PASS CCRN ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A patient with a triple-lumen subclavian catheter has been
receiving total parenteral nutrition, maintenance fluids, and
antibiotics by the catheter. He has been slightly confused. Suddenly
he grasps the catheter and pulls it out. He then complains of
shortness of breath, and his pulse oximetry indicates an SpO2 of
84%. How should this patient be positioned?
A. Head down, left side
B. Head down, right side
C. Head of bed elevated, left side
D. Head of bed elevated, right side. Answer: A. Head down, left side
Envision a big air bubble in the patient's heart. Think: what position
would decrease the movement of the air embolism out of the right
side of the heart. Chose "Head down, left side."
◉ Oxygen delivery (DO2) is the product of which of the following?
A.
PaO2, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure
,B.
SaO2, hemoglobin, cardiac output
C.
SvO2, cardiac index, SaO2
D.
PaO2, mean arterial pressure, SvO2. Answer: B. SaO2, hemoglobin,
cardiac output
Oxygen is delivered from the arterial end, so choose an option that
has SaO2
◉ Which of the following is the most significant complication of
status asthmaticus?
A.
Pulmonary embolism
B.
Acute respiratory failure
C.
Hypertension
D.
,Anaphylaxis. Answer: B. Acute respiratory failure
◉ A 22-year-old man is admitted to the critical care unit after a
motor vehicle collision. The emergency department nurse reports
that he was unconscious at the scene of the accident, but he is now
alert and oriented. Skull films show a linear fracture of the right
temporal bone. He is at significant risk for:
A.
scalp hematoma.
B.
subdural hematoma.
C.
epidural hematoma.
D.
intracerebral hematoma.. Answer: C. epidural hematoma.
Linear fractures of the temporal bone frequently disrupt the middle
meningeal artery and cause epidural hematoma. Patients with an
epidural hematoma classically present with a short period of
unconsciousness followed by a lucid interval and then rapid
deterioration. An epidural hematoma is usually caused by arterial
bleeding.
, ◉ A patient is admitted to the ICU after sustaining a concussion and
blunt abdominal trauma to the right upper quadrant in a domestic
dispute. The patient's vital signs are BP 145/86 mm Hg, pulse 86
beats/min, respiration 15 breaths/min, and temperature 98.8° F.
The nurse is monitoring the patient's bowel sounds, abdominal
tenderness, and abdominal girth frequently. Which of the following
laboratory parameters is especially important for the nurse to
closely monitor for bleeding in this patient?
A.
Platelet count
B.
Protime
C.
Hematocrit
D.
Mean corpuscular volume. Answer: C. Hematocrit
Common injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma can
include injury to the liver, spleen, mesenteric vessels, pancreas, or
kidneys. In a nonoperative approach to blunt abdominal trauma,
observation and monitoring include serial hematocrits to evaluate
for intra-abdominal bleeding. The platelet count does not fluctuate
unless there is a disease process (e.g. cirrhosis, leukemia) or
significant blood loss. Protime is a monitor of coagulation status and
QUESTIONS ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A patient with a triple-lumen subclavian catheter has been
receiving total parenteral nutrition, maintenance fluids, and
antibiotics by the catheter. He has been slightly confused. Suddenly
he grasps the catheter and pulls it out. He then complains of
shortness of breath, and his pulse oximetry indicates an SpO2 of
84%. How should this patient be positioned?
A. Head down, left side
B. Head down, right side
C. Head of bed elevated, left side
D. Head of bed elevated, right side. Answer: A. Head down, left side
Envision a big air bubble in the patient's heart. Think: what position
would decrease the movement of the air embolism out of the right
side of the heart. Chose "Head down, left side."
◉ Oxygen delivery (DO2) is the product of which of the following?
A.
PaO2, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure
,B.
SaO2, hemoglobin, cardiac output
C.
SvO2, cardiac index, SaO2
D.
PaO2, mean arterial pressure, SvO2. Answer: B. SaO2, hemoglobin,
cardiac output
Oxygen is delivered from the arterial end, so choose an option that
has SaO2
◉ Which of the following is the most significant complication of
status asthmaticus?
A.
Pulmonary embolism
B.
Acute respiratory failure
C.
Hypertension
D.
,Anaphylaxis. Answer: B. Acute respiratory failure
◉ A 22-year-old man is admitted to the critical care unit after a
motor vehicle collision. The emergency department nurse reports
that he was unconscious at the scene of the accident, but he is now
alert and oriented. Skull films show a linear fracture of the right
temporal bone. He is at significant risk for:
A.
scalp hematoma.
B.
subdural hematoma.
C.
epidural hematoma.
D.
intracerebral hematoma.. Answer: C. epidural hematoma.
Linear fractures of the temporal bone frequently disrupt the middle
meningeal artery and cause epidural hematoma. Patients with an
epidural hematoma classically present with a short period of
unconsciousness followed by a lucid interval and then rapid
deterioration. An epidural hematoma is usually caused by arterial
bleeding.
, ◉ A patient is admitted to the ICU after sustaining a concussion and
blunt abdominal trauma to the right upper quadrant in a domestic
dispute. The patient's vital signs are BP 145/86 mm Hg, pulse 86
beats/min, respiration 15 breaths/min, and temperature 98.8° F.
The nurse is monitoring the patient's bowel sounds, abdominal
tenderness, and abdominal girth frequently. Which of the following
laboratory parameters is especially important for the nurse to
closely monitor for bleeding in this patient?
A.
Platelet count
B.
Protime
C.
Hematocrit
D.
Mean corpuscular volume. Answer: C. Hematocrit
Common injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma can
include injury to the liver, spleen, mesenteric vessels, pancreas, or
kidneys. In a nonoperative approach to blunt abdominal trauma,
observation and monitoring include serial hematocrits to evaluate
for intra-abdominal bleeding. The platelet count does not fluctuate
unless there is a disease process (e.g. cirrhosis, leukemia) or
significant blood loss. Protime is a monitor of coagulation status and
