Page 1 of 88
BKAT CRITICAL CARE EXAM REVIEW |
BKAT ICU POST TEST | ALL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2025
1. A patient presents with acute chest pain. What is the very
first action the nurse should take?
A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C. Ask the patient to stop all activity and rest
D. Start a peripheral IV line
Answer: C. Ask the patient to stop all activity and rest
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Rationale: The immediate priority is to reduce myocardial
oxygen demand. Having the patient rest in a comfortable
position (semi-Fowler’s) decreases the workload on the heart and
is the first, most critical step before any diagnostic or therapeutic
interventions.
2. In acute myocardial infarction (MI), which ECG change is
the hallmark of muscle injury?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Pathological Q waves
C. ST-segment depression
D. ST-segment elevation in two or more contiguous leads
Answer: D. ST-segment elevation in two or more contiguous
leads
Rationale: ST-segment elevation indicates transmural
(full-thickness) myocardial injury. This ECG finding is the hallmark
of an ST-Elevation MI (STEMI) and a medical emergency
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requiring immediate reperfusion therapy. While Q waves can
develop later (hours to days), ST elevation is the key acute
finding.
3. Which ECG leads are considered "inferior leads"?
A. V1 and V2
B. I and aVL
C. II, III, and aVF
D. V5 and V6
Answer: C. II, III, and aVF
Rationale: Leads II, III, and aVF view the inferior wall of the
heart, which is supplied by the right coronary artery (RCA) in
most patients. ST-elevation in these leads suggests an inferior
wall MI. Understanding lead placement helps localize the
ischemic area.
4. ST-segment elevation in leads V1–V4 is most likely
associated with occlusion of which vessel?
, Page 4 of 88
A. Right coronary artery (RCA)
B. Left circumflex artery (LCx)
C. Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
D. Posterior descending artery (PDA)
Answer: C. Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
Rationale: Leads V1–V4 (and to some degree V5) view the
anterior wall and septum, which are supplied by the LAD.
Anterior MIs carry a higher risk of heart failure and mortality
and often involve larger areas of myocardium. Lateral leads
include V5, V6, I, and aVL (circumflex artery supply).
5. A patient is found to have an elevated troponin I level. This
indicates:
A. Skeletal muscle injury
B. Myocardial necrosis
C. Renal failure
D. Pulmonary embolism
BKAT CRITICAL CARE EXAM REVIEW |
BKAT ICU POST TEST | ALL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2025
1. A patient presents with acute chest pain. What is the very
first action the nurse should take?
A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C. Ask the patient to stop all activity and rest
D. Start a peripheral IV line
Answer: C. Ask the patient to stop all activity and rest
,Page 2 of 88
Rationale: The immediate priority is to reduce myocardial
oxygen demand. Having the patient rest in a comfortable
position (semi-Fowler’s) decreases the workload on the heart and
is the first, most critical step before any diagnostic or therapeutic
interventions.
2. In acute myocardial infarction (MI), which ECG change is
the hallmark of muscle injury?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Pathological Q waves
C. ST-segment depression
D. ST-segment elevation in two or more contiguous leads
Answer: D. ST-segment elevation in two or more contiguous
leads
Rationale: ST-segment elevation indicates transmural
(full-thickness) myocardial injury. This ECG finding is the hallmark
of an ST-Elevation MI (STEMI) and a medical emergency
,Page 3 of 88
requiring immediate reperfusion therapy. While Q waves can
develop later (hours to days), ST elevation is the key acute
finding.
3. Which ECG leads are considered "inferior leads"?
A. V1 and V2
B. I and aVL
C. II, III, and aVF
D. V5 and V6
Answer: C. II, III, and aVF
Rationale: Leads II, III, and aVF view the inferior wall of the
heart, which is supplied by the right coronary artery (RCA) in
most patients. ST-elevation in these leads suggests an inferior
wall MI. Understanding lead placement helps localize the
ischemic area.
4. ST-segment elevation in leads V1–V4 is most likely
associated with occlusion of which vessel?
, Page 4 of 88
A. Right coronary artery (RCA)
B. Left circumflex artery (LCx)
C. Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
D. Posterior descending artery (PDA)
Answer: C. Left anterior descending artery (LAD)
Rationale: Leads V1–V4 (and to some degree V5) view the
anterior wall and septum, which are supplied by the LAD.
Anterior MIs carry a higher risk of heart failure and mortality
and often involve larger areas of myocardium. Lateral leads
include V5, V6, I, and aVL (circumflex artery supply).
5. A patient is found to have an elevated troponin I level. This
indicates:
A. Skeletal muscle injury
B. Myocardial necrosis
C. Renal failure
D. Pulmonary embolism
