CRITICAL CARE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2024/2025
The triage nurse is assessing a victim of a stab wound. According to the
paramedics, the victim was stabbed by a male attacker. The knife blade is 6
inches (7.2 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. The "point of entry" of the
stab wound is two inches above and left of the victim's xiphoid process. Which
vital organ(s) are at an increased risk of being in the direct path of injury?
Heart
Lungs
Diaphragm
What way do females stab?
Downwards
What way do males stab?
Upwards
A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and coughing all
the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats. The client's
assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout the lungs, dependent
peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds, temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C),
heart rate of 110 beats/minute, respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood
pressure of 105/60 mmHg with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic
procedure should the nurse prepare to do first?
Blood culture
Define: Infective endocarditis
Infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
What indicates ineffective endocarditis?
Edema & S1/S3 sounds
, According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle collision was
sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle. The vehicle was
stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the left side by another
vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97 kmh). The client reports slight
tenderness and achiness on (L) side of thorax and body. The significant
assessment findings include: weak and thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain,
tenderness and guarding present upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and
extremities cool to touch, capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present
in the (L) flank area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are
temperature- 97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse oximetry 90%
on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula.
Fractured liver & ruptured spleen
The nurse is analyzing an arterial blood gas (ABG) of a client who is
mechanicallly ventilated. The ABG results are pH- 7.52; paCO2- 30 mmHg; HCO3-
28 mEq/liter. How should the nurse interpret this blood gas?
Respiratory alkalosis
Define: Respiratory alkalosis
HCO3 & pH is increased while the CO2 is decreased
What is the effect if blood sugar continues to rise?
Change in level of consciousness
What precaution should a patient be on with a high sodium?
Seizure precautions
Why do people with diabetes have an increased urinary output?
Low ADH
What is the effect of a low ADH?
Dehydration & increased serum Sodium
A client with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH) is admitted to the intensive care unit with a serum sodium level of 112
mEq/L or mmol/L. Which protocol prescription should the nurse implement first?
Obtain serum sodium every 4 hours
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2024/2025
The triage nurse is assessing a victim of a stab wound. According to the
paramedics, the victim was stabbed by a male attacker. The knife blade is 6
inches (7.2 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. The "point of entry" of the
stab wound is two inches above and left of the victim's xiphoid process. Which
vital organ(s) are at an increased risk of being in the direct path of injury?
Heart
Lungs
Diaphragm
What way do females stab?
Downwards
What way do males stab?
Upwards
A client reports to the nurse feeling achy and weak, being tired and coughing all
the time, frequent headaches and experiencing night sweats. The client's
assessment is significant for crackles scattered throughout the lungs, dependent
peripheral edema +3/+4, S3 and S4 heart sounds, temperature of 102.4° F(39.1° C),
heart rate of 110 beats/minute, respirations of 20 breaths/minute, and blood
pressure of 105/60 mmHg with a mean arterial pressure of (75). Which diagnostic
procedure should the nurse prepare to do first?
Blood culture
Define: Infective endocarditis
Infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, usually the heart valves
What indicates ineffective endocarditis?
Edema & S1/S3 sounds
, According to the paramedic's report, the victim of a motor vehicle collision was
sitting in the passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle. The vehicle was
stopped at a traffic light when the vehicle was hit on the left side by another
vehicle traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph (97 kmh). The client reports slight
tenderness and achiness on (L) side of thorax and body. The significant
assessment findings include: weak and thready pulse; diffuse abdominal pain,
tenderness and guarding present upon palpation; skin is diaphoretic and
extremities cool to touch, capillary refill +4 in extremities, and bruising is present
in the (L) flank area and progresses towards the abdomen. Vital signs are
temperature- 97.2° F (36.2° C), pulse- 110 beats/minute, respirations- 22
breaths/minute, blood pressure 84/46 mmHg, MAP- (57), and pulse oximetry 90%
on 2 lpm O2 via nasal cannula.
Fractured liver & ruptured spleen
The nurse is analyzing an arterial blood gas (ABG) of a client who is
mechanicallly ventilated. The ABG results are pH- 7.52; paCO2- 30 mmHg; HCO3-
28 mEq/liter. How should the nurse interpret this blood gas?
Respiratory alkalosis
Define: Respiratory alkalosis
HCO3 & pH is increased while the CO2 is decreased
What is the effect if blood sugar continues to rise?
Change in level of consciousness
What precaution should a patient be on with a high sodium?
Seizure precautions
Why do people with diabetes have an increased urinary output?
Low ADH
What is the effect of a low ADH?
Dehydration & increased serum Sodium
A client with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH) is admitted to the intensive care unit with a serum sodium level of 112
mEq/L or mmol/L. Which protocol prescription should the nurse implement first?
Obtain serum sodium every 4 hours
