CCRN EXAM vc
Exam Solution vc
Critical Care 2026 A+ GRADE ASSURED COMPLETE SOL vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
UTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (12030) vc vc vc vc
QUESTION 1 vc
3. The critical care nurse recognizes that an ideal plan for caregiver involvement include
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s
a. a caregiver at the bedside at all times.
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b. allowing caregivers at the bedside at preset, brief intervals.
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c. an individually devised plan to involve caregivers with care and comfort measures.
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d. restriction of visiting in the ICU because the environment is overwhelming to caregive
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rs.
ANSWER
Correct answer: c Rationale: An individualized plan of care should be developed for each patient and the
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caregivers. Caregivers should be allowed to assist with care and comfort measures in the ICU if desired.
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QUESTION 2 vc
5. The hemodynamic changes the nurse expects to find after successful initiation of intra
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aortic balloon pump therapy in a patient with cardiogenic shock include (select all that a
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pply)
a. decreased SV.
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b. decreased SVR.
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c. decreased PAWP.
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d. increased diastolic BP.
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e. decreased myocardial O2 consumption.
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ANSWER
Correct answers: b, c, d, e Rationale: The hemodynamic effects of intraaortic balloon inflation during dia
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stole include increased diastolic blood pressure (BP), increased pressure in the aortic root, increased co
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ronary artery perfusion pressure, and improved oxygen delivery to the myocardium. The hemodynamic
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effects of intraaortic balloon inflation during systole include decreased afterload (i.e., systemic vascular
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resistance [SVR]), decreased peak systolic pressure, decreased myocardial oxygen consumption, increas
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ed stroke volume (SV), and decreased preload (i.e., decreased pulmonary artery [PA] pressures), includi
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ng decreased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).
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, QUESTION 3 vc
6. The purpose of adding PEEP to positive pressure ventilation is to
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a. increase functional residual capacity and improve oxygenation.
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b. increase FIO2 in an attempt to wean the patient and avoid O2 toxicity.
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c. determine if the patient is in synchrony with the ventilator or needs to be paralyzed.
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d. determine if the patient is able to be weaned and avoid the risk of pneumomediastinu
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m.
ANSWER
Rationale: Positive end- vc vc
expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a ventilatory maneuver in which positive pressure is applied to the airwa
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y during exhalation. This increases functional residual capacity (FRC) and often improves oxygenation w
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ith restoration of lung volume that normally remains at the end of passive exhalation.
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QUESTION 4 vc
7. The nursing management of a patient with an artificial airway includes
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a. maintaining ET tube cuff pressure at 30 cm H2O.
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b. routine suctioning of the tube at least every 2 hours.
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c. observing for cardiac dysrhythmias during suctioning.
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d. preventing tube dislodgment by limiting mouth care to lubrication of the lips.
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ANSWER
Correct answer: c Rationale: Potential complications associated with suctioning include hypoxemia, bron
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chospasm, increased intracranial pressure, dysrhythmias, hypertension, hypotension, mucosal damage, p
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ulmonary bleeding, pain, and infection. Closely assess the patient before, during, and after the suctioning
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procedure. If the patient does not tolerate suctioning (e.g., decreased arterial oxygenation, increased or
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decreased blood pressure, sustained coughing, development of dysrhythmias), stop the procedure, and
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manually hyperventilate the patient with a bag valve mask and 100% oxygen.
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QUESTION 5 vc
The nurse finds the client unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom. Which action shoul
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d the nurse implement first? 1. Check the client for breathing. 2. Assess the carotid arter
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y for a pulse. 3. Shake the client and shout. 4. Notify the rapid response team.
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ANSWER
ANS: 3. This is the first intervention the nurse should implement after finding the client unresponsive o
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n the floor. RATIONALE: 1. This is the third intervention based on the answer options available in this q
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uestion. 2. This is the fourth intervention based on the options available in this question. 4. The rapid re
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sponse team is called if the client is breathing; a code would be called if the client were not breathing. T
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EST-
TAKING HINT: Options "1," "2," and "3" are all assessment interventions, which is the first step in the n
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Exam Solution vc
Critical Care 2026 A+ GRADE ASSURED COMPLETE SOL vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
UTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (12030) vc vc vc vc
QUESTION 1 vc
3. The critical care nurse recognizes that an ideal plan for caregiver involvement include
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s
a. a caregiver at the bedside at all times.
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b. allowing caregivers at the bedside at preset, brief intervals.
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c. an individually devised plan to involve caregivers with care and comfort measures.
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d. restriction of visiting in the ICU because the environment is overwhelming to caregive
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rs.
ANSWER
Correct answer: c Rationale: An individualized plan of care should be developed for each patient and the
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caregivers. Caregivers should be allowed to assist with care and comfort measures in the ICU if desired.
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
QUESTION 2 vc
5. The hemodynamic changes the nurse expects to find after successful initiation of intra
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
aortic balloon pump therapy in a patient with cardiogenic shock include (select all that a
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pply)
a. decreased SV.
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b. decreased SVR.
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c. decreased PAWP.
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d. increased diastolic BP.
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e. decreased myocardial O2 consumption.
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ANSWER
Correct answers: b, c, d, e Rationale: The hemodynamic effects of intraaortic balloon inflation during dia
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stole include increased diastolic blood pressure (BP), increased pressure in the aortic root, increased co
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ronary artery perfusion pressure, and improved oxygen delivery to the myocardium. The hemodynamic
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effects of intraaortic balloon inflation during systole include decreased afterload (i.e., systemic vascular
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
resistance [SVR]), decreased peak systolic pressure, decreased myocardial oxygen consumption, increas
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
ed stroke volume (SV), and decreased preload (i.e., decreased pulmonary artery [PA] pressures), includi
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ng decreased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).
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, QUESTION 3 vc
6. The purpose of adding PEEP to positive pressure ventilation is to
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a. increase functional residual capacity and improve oxygenation.
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b. increase FIO2 in an attempt to wean the patient and avoid O2 toxicity.
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c. determine if the patient is in synchrony with the ventilator or needs to be paralyzed.
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d. determine if the patient is able to be weaned and avoid the risk of pneumomediastinu
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m.
ANSWER
Rationale: Positive end- vc vc
expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a ventilatory maneuver in which positive pressure is applied to the airwa
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
y during exhalation. This increases functional residual capacity (FRC) and often improves oxygenation w
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ith restoration of lung volume that normally remains at the end of passive exhalation.
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QUESTION 4 vc
7. The nursing management of a patient with an artificial airway includes
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a. maintaining ET tube cuff pressure at 30 cm H2O.
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b. routine suctioning of the tube at least every 2 hours.
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c. observing for cardiac dysrhythmias during suctioning.
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d. preventing tube dislodgment by limiting mouth care to lubrication of the lips.
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ANSWER
Correct answer: c Rationale: Potential complications associated with suctioning include hypoxemia, bron
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chospasm, increased intracranial pressure, dysrhythmias, hypertension, hypotension, mucosal damage, p
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ulmonary bleeding, pain, and infection. Closely assess the patient before, during, and after the suctioning
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procedure. If the patient does not tolerate suctioning (e.g., decreased arterial oxygenation, increased or
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
decreased blood pressure, sustained coughing, development of dysrhythmias), stop the procedure, and
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
manually hyperventilate the patient with a bag valve mask and 100% oxygen.
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
QUESTION 5 vc
The nurse finds the client unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom. Which action shoul
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
d the nurse implement first? 1. Check the client for breathing. 2. Assess the carotid arter
vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc vc
y for a pulse. 3. Shake the client and shout. 4. Notify the rapid response team.
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ANSWER
ANS: 3. This is the first intervention the nurse should implement after finding the client unresponsive o
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n the floor. RATIONALE: 1. This is the third intervention based on the answer options available in this q
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uestion. 2. This is the fourth intervention based on the options available in this question. 4. The rapid re
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sponse team is called if the client is breathing; a code would be called if the client were not breathing. T
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EST-
TAKING HINT: Options "1," "2," and "3" are all assessment interventions, which is the first step in the n
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