Critical Care Nursing Questions and Answers PDF

Critical Care Nursing Questions and Answers PDF Related

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The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with a traumatic brain injury following a motor vehicle crash. The patient’s Glasgow Coma Score is 3 anda binirbte.cromm/ittetset ntly withdraws when painful stimuli are introduced. The patient is ventilator dependent and occasionally takes a spontaneous breath. The primary care provider explains to the family that the patient has severe neurological impairment and it is not expected that the patient will ever recover consciousness. What concept does this situation depict?

  • A. An organ donor
  • B. Brain death
  • C. A persistent vegetative state
  • D. Terminally ill
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: A persistent vegetative state. This choice is correct because the patient exhibits minimal responsiveness, only withdrawing to painful stimuli, and lacks meaningful interaction or consciousness. A persistent vegetative state is characterized by preserved wakefulness without awareness, which aligns with the patient's condition.

Choice A: An organ donor is incorrect because the patient's neurological impairment does not necessarily indicate readiness for organ donation.

Choice B: Brain death is incorrect because the patient still exhibits some reflexive responses, indicating a level of brain function beyond brain death.

Choice D: Terminally ill is incorrect as it does not specifically address the patient's neurological status and prognosis, which is better described by a persistent vegetative state.

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The patient is complaining of severe flank pain when he tries to urinate. His urinalysis shows sediment and crystals along with a few bacteria. Using this information along with the clinical picture, the nurse realizes that the patient’s condition is

  • A. prerenal.
  • B. postrenal.
  • C. intrarenal.
  • D. not renal related.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: intrarenal. The presence of sediment, crystals, and bacteria in the urinalysis indicates an issue originating within the kidney itself. This suggests a problem like a urinary tract infection or kidney stone causing the severe flank pain. Prerenal and postrenal conditions usually involve issues outside the kidney such as dehydration or urinary tract obstruction, which are not supported by the urinalysis findings. Choice D, not renal related, is incorrect as the symptoms and urinalysis results clearly point towards a renal issue.

The nurse is developing a teaching plan for an adolescent with a Milwaukee brace. Which instruction should the nurse include?

  • A. Wear the brace over a T-shirt 23 hours per day.
  • B. Dress with the brace over regular clothing.
  • C. Shower with the brace directly against the skin.
  • D. Remove the brace just before going to bed.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because wearing the Milwaukee brace over a T-shirt ensures proper skin protection and ventilation. This helps prevent skin irritation and allows for comfortable wearing for long periods. Choice B may cause skin issues due to friction. Choice C is incorrect as moisture from showering can lead to skin problems. Choice D is incorrect as consistent wear is crucial for brace effectiveness.

An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is being used for a patient who is in cardiogenic shock. Which assessment data indicate to the nurse that the goals of treatment with the IABP are being met?

  • A. Urine output of 25 mL/hr.
  • B. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute.
  • C. Cardiac output (CO) of 5 L/min.
  • D. Stroke volume (SV) of 40 mL/beat.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Cardiac output (CO) of 5 L/min. In cardiogenic shock, the primary goal of using an IABP is to improve cardiac output to ensure adequate perfusion to vital organs. A cardiac output of 5 L/min indicates adequate blood flow and perfusion.

Choice A is incorrect as urine output is not a direct indicator of cardiac function. Choice B is incorrect as a heart rate of 110 beats/minute alone does not provide information on the effectiveness of the IABP in improving cardiac output. Choice D is incorrect as stroke volume alone does not provide a comprehensive assessment of overall cardiac function.

The nurse calculates the PaO /FiO ratio for the following values: PaO is 78 mm Hg; FiO is 2 2 2 2 6 (60%). What is the outcome and the relationship to the ARDS diagnosing criteria?

  • A. 46.8; meets criteria for ARDS
  • B. 130; meets criteria for ARDS
  • C. 468; normal lung function
  • D. Not enough data to compute the ratio
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 46.8; meets criteria for ARDS. The PaO /FiO ratio is calculated by dividing the arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO) by the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO). In this case, PaO is 78 mm Hg and FiO is 0.6 (60%). Therefore, the calculation would be 78/0.6 = 130. This value is less than 300, which is indicative of ARDS according to the Berlin criteria. Choices B and C are incorrect as they do not align with the criteria for ARDS. Choice D is incorrect because the data provided is sufficient to compute the ratio.

The patient is diagnosed with acute kidney injury and has been getting dialysis 3 days per week. The patient complains of general malaise and is tachypneic. An arterial blood gas shows that the patient’s pH is 7.19, with a PCO of 30 mm Hg and a bicarbonate level of 13 mEq/L. The nurse prepares to

  • A. administer morphine to slow the respiratory rate.
  • B. prepare for intubation and mechanical ventilation.
  • C. administer intravenous sodium bicarbonate.
  • D. cancel tomorrow’s dialysis session.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: administer intravenous sodium bicarbonate. In this case, the patient has metabolic acidosis with a low pH and low bicarbonate levels. Administering sodium bicarbonate can help correct the acidosis by increasing the bicarbonate levels and improving the pH. This treatment is essential to address the underlying metabolic imbalance.

Choice A is incorrect because administering morphine would not address the root cause of the acidosis and could potentially worsen the respiratory status. Choice B is incorrect as intubation and mechanical ventilation are not indicated solely based on the acid-base imbalance. Choice D is also incorrect as canceling the dialysis session would not address the metabolic acidosis and could potentially worsen the patient's condition.

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