📂

Critical Care Nursing

194 questions found

Practice Questions

87. A patient with severe burns is exhibiting signs of circulatory collapse (hypotension, tachycardia, decreased urine output). What is the critical type of shock suspected?

A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock (due to fluid shifts and capillary leak)
C. Septic shock
D. Anaphylactic shock
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

76. A patient in acute respiratory failure is receiving high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and is becoming increasingly agitated and hypoxemic. What urgent intervention might be indicated?

A. Increase HFNC flow rate
B. Prepare for intubation and mechanical ventilation
C. Administer a sedative only
D. Administer more HFNC oxygen
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

77. A nurse is titrating a continuous infusion of norepinephrine for a patient in septic shock. The patient’s MAP is 60 mmHg. What is the medicinal goal for norepinephrine titration?

A. Achieve MAP < 50 mmHg
B. Achieve a target MAP of 65 mmHg or higher
C. Achieve MAP > 100 mmHg
D. Achieve a heart rate of 150 bpm
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

78. A patient with severe pancreatitis has a sudden onset of hypotension, tachycardia, and a rigid abdomen. What clinical complication is most concerning?

A. Hypoglycemia
B. Pancreatic necrosis with hemorrhage or peritonitis
C. Renal failure
D. Hypocalcemia
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

79. A nurse is preparing to perform endotracheal suctioning on a mechanically ventilated patient. What is the critical technical consideration to prevent hypoxemia?

A. Apply suction continuously during insertion
B. Pre-oxygenate the patient before suctioning, limit suctioning time to 10-15 seconds, and apply suction only on withdrawal
C. Suction for prolonged periods
D. Use a small catheter
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

80. A patient with severe traumatic brain injury has an ICP of 28 mmHg. The physician orders a bolus of mannitol. What is the critical nursing action after administering mannitol?

A. Administer more fluids
B. Monitor serum osmolality and electrolytes, and assess for fluid balance and urine output
C. Limit urine output
D. Administer a diuretic
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

82. A nurse is managing a patient with an arterial line for continuous blood pressure monitoring. The nurse observes dampening of the arterial waveform. What is the technical troubleshooting step?

A. Increase the flush bag pressure
B. Check for air bubbles, kinks, or clot in the line, and flush the system
C. Decrease the flush bag pressure
D. Re-zero the transducer
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

66. A patient is receiving a continuous infusion of vasopressin for refractory septic shock. The nurse observes new onset of chest pain and ST-segment elevation on the ECG. What medicinal concern is immediate?

A. Vasopressin is not working
B. Vasopressin-induced myocardial ischemia, requiring immediate physician notification and possible discontinuation
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Allergic reaction
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

67. A patient with acute liver failure develops spontaneous bleeding from the gums and GI tract. What clinical complication is the nurse assessing for?

A. Hyperglycemia
B. Coagulopathy (impaired clotting factor synthesis)
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypernatremia
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

68. A nurse is managing a patient with a Swan-Ganz catheter (pulmonary artery catheter). The nurse observes the waveform “wedges” spontaneously and stays there. What is the immediate technical action?

A. Inflate the balloon further
B. Immediately deflate the balloon and pull back slightly to prevent pulmonary artery rupture
C. Inject air into the balloon
D. Administer a diuretic
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

69. A patient is admitted to the ICU with suspected acute coronary syndrome. They are complaining of crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm. What is the urgent initial nursing intervention?

A. Administer oral pain medication
B. Administer oxygen, nitroglycerin, aspirin, and morphine (MONA) as ordered, and obtain 12-lead ECG
C. Administer a diuretic
D. Order a meal
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

70. A patient on mechanical ventilation is prescribed a continuous infusion of fentanyl for pain management. The nurse observes the patient’s respiratory rate has decreased to 8 breaths/min. What medicinal concern is immediate?

A. Insufficient pain control
B. Opioid-induced respiratory depression, requiring physician notification and possible dose reduction or naloxone administration
C. Pain is well controlled
D. Patient is anxious
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

72. A patient with acute kidney injury is receiving continuous furosemide infusion. The nurse observes urine output of 10 mL/hr despite the infusion. What clinical implication is immediate?

A. Patient is over-hydrated
B. Furosemide resistance or worsening kidney injury, requiring physician notification and alternative strategies
C. Patient is dehydrated
D. Patient needs more sodium
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

73. A nurse is setting up a new intravenous infusion pump for a critical medication. What is the critical technical step to ensure medication safety?

A. Guess the infusion rate
B. Program the correct drug, concentration, and dose, and verify against order and second nurse
C. Override all safety alarms
D. Use a pump that is not calibrated
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

57. A patient with a severe traumatic brain injury has an ICP of 20 mmHg. The nurse observes the patient is becoming increasingly agitated. What is the critical nursing action?

A. Increase environmental stimulation
B. Assess for pain, discomfort, or other causes of agitation, and administer analgesia/sedation as ordered to prevent further ICP elevation
C. Apply physical restraints immediately
D. Administer a diuretic
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

75. A patient with a severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage is actively bleeding with significant hematemesis. What is the most urgent initial nursing intervention?

A. Administer oral antacids
B. Establish large-bore IV access, administer IV fluids/blood products, and prepare for endoscopic intervention
C. Administer a diuretic
D. Give a light meal
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026

58. A patient is on mechanical ventilation and receiving continuous enteral feedings. The gastric residual volume (GRV) is consistently high (e.g., >500 mL). What is the clinical concern?

A. Patient is absorbing nutrients well
B. Delayed gastric emptying and high risk of aspiration
C. Patient is dehydrated
D. Patient is hungry
nmdcat.online BS Nursing
Jun 6, 2026
Page 7 of 11
Jump to:

🏆 Top Contributors

  • N

    nmdcat.online

    6361 MCQs

  • N

    NMDCAT.ONLINE

    1 MCQ

  • G

    GULABsb

    1 MCQ

Categories

View all →