AACN Critical Care Exam 1 Questions
with correct Answers 2026/2027 A+
GRADED 100% VERIFIED
ABG change in hypoventilation - ANS -low RR, going hypercapnic!
High CO2, low bicarb -- retaining CO2
ABG changes in hyperventilation - ANS -high bicarb, low CO2 -- blowing out CO2
Advanced Directive - ANS -Witnessed written document or oral statement in which
instructions are given by a person to express desires r/t healthcare conditions
Allow Natural Death (AND) - ANS -basically the same as DNR but without the negative
connotations
Alveoli - purpose, what happens when fluid fills them? - ANS -facilitates gas exchange,
when fluid fills -- diffusion deficit --> poor gas exchange!
ARDS: diagnostic criteria - ANS -P/F ratio of </= 300
bilateral infiltrates on CXR
acute onset w/in 1w of initial insult
no evidence of L atrial hypertension as cause
ARDS: meds/tx - ANS -oxygenation - mechanical ventilation with high PEEP
sedation & comfort
therapeutic paralysis
F&E -- conservative! don't want to overload
nutrition
prone positioning
ARDS: s/sx - ANS -respiratory distress that does not respond to O2 therapy!!
early signs: initially alkalotic (breathing harder to compensate for O2), neurological
(restlessness, disorientation, decreased LOC), tachycardia
late signs: hypoxia, SOB, use of accessory muscles, central cyanosis, crackles, lungs
are hard to ventilate --> resp acidosis & metabolic acidosis r/t lactic acid buildup
ARDS: underlying patho - ANS -causes: aspiration of gastric contents, pneumonia,
pulmonary contusion, multisystem trauma, sepsis
, all direct insult to inflammatory response
**look at diagram from class*
Lung injury --> capillary membrane damage --> inflammatory mediators increasing
permeability of surrounding tissues --> "leaky membranes"/influx of RBC, WBC, protein
into alveoli --> pulmonary edema --> diffusion defect, hypoxia --> resp failure
lung injury --> alveolar membrane damage --> damage to pneumocytes --> decrease in
surfactant --> impaired compliance, alveoli collapse, atelectasis --> V/Q mismatch -->
resp failure
autonomy - ANS -respect for individual and ability of the individual to make decisions
with regard to their own health and future (informed consent)
Beneficence - ANS -actions intended to benefit the patient or others
BPS - if given pt situation, be able to score - ANS -Scores range from 3 (no pain) to 12
(maximum pain)
Facial Expression
- 1 Relaxed
- 2 partially tightened (brow lowering)
- 3 - fully tightened (eyelid closing)
- 4 - grimacing
Upper Limb Movements:
- 1 - no movement
- 2 - partially bent
- 3 - fully bent with finger flexion
- 4 - permanently retracted
Compliance with mechanical ventilation
- 1 - tolerating movement
- 2 - coughing but tolerating ventilation most of the time
- 3 - fighting ventilator
- 4 - unable to control ventilation
brain death - ANS -complete and irreversible cessation of brain function
Causes for high pressure alarms - ANS -vent is trying to force air in but it can't -- caused
by secretions, biting tube, kink in tube
Causes for low pressure alarms - ANS -vent is not meeting expected resistance -- air
leak, apnea alarm, detached from ventilator or pt self extubates
DNR - ANS -do not resuscitate order
with correct Answers 2026/2027 A+
GRADED 100% VERIFIED
ABG change in hypoventilation - ANS -low RR, going hypercapnic!
High CO2, low bicarb -- retaining CO2
ABG changes in hyperventilation - ANS -high bicarb, low CO2 -- blowing out CO2
Advanced Directive - ANS -Witnessed written document or oral statement in which
instructions are given by a person to express desires r/t healthcare conditions
Allow Natural Death (AND) - ANS -basically the same as DNR but without the negative
connotations
Alveoli - purpose, what happens when fluid fills them? - ANS -facilitates gas exchange,
when fluid fills -- diffusion deficit --> poor gas exchange!
ARDS: diagnostic criteria - ANS -P/F ratio of </= 300
bilateral infiltrates on CXR
acute onset w/in 1w of initial insult
no evidence of L atrial hypertension as cause
ARDS: meds/tx - ANS -oxygenation - mechanical ventilation with high PEEP
sedation & comfort
therapeutic paralysis
F&E -- conservative! don't want to overload
nutrition
prone positioning
ARDS: s/sx - ANS -respiratory distress that does not respond to O2 therapy!!
early signs: initially alkalotic (breathing harder to compensate for O2), neurological
(restlessness, disorientation, decreased LOC), tachycardia
late signs: hypoxia, SOB, use of accessory muscles, central cyanosis, crackles, lungs
are hard to ventilate --> resp acidosis & metabolic acidosis r/t lactic acid buildup
ARDS: underlying patho - ANS -causes: aspiration of gastric contents, pneumonia,
pulmonary contusion, multisystem trauma, sepsis
, all direct insult to inflammatory response
**look at diagram from class*
Lung injury --> capillary membrane damage --> inflammatory mediators increasing
permeability of surrounding tissues --> "leaky membranes"/influx of RBC, WBC, protein
into alveoli --> pulmonary edema --> diffusion defect, hypoxia --> resp failure
lung injury --> alveolar membrane damage --> damage to pneumocytes --> decrease in
surfactant --> impaired compliance, alveoli collapse, atelectasis --> V/Q mismatch -->
resp failure
autonomy - ANS -respect for individual and ability of the individual to make decisions
with regard to their own health and future (informed consent)
Beneficence - ANS -actions intended to benefit the patient or others
BPS - if given pt situation, be able to score - ANS -Scores range from 3 (no pain) to 12
(maximum pain)
Facial Expression
- 1 Relaxed
- 2 partially tightened (brow lowering)
- 3 - fully tightened (eyelid closing)
- 4 - grimacing
Upper Limb Movements:
- 1 - no movement
- 2 - partially bent
- 3 - fully bent with finger flexion
- 4 - permanently retracted
Compliance with mechanical ventilation
- 1 - tolerating movement
- 2 - coughing but tolerating ventilation most of the time
- 3 - fighting ventilator
- 4 - unable to control ventilation
brain death - ANS -complete and irreversible cessation of brain function
Causes for high pressure alarms - ANS -vent is trying to force air in but it can't -- caused
by secretions, biting tube, kink in tube
Causes for low pressure alarms - ANS -vent is not meeting expected resistance -- air
leak, apnea alarm, detached from ventilator or pt self extubates
DNR - ANS -do not resuscitate order
