RN PROGRESSIVE CARE EXAM 2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
You want to assess for jugular vein distention (JVD). What position would be BEST? -
ANS 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? - ANS Perform a bedside EKG
Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of analgesics would MOST likely be
contraindicated for them? - ANS Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication administration would likely be LEAST
effective? - ANS Intramuscular
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? - ANS Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 1
mg IV
Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging them and provide patient
education.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the education? - ANS I will
not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment would be appropriate? - ANS •
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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS WBC greater than 19,000
What is an adequate amount of urine output? - ANS 30 mL/hr
Your patient has left ventricular failure. What clinical manifestations would you expect to see? -
ANS 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? - ANS Call provider to clarify the order.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
You want to assess for jugular vein distention (JVD). What position would be BEST? -
ANS 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? - ANS Perform a bedside EKG
Your patient has a history of renal insufficiency. What class of analgesics would MOST likely be
contraindicated for them? - ANS Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Your patient is acutely ill. What route of medication administration would likely be LEAST
effective? - ANS Intramuscular
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? - ANS Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 1
mg IV
Your patient is on anticoagulant medication. You are discharging them and provide patient
education.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Which statement by your patient indicates an understanding of the education? - ANS I will
not take ibuprofen (Motrin®) every day
Your non-verbal patient is alert. What type of pain assessment would be appropriate? - ANS •
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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS WBC greater than 19,000
What is an adequate amount of urine output? - ANS 30 mL/hr
Your patient has left ventricular failure. What clinical manifestations would you expect to see? -
ANS 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? - ANS Call provider to clarify the order.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
