Progressive Care RN A 2026 (Relias)
Exam Questions and Answers
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
• Verbal descriptive scale
• Vital signs assessment to approximate pain
• Behavioral pain scale (Wrong)
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
You want to assess for jugular vein distention (JVD). What position would be BEST? -
ANSWER-Position patient on their back with head of bed at 30 to 45 degrees.
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
What is an adequate amount of urine output? - ANSWER-30 mL/hr
Your patient has left ventricular failure. What clinical manifestations would you expect to
see? - ANSWER-Dyspnea, distant heart sounds, bilateral crackles
You are caring for your patient with an order for furosemide (Lasix®) 80 mg BID. What
would be your MOST appropriate action? - ANSWER-Call provider to clarify the order.
Your patient is in cardiac arrest. Chest compressions are being performed.
Capnography indicates the end-tidal CO2 is 18 mmg. What do the capnography results
indicate about the chest compressions? - ANSWER-No changes. These are high quality
compressions.
What is required before making a report of elder abuse? - ANSWER-Suspicion of abuse
You receive your patient with pneumonia from the ED. Antibiotics and steroids have
been initiated by the provider. The patient reports abdominal pain and has a large loose
bowel movement. They inform you this is their third bowel movement in the last two
hours. What would you do FIRST? - ANSWER-Initiate enteric contact isolation
precautions for possible C. diff
Your patient has developed sepsis from an indwelling urinary catheter. What would be
your PRIORITY intervention? - ANSWER-Remove catheter.
Your patient is in third degree heart block. What treatment would you MOST likely
expect to be implemented? - ANSWER-Pacemaker
What are 2 nursing interventions to prevent venous thromboembolism? - ANSWER-•
Adequate hydration and early mobilization.
• Hemodynamic monitoring and early mobilization. (Wrong)
• Adequate hydration and encouraging a steady amount of green leafy vegetables in
diet.
• Hemodynamic monitoring and encouraging a steady amount of green leafy vegetables
in diet.
Your patient is post left pneumonectomy. They have a chest tube in place for drainage.
What would be a PRIORITY in your care? - ANSWER-Encourage patient to cough and
deep breathe
What is the reversal agent for benzodiazepines? - ANSWER-Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Exam Questions and Answers
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
• Verbal descriptive scale
• Vital signs assessment to approximate pain
• Behavioral pain scale (Wrong)
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
You want to assess for jugular vein distention (JVD). What position would be BEST? -
ANSWER-Position patient on their back with head of bed at 30 to 45 degrees.
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
What is an adequate amount of urine output? - ANSWER-30 mL/hr
Your patient has left ventricular failure. What clinical manifestations would you expect to
see? - ANSWER-Dyspnea, distant heart sounds, bilateral crackles
You are caring for your patient with an order for furosemide (Lasix®) 80 mg BID. What
would be your MOST appropriate action? - ANSWER-Call provider to clarify the order.
Your patient is in cardiac arrest. Chest compressions are being performed.
Capnography indicates the end-tidal CO2 is 18 mmg. What do the capnography results
indicate about the chest compressions? - ANSWER-No changes. These are high quality
compressions.
What is required before making a report of elder abuse? - ANSWER-Suspicion of abuse
You receive your patient with pneumonia from the ED. Antibiotics and steroids have
been initiated by the provider. The patient reports abdominal pain and has a large loose
bowel movement. They inform you this is their third bowel movement in the last two
hours. What would you do FIRST? - ANSWER-Initiate enteric contact isolation
precautions for possible C. diff
Your patient has developed sepsis from an indwelling urinary catheter. What would be
your PRIORITY intervention? - ANSWER-Remove catheter.
Your patient is in third degree heart block. What treatment would you MOST likely
expect to be implemented? - ANSWER-Pacemaker
What are 2 nursing interventions to prevent venous thromboembolism? - ANSWER-•
Adequate hydration and early mobilization.
• Hemodynamic monitoring and early mobilization. (Wrong)
• Adequate hydration and encouraging a steady amount of green leafy vegetables in
diet.
• Hemodynamic monitoring and encouraging a steady amount of green leafy vegetables
in diet.
Your patient is post left pneumonectomy. They have a chest tube in place for drainage.
What would be a PRIORITY in your care? - ANSWER-Encourage patient to cough and
deep breathe
What is the reversal agent for benzodiazepines? - ANSWER-Flumazenil (Romazicon)
