Thorough CRT/RRT Exam Review with
Essential Practice Questions
Four Life Functions -
\Ventilation, Oxygenation, Circulation, and Perfusion
Vital signs for Ventilation (Life Function) -
\RR, Vt, chest movement, breath sounds, PaCO2, EtCO2
Vital signs for Oxygenation (Life function) -
\Heart rate, color, sensorium, PaO2, and SpO2
Vital Signs for Circulation (Life function) -
\Heart rate, strength, and cardiac output
Vital Signs for Perfusion (Life Function) -
\Blood pressure, sensorium, temperature, urine output, and hemodynamics
Which life function most often is a problem? -
\Oxygenation
Sensorium -
\Level of the patient's consciousness
Signs are what type of information? -
\Objective
Symptoms are what type of information? -
\Subjective
Pack years equation -
\Pack Years = # of packs/day X # of years smoked
Patient's with end-stage diseases or illnesses should have what kind of document? -
\Advance Directives
What is the normal urine output? -
\40 mL/hr (1 L/day)
Sensible water loss -
\Urine or vomiting
Insensible water loss -
,\Lungs (inspiration) and skin (perspiration)
Intake>Output results in: -
\-Weight gain
-Electrolyte imbalance
-Increase hemodynamic pressures
-Decrease lung compliance
Changes in CVP can indicated changes in what? -
\Fluid balance
Normal CVP value -
\2-6 mmHg
Decreased CVP (<2) indicates what? Recommendation? -
\Hypovolemia and recommend fluid therapy
Increased CVP (>6) indicates what? Recommendation? -
\Hypervolemia and recommend diuretics
Normal level of consciousness -
\Alert and responsive
Lethargic, somnolent, sleepy -
\Sleep apnea or excessive O2 in COPD'ers
Stuporous/confused -
\Drug overdose, inappropriate responses, or intoxication
Semicomatose -
\response only to painful stimuli
Obtunded -
\Decreased cough or gag reflex due to drowsy state
Coma -
\No response to stimuli
Anxiety/nervous -
\Respiratory distress or hypoxemia
Anger, combative, irritable -
\Electrolyte imbalance
Euphoria -
\Drug overdose
, Panic -
\Severe hypoxemia, tension pneumothorax, status asthmaticus
Orthopnea -
\Difficulty breathing except in upright position
Orthopnea is found in what type of patients and what would you recommend? -
\CHF, recommend cardiac testing
General Malaise -
\Run down feeling, nausea, weakness, fatigue, headache
General Malaise is found in patients with what and what would you recommend? -
\Electrolyte imbalance, recommend testing electrolytes
Dyspnea -
\Feeling shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Dysphagia -
\Difficulty swallowing
Peripheral Edema -
\Swelling in the periphery
Pitting edema -
\Presence of excessive fluid in the tissue
Where does peripheral edema typically occur? -
\Arms and ankles
What causes peripheral edema? -
\CHF and renal failure
Recommendation for peripheral edema -
\Diuretic therapy
Ascites -
\Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
What causes ascites? -
\Liver failure
Clubbing of fingers -
\Presence of increased angle of the nail bed and skin.
Essential Practice Questions
Four Life Functions -
\Ventilation, Oxygenation, Circulation, and Perfusion
Vital signs for Ventilation (Life Function) -
\RR, Vt, chest movement, breath sounds, PaCO2, EtCO2
Vital signs for Oxygenation (Life function) -
\Heart rate, color, sensorium, PaO2, and SpO2
Vital Signs for Circulation (Life function) -
\Heart rate, strength, and cardiac output
Vital Signs for Perfusion (Life Function) -
\Blood pressure, sensorium, temperature, urine output, and hemodynamics
Which life function most often is a problem? -
\Oxygenation
Sensorium -
\Level of the patient's consciousness
Signs are what type of information? -
\Objective
Symptoms are what type of information? -
\Subjective
Pack years equation -
\Pack Years = # of packs/day X # of years smoked
Patient's with end-stage diseases or illnesses should have what kind of document? -
\Advance Directives
What is the normal urine output? -
\40 mL/hr (1 L/day)
Sensible water loss -
\Urine or vomiting
Insensible water loss -
,\Lungs (inspiration) and skin (perspiration)
Intake>Output results in: -
\-Weight gain
-Electrolyte imbalance
-Increase hemodynamic pressures
-Decrease lung compliance
Changes in CVP can indicated changes in what? -
\Fluid balance
Normal CVP value -
\2-6 mmHg
Decreased CVP (<2) indicates what? Recommendation? -
\Hypovolemia and recommend fluid therapy
Increased CVP (>6) indicates what? Recommendation? -
\Hypervolemia and recommend diuretics
Normal level of consciousness -
\Alert and responsive
Lethargic, somnolent, sleepy -
\Sleep apnea or excessive O2 in COPD'ers
Stuporous/confused -
\Drug overdose, inappropriate responses, or intoxication
Semicomatose -
\response only to painful stimuli
Obtunded -
\Decreased cough or gag reflex due to drowsy state
Coma -
\No response to stimuli
Anxiety/nervous -
\Respiratory distress or hypoxemia
Anger, combative, irritable -
\Electrolyte imbalance
Euphoria -
\Drug overdose
, Panic -
\Severe hypoxemia, tension pneumothorax, status asthmaticus
Orthopnea -
\Difficulty breathing except in upright position
Orthopnea is found in what type of patients and what would you recommend? -
\CHF, recommend cardiac testing
General Malaise -
\Run down feeling, nausea, weakness, fatigue, headache
General Malaise is found in patients with what and what would you recommend? -
\Electrolyte imbalance, recommend testing electrolytes
Dyspnea -
\Feeling shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Dysphagia -
\Difficulty swallowing
Peripheral Edema -
\Swelling in the periphery
Pitting edema -
\Presence of excessive fluid in the tissue
Where does peripheral edema typically occur? -
\Arms and ankles
What causes peripheral edema? -
\CHF and renal failure
Recommendation for peripheral edema -
\Diuretic therapy
Ascites -
\Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
What causes ascites? -
\Liver failure
Clubbing of fingers -
\Presence of increased angle of the nail bed and skin.
