PROGRESSIVE CARE RN A CERTIFICATION
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
● Your patient with triple cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 3. Chest
tubes have been removed. They suddenly report palpitations. Their
blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140 bpm. What would you do
NEXT? Answer: Perform a bedside EKG
● Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of
analgesics would MOST likely be contraindicated for them? Answer:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
● Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication administration
would likely be LEAST effective? Answer: Intramuscular
● You are working with the code team to resuscitate a patient in
ventricular fibrillation. Chest compressions are ongoing and the patient
has been shocked twice. What emergency medication, if any, would you
administer at this juncture? Answer: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 1 mg IV
● Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging them
and provide patient education.
, Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the
education? Answer: I will not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
● Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment would
be appropriate? Answer: • Visual pain scale
● Your patient has returned from the cath lab post angioplasty. Upon
assessment you note a large hematoma at the sheath site. What would be
your immediate action? Answer: Apply manual pressure to the site and
call for help.
● Your patient has new onset seizures. They ask you what they should
know about taking levetiracetam (Keppra®). What would be your BEST
response? Answer: Common side effects are fatigue and depression
● Your patient with cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 2. The nursing
assistant reports that your patient has a temp of 101.3°F and blood
pressure of 82/56. Their urine output has decreased to less than 30 mL in
the past 4 hours. You suspect a post-surgery complication. After calling
the physician you receive orders for STAT CBC, CMP, and coagulation
test. What results would you expect to see after these labs are
completed? Answer: WBC greater than 19,000
● What is an adequate amount of urine output? Answer: 30 mL/hr
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
● Your patient with triple cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 3. Chest
tubes have been removed. They suddenly report palpitations. Their
blood pressure is 130/76 and heart rate is 140 bpm. What would you do
NEXT? Answer: Perform a bedside EKG
● Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of
analgesics would MOST likely be contraindicated for them? Answer:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
● Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication administration
would likely be LEAST effective? Answer: Intramuscular
● You are working with the code team to resuscitate a patient in
ventricular fibrillation. Chest compressions are ongoing and the patient
has been shocked twice. What emergency medication, if any, would you
administer at this juncture? Answer: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 1 mg IV
● Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging them
and provide patient education.
, Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the
education? Answer: I will not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
● Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment would
be appropriate? Answer: • Visual pain scale
● Your patient has returned from the cath lab post angioplasty. Upon
assessment you note a large hematoma at the sheath site. What would be
your immediate action? Answer: Apply manual pressure to the site and
call for help.
● Your patient has new onset seizures. They ask you what they should
know about taking levetiracetam (Keppra®). What would be your BEST
response? Answer: Common side effects are fatigue and depression
● Your patient with cardiac bypass surgery is post-op day 2. The nursing
assistant reports that your patient has a temp of 101.3°F and blood
pressure of 82/56. Their urine output has decreased to less than 30 mL in
the past 4 hours. You suspect a post-surgery complication. After calling
the physician you receive orders for STAT CBC, CMP, and coagulation
test. What results would you expect to see after these labs are
completed? Answer: WBC greater than 19,000
● What is an adequate amount of urine output? Answer: 30 mL/hr
