer: Hyperglycemia
◉ A 16 year old patient was admitted to the unit for asthma
exacerbation. The patient has a suicide attempt the previous shift
and states "I want to die because I am being bullied at school."
Which of the following is the MOST important action? Answer: Place
the patient on suicide precautions to prevent a second suicide
attempt
