Critical Care Nursing CCRN Review
Barron’s CCRN Comprehensive Study
Notes and Practice Q&A
Introduction:
This document provides a high-yield review of critical care nursing
concepts tailored for CCRN exam preparation. It includes concise
question-and-answer formats covering neurology, cardiovascular,
respiratory, hemodynamics, and emergency conditions. The
material highlights key clinical signs, diagnostic indicators, and
treatment principles commonly tested on the CCRN exam. It serves
as a rapid revision guide for both foundational knowledge and
advanced critical care scenarios.
Exam Questions and Answers:
If you patient has a left sided stroke, his eyes may deviate toward
or away from the affected side? ---Correct precise answer---toward
the pathology
your patient is having hemianopsia in his left eye, you know this
means that he had a left or right sided stroke? ---Correct precise
answer---right side, contralateral
,in an uncal herniation, what will you see first, LOC change or blown
pupil on the side affected? ---Correct precise answer---blown pupil
what is the most common cause of uncal herniation? ---Correct
precise answer---epidural hematoma in temporal area (uncal
herniation occurs due to displacement of temporal lobe against
brain stem and 3rd cranial nerve-->oculomoter)
what happens in central herniation? ---Correct precise answer---
swelling on both sides-->downward displacement of hemispheres
slight change in LOC then coma
constriction of pupils (1-3mm) then both dilate
Bil. Babinski
Causes are cerebral edema secondary to stroke or encephalopathy
Pontine stroke S+S ---Correct precise answer---Think P
aPneustic breathing
,Pinpoint Pupils
Parasympathetic innervation
why is decadron given in neuro cases? ---Correct precise answer---
to prevent elevated ICP
first sign of increased ICP ---Correct precise answer---Decreased
level of consciousness
normal ICP ---Correct precise answer---0-10
how to calculate cerebral perfusion pressure? ---Correct precise
answer---CPP = MAP - ICP
average CPP? ---Correct precise answer---80-100
minimum is 50
brain death is under 30
, high ICP with hypotension... ---Correct precise answer---VERY BAD
results in poor cerebral perfusion CPP= MAP-ICP
Cushing's triad consists of: ---Correct precise answer---1. Elevated
systolic BP
2. Bradycardia
3. Irregular respirations
"A" Waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---A waves
are "awful"
"B" waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---B waves
are bad
C waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---C waves are
common
cerebral vasospasm results in ___ waves and ____ ICP ---Correct
precise answer---A waves and high ICP
should you give 0.45 NS to a patient with high ICP? ---Correct
precise answer---No! hypotonic, increased cell swelling
Barron’s CCRN Comprehensive Study
Notes and Practice Q&A
Introduction:
This document provides a high-yield review of critical care nursing
concepts tailored for CCRN exam preparation. It includes concise
question-and-answer formats covering neurology, cardiovascular,
respiratory, hemodynamics, and emergency conditions. The
material highlights key clinical signs, diagnostic indicators, and
treatment principles commonly tested on the CCRN exam. It serves
as a rapid revision guide for both foundational knowledge and
advanced critical care scenarios.
Exam Questions and Answers:
If you patient has a left sided stroke, his eyes may deviate toward
or away from the affected side? ---Correct precise answer---toward
the pathology
your patient is having hemianopsia in his left eye, you know this
means that he had a left or right sided stroke? ---Correct precise
answer---right side, contralateral
,in an uncal herniation, what will you see first, LOC change or blown
pupil on the side affected? ---Correct precise answer---blown pupil
what is the most common cause of uncal herniation? ---Correct
precise answer---epidural hematoma in temporal area (uncal
herniation occurs due to displacement of temporal lobe against
brain stem and 3rd cranial nerve-->oculomoter)
what happens in central herniation? ---Correct precise answer---
swelling on both sides-->downward displacement of hemispheres
slight change in LOC then coma
constriction of pupils (1-3mm) then both dilate
Bil. Babinski
Causes are cerebral edema secondary to stroke or encephalopathy
Pontine stroke S+S ---Correct precise answer---Think P
aPneustic breathing
,Pinpoint Pupils
Parasympathetic innervation
why is decadron given in neuro cases? ---Correct precise answer---
to prevent elevated ICP
first sign of increased ICP ---Correct precise answer---Decreased
level of consciousness
normal ICP ---Correct precise answer---0-10
how to calculate cerebral perfusion pressure? ---Correct precise
answer---CPP = MAP - ICP
average CPP? ---Correct precise answer---80-100
minimum is 50
brain death is under 30
, high ICP with hypotension... ---Correct precise answer---VERY BAD
results in poor cerebral perfusion CPP= MAP-ICP
Cushing's triad consists of: ---Correct precise answer---1. Elevated
systolic BP
2. Bradycardia
3. Irregular respirations
"A" Waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---A waves
are "awful"
"B" waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---B waves
are bad
C waves of ICP monitoring ---Correct precise answer---C waves are
common
cerebral vasospasm results in ___ waves and ____ ICP ---Correct
precise answer---A waves and high ICP
should you give 0.45 NS to a patient with high ICP? ---Correct
precise answer---No! hypotonic, increased cell swelling
