Critical Care Nursing Exam Questions 2026 | ICU &
Emergency Nursing Review (Q&A with Rationales)
1. A patient in septic shock is receiving norepinephrine. What is the primary goal of this
medication?
Answer: To maintain adequate mean arterial pressure (MAP)
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a vasopressor that increases vascular tone, improving MAP and
organ perfusion in septic shock.
2. What is the first priority in managing a patient with acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS)?
Answer: Ensure adequate oxygenation
Rationale: ARDS causes severe hypoxemia; oxygenation via mechanical ventilation or high-
flow oxygen is the priority.
3. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) finding indicates respiratory acidosis?
Answer: pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
Rationale: Elevated CO₂ with low pH indicates hypoventilation leading to respiratory
acidosis.
4. What is the most common complication of mechanical ventilation?
Answer: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
Rationale: Prolonged intubation increases infection risk due to airway colonization.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most life-threatening in ICU patients?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Rationale: It can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias if not treated quickly.
6. What is the first action when a patient develops ventricular fibrillation?
Answer: Immediate defibrillation
Rationale: VF is a shockable rhythm requiring urgent defibrillation for survival.
7. What is the normal range for intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Answer: 5–15 mmHg
Rationale: ICP above 20 mmHg is considered elevated and dangerous.
8. Which position is best for a patient with increased intracranial pressure?
, Answer: Head elevated 30 degrees
Rationale: Promotes venous drainage and reduces ICP.
9. What is the earliest sign of hypovolemic shock?
Answer: Tachycardia
Rationale: The body compensates for low volume by increasing heart rate.
10. Which drug is used as first-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
Answer: Epinephrine
Rationale: It reverses airway constriction, hypotension, and edema.
11. What is the primary goal of fluid resuscitation in shock?
Answer: Restore tissue perfusion
Rationale: Adequate circulating volume improves oxygen delivery.
12. Which sign indicates right-sided heart failure?
Answer: Peripheral edema
Rationale: Blood backs up into systemic circulation causing swelling.
13. What is a key feature of cardiogenic shock?
Answer: Decreased cardiac output
Rationale: The heart fails to pump effectively despite adequate volume.
14. Which medication is commonly used to reduce preload in heart failure?
Answer: Furosemide
Rationale: It removes excess fluid, reducing cardiac workload.
15. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with chest pain?
Answer: Administer oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen improves myocardial oxygen supply.
16. What does a pulse oximeter measure?
Answer: Oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
Rationale: It estimates hemoglobin oxygen binding in blood.
17. Which condition is associated with Kussmaul respirations?
Answer: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Emergency Nursing Review (Q&A with Rationales)
1. A patient in septic shock is receiving norepinephrine. What is the primary goal of this
medication?
Answer: To maintain adequate mean arterial pressure (MAP)
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a vasopressor that increases vascular tone, improving MAP and
organ perfusion in septic shock.
2. What is the first priority in managing a patient with acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS)?
Answer: Ensure adequate oxygenation
Rationale: ARDS causes severe hypoxemia; oxygenation via mechanical ventilation or high-
flow oxygen is the priority.
3. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) finding indicates respiratory acidosis?
Answer: pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
Rationale: Elevated CO₂ with low pH indicates hypoventilation leading to respiratory
acidosis.
4. What is the most common complication of mechanical ventilation?
Answer: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
Rationale: Prolonged intubation increases infection risk due to airway colonization.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most life-threatening in ICU patients?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Rationale: It can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias if not treated quickly.
6. What is the first action when a patient develops ventricular fibrillation?
Answer: Immediate defibrillation
Rationale: VF is a shockable rhythm requiring urgent defibrillation for survival.
7. What is the normal range for intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Answer: 5–15 mmHg
Rationale: ICP above 20 mmHg is considered elevated and dangerous.
8. Which position is best for a patient with increased intracranial pressure?
, Answer: Head elevated 30 degrees
Rationale: Promotes venous drainage and reduces ICP.
9. What is the earliest sign of hypovolemic shock?
Answer: Tachycardia
Rationale: The body compensates for low volume by increasing heart rate.
10. Which drug is used as first-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
Answer: Epinephrine
Rationale: It reverses airway constriction, hypotension, and edema.
11. What is the primary goal of fluid resuscitation in shock?
Answer: Restore tissue perfusion
Rationale: Adequate circulating volume improves oxygen delivery.
12. Which sign indicates right-sided heart failure?
Answer: Peripheral edema
Rationale: Blood backs up into systemic circulation causing swelling.
13. What is a key feature of cardiogenic shock?
Answer: Decreased cardiac output
Rationale: The heart fails to pump effectively despite adequate volume.
14. Which medication is commonly used to reduce preload in heart failure?
Answer: Furosemide
Rationale: It removes excess fluid, reducing cardiac workload.
15. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with chest pain?
Answer: Administer oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen improves myocardial oxygen supply.
16. What does a pulse oximeter measure?
Answer: Oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
Rationale: It estimates hemoglobin oxygen binding in blood.
17. Which condition is associated with Kussmaul respirations?
Answer: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
