ESSENTIALS OF CRITICAL CARE NURSING
CHAPTER 1 AND 2 2026 Complete Study
Guide and 100% Verified Answers
‣ The nurse realizes that which stressor is one of the primary concerns of
critically ill patients and should be routinely included during
assessments?
1. Inability to control elimination
2. Lack of family support
3. Hunger
4. Altered ability to communicate . Answer: 4
‣ A patient has just completed a preoperative education session prior to
undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Which patient statements
indicate that teaching has been effective?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. "I understand that I will have to blink my eyes to respond after the
breathing tube is in my throat."
2. "I will be given frequent mouth care to help me when I am thirsty."
3. "I will be able to move about freely in bed and into the chair without
help while connected to the electronic equipment for monitoring."
4. "I may need something to help me rest due to the unfamiliar lights and
sounds of the ICU unit."
,5. "I might not behave like my usual self after the surgery but it will be
because of the medications and my illness." . Answer: 1,2,4,5
‣ When providing care to critically ill patients, whether they are
responsive or unresponsive, the nurse should:
1. Clearly explain what care is to be done before starting the activity.
2. Perform the activity and then let the patient rest without explaining
the care.
3. Make sure the patient always responds and is cooperative before
giving care.
4. Explain to the family that the patient will not understand or remember
any of the discomfort associated with care. . Answer: 1
‣ Which communication strategy is most appropriate for a critical care
nurse to use when communicating with a ventilated patient? The nurse
should:
1. Use professional terminology and provide the patient with detailed
information.
2. Use simple language and explain in other terms if the patient does not
seem to understand.
3. Provide minimal information so the patient is not overwhelmed.
4. Discuss issues primarily with the family because the patient is
unlikely to understand the information. . Answer: 2
‣ During an assessment, a ventilated patient begins to frown and wiggle
about in bed. Which assessment strategy would be most helpful for the
nurse to validate these observations?
, 1. Glasgow Scale
2. Maslow's hierarchy levels
3. Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
4. Vital signs trends . Answer: 3
‣ Which parameters indicate that a patient in the intensive care unit
being mechanically ventilated is ready for an interruption in sedation?
The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Had a MAP of 75 and heart rate of 76
2. Was sleeping but awakened with verbal stimuli
3. Frowned when turned but otherwise showed no muscular tension
4. Activated the ventilator alarms but the alarms stopped spontaneously
5. Is receiving neuromuscular blocking agents to ensure adequate
ventilation . Answer: 1,2,3,4
‣ A patient scores positive on the Confusion Assessment Method of the
Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Which nursing diagnosis would have
the highest priority based on this positive score?
1. Injury, Risk for
2. Family Processes, Altered
3. Social Interaction, Impaired
4. Memory Impaired . Answer: 1
CHAPTER 1 AND 2 2026 Complete Study
Guide and 100% Verified Answers
‣ The nurse realizes that which stressor is one of the primary concerns of
critically ill patients and should be routinely included during
assessments?
1. Inability to control elimination
2. Lack of family support
3. Hunger
4. Altered ability to communicate . Answer: 4
‣ A patient has just completed a preoperative education session prior to
undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Which patient statements
indicate that teaching has been effective?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. "I understand that I will have to blink my eyes to respond after the
breathing tube is in my throat."
2. "I will be given frequent mouth care to help me when I am thirsty."
3. "I will be able to move about freely in bed and into the chair without
help while connected to the electronic equipment for monitoring."
4. "I may need something to help me rest due to the unfamiliar lights and
sounds of the ICU unit."
,5. "I might not behave like my usual self after the surgery but it will be
because of the medications and my illness." . Answer: 1,2,4,5
‣ When providing care to critically ill patients, whether they are
responsive or unresponsive, the nurse should:
1. Clearly explain what care is to be done before starting the activity.
2. Perform the activity and then let the patient rest without explaining
the care.
3. Make sure the patient always responds and is cooperative before
giving care.
4. Explain to the family that the patient will not understand or remember
any of the discomfort associated with care. . Answer: 1
‣ Which communication strategy is most appropriate for a critical care
nurse to use when communicating with a ventilated patient? The nurse
should:
1. Use professional terminology and provide the patient with detailed
information.
2. Use simple language and explain in other terms if the patient does not
seem to understand.
3. Provide minimal information so the patient is not overwhelmed.
4. Discuss issues primarily with the family because the patient is
unlikely to understand the information. . Answer: 2
‣ During an assessment, a ventilated patient begins to frown and wiggle
about in bed. Which assessment strategy would be most helpful for the
nurse to validate these observations?
, 1. Glasgow Scale
2. Maslow's hierarchy levels
3. Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
4. Vital signs trends . Answer: 3
‣ Which parameters indicate that a patient in the intensive care unit
being mechanically ventilated is ready for an interruption in sedation?
The patient:
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect
choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Had a MAP of 75 and heart rate of 76
2. Was sleeping but awakened with verbal stimuli
3. Frowned when turned but otherwise showed no muscular tension
4. Activated the ventilator alarms but the alarms stopped spontaneously
5. Is receiving neuromuscular blocking agents to ensure adequate
ventilation . Answer: 1,2,3,4
‣ A patient scores positive on the Confusion Assessment Method of the
Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Which nursing diagnosis would have
the highest priority based on this positive score?
1. Injury, Risk for
2. Family Processes, Altered
3. Social Interaction, Impaired
4. Memory Impaired . Answer: 1
