Critical Care HESI Exam Questions with Answers
1. A client recovering from a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after an acute
myocardial infarction is being transferred from the PACU to the Cardiac ICU. Which
assessment finding should the PACU nurse inform the healthcare provider of
immediately?
a. onset of chest pain
b. need to apply pressure dressing
c. presence of occasional PVCs
d. absence of any urinary output during PACU stay: a. onset of chest pain
This suggests the onset of another MI and reocclusion of a vessel.
2. What is the preferred treatment of an acute MI within 12 hours of symptom onset?: PCI;
places a stent in the attected coronary artery
3. How often must a PCI pressure dressing site be assessed?: q30min for 4 hours qh
thereafter
4. Central Venous Pressure (CVP): the pressure of blood in the thoracic vena cava, near the right atrium of the heart; reflects
the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to pump the blood into the arterial system; normal is 2-6 mmHg
5. Sensitivity of a pacemaker: pacing devices ability to detect what electrical activity is being generated
by the patient's heart to prevent any competition between the hearts intrinsic activity
6. Contrast Induced Nephropathy (CIN): A sudden deterioration in renal function that is caused by intravascular
1
, administration of iodinated contrast medium; typically seen with angiplasty/angiography
7. Signs of tension pneumothorax: 1. affected side will have decreased or absent lung sounds
2. cyanosis
3. Tracheal deviation (late sign)
4. distended neck veins
5. tachycardia, tachypnea
8. Pneumatic Antishock Garment: An inflatable device that covers the legs and abdomen; used to splint the lower
extremities or pelvis, or to control bleeding in the lower extremities or pelvis.
- used for intraperitoneal hemorrhage
9. What is the expected ABG of a pulmonary embolism?: Tachypnea and tachycardia--> respiratory
alkalosis
10. A client is brought to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident.
Initial assessment reveals that the client is unconscious with a blood pressure of 165/73 mmHg,
HR 50 bpm, RR 8 and irregular, temperature of 103 F. What do you suspect is happening?: The findings
reveal Cushing's Triad (hypertension with widening pulse pressure, bradycardia and bradypnea); this indicates increased ICP
11. Symptoms of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: fatigue, swelling, weakness, chest pain, SOB, dizziness
12. The nurse is caring for a client who is being weaned from mechanical ven- tilation.
Which assessment finding indicates that the client is ready to the endotracheal tube removed?: -
pulse ox: 98% with a T piece
- evidence of reversal of the underlying cause of respiratory failure
2
1. A client recovering from a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after an acute
myocardial infarction is being transferred from the PACU to the Cardiac ICU. Which
assessment finding should the PACU nurse inform the healthcare provider of
immediately?
a. onset of chest pain
b. need to apply pressure dressing
c. presence of occasional PVCs
d. absence of any urinary output during PACU stay: a. onset of chest pain
This suggests the onset of another MI and reocclusion of a vessel.
2. What is the preferred treatment of an acute MI within 12 hours of symptom onset?: PCI;
places a stent in the attected coronary artery
3. How often must a PCI pressure dressing site be assessed?: q30min for 4 hours qh
thereafter
4. Central Venous Pressure (CVP): the pressure of blood in the thoracic vena cava, near the right atrium of the heart; reflects
the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to pump the blood into the arterial system; normal is 2-6 mmHg
5. Sensitivity of a pacemaker: pacing devices ability to detect what electrical activity is being generated
by the patient's heart to prevent any competition between the hearts intrinsic activity
6. Contrast Induced Nephropathy (CIN): A sudden deterioration in renal function that is caused by intravascular
1
, administration of iodinated contrast medium; typically seen with angiplasty/angiography
7. Signs of tension pneumothorax: 1. affected side will have decreased or absent lung sounds
2. cyanosis
3. Tracheal deviation (late sign)
4. distended neck veins
5. tachycardia, tachypnea
8. Pneumatic Antishock Garment: An inflatable device that covers the legs and abdomen; used to splint the lower
extremities or pelvis, or to control bleeding in the lower extremities or pelvis.
- used for intraperitoneal hemorrhage
9. What is the expected ABG of a pulmonary embolism?: Tachypnea and tachycardia--> respiratory
alkalosis
10. A client is brought to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident.
Initial assessment reveals that the client is unconscious with a blood pressure of 165/73 mmHg,
HR 50 bpm, RR 8 and irregular, temperature of 103 F. What do you suspect is happening?: The findings
reveal Cushing's Triad (hypertension with widening pulse pressure, bradycardia and bradypnea); this indicates increased ICP
11. Symptoms of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: fatigue, swelling, weakness, chest pain, SOB, dizziness
12. The nurse is caring for a client who is being weaned from mechanical ven- tilation.
Which assessment finding indicates that the client is ready to the endotracheal tube removed?: -
pulse ox: 98% with a T piece
- evidence of reversal of the underlying cause of respiratory failure
2
