Progressive Care RN A Practice Exam:
Questions with Answers Guide
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**Question 1**
A progressive care patient develops new onset atrial fibrillation with RVR at 142 bpm.
Blood pressure is 118/76 and the patient is alert. What is the nurse’s first action?
a. Prepare for immediate cardioversion
b. Administer metoprolol 5 mg IV push
c. Perform a thorough hemodynamic assessment
d. Start amiodarone bolus immediately
☑ c. Perform a thorough hemodynamic assessment
________________________________________________
**Question 2**
Which hemodynamic value best reflects left ventricular preload?
a. Cardiac index
b. Systemic vascular resistance
c. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure
d. Central venous pressure
☑ c. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure
________________________________________________
,**Question 3**
A patient on the progressive care unit has a cardiac output of 3.2 L/min and a cardiac
index of 1.9 L/min/m². The nurse recognizes this as:
a. Hyperdynamic state
b. Normal cardiac function
c. Low cardiac output
d. High output heart failure
☑ c. Low cardiac output
________________________________________________
**Question 4**
A post-operative cardiac surgery patient suddenly becomes hypotensive with a heart
rate of 128 bpm in narrow complex tachycardia. The patient is cool and clammy. The
nurse should prepare for:
a. Adenosine administration
b. Synchronized cardioversion
c. Amiodarone loading dose
d. Vagal maneuvers
☑ b. Synchronized cardioversion
________________________________________________
**Question 5**
The first-line vasopressor for a patient in septic shock on a progressive care unit is
usually:
a. Dopamine
b. Phenylephrine
, c. Norepinephrine
d. Epinephrine
☑ c. Norepinephrine
________________________________________________
**Question 6**
While caring for a patient with an intra-aortic balloon pump, the nurse notes the balloon
is inflating during systole on the arterial waveform. What is the priority action?
a. Decrease the augmentation ratio
b. Immediately notify the provider
c. Increase the helium volume
d. Zero the transducer
☑ b. Immediately notify the provider
________________________________________________
**Question 7**
A ventilated patient has an ABG showing pH 7.29, PaCO₂ 51, PaO₂ 71 on 60% FiO₂.
The nurse should recommend:
a. Increasing the set respiratory rate
b. Decreasing tidal volume
c. Increasing PEEP
d. Switching to pressure control mode
☑ a. Increasing the set respiratory rate
________________________________________________
Questions with Answers Guide
________________________________________________
**Question 1**
A progressive care patient develops new onset atrial fibrillation with RVR at 142 bpm.
Blood pressure is 118/76 and the patient is alert. What is the nurse’s first action?
a. Prepare for immediate cardioversion
b. Administer metoprolol 5 mg IV push
c. Perform a thorough hemodynamic assessment
d. Start amiodarone bolus immediately
☑ c. Perform a thorough hemodynamic assessment
________________________________________________
**Question 2**
Which hemodynamic value best reflects left ventricular preload?
a. Cardiac index
b. Systemic vascular resistance
c. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure
d. Central venous pressure
☑ c. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure
________________________________________________
,**Question 3**
A patient on the progressive care unit has a cardiac output of 3.2 L/min and a cardiac
index of 1.9 L/min/m². The nurse recognizes this as:
a. Hyperdynamic state
b. Normal cardiac function
c. Low cardiac output
d. High output heart failure
☑ c. Low cardiac output
________________________________________________
**Question 4**
A post-operative cardiac surgery patient suddenly becomes hypotensive with a heart
rate of 128 bpm in narrow complex tachycardia. The patient is cool and clammy. The
nurse should prepare for:
a. Adenosine administration
b. Synchronized cardioversion
c. Amiodarone loading dose
d. Vagal maneuvers
☑ b. Synchronized cardioversion
________________________________________________
**Question 5**
The first-line vasopressor for a patient in septic shock on a progressive care unit is
usually:
a. Dopamine
b. Phenylephrine
, c. Norepinephrine
d. Epinephrine
☑ c. Norepinephrine
________________________________________________
**Question 6**
While caring for a patient with an intra-aortic balloon pump, the nurse notes the balloon
is inflating during systole on the arterial waveform. What is the priority action?
a. Decrease the augmentation ratio
b. Immediately notify the provider
c. Increase the helium volume
d. Zero the transducer
☑ b. Immediately notify the provider
________________________________________________
**Question 7**
A ventilated patient has an ABG showing pH 7.29, PaCO₂ 51, PaO₂ 71 on 60% FiO₂.
The nurse should recommend:
a. Increasing the set respiratory rate
b. Decreasing tidal volume
c. Increasing PEEP
d. Switching to pressure control mode
☑ a. Increasing the set respiratory rate
________________________________________________
