Page 1 of 24
Critical Care Nursing EXAM 2 2025 PRACTICE GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
What are the two basic ethical principles underlying the provision of health
care?
a.
Beneficence and nonmaleficence
b.
Veracity and beneficence
c.
Fidelity and nonmaleficence
d.
Veracity and fidelity
ANS: A
The two basic ethical principles underlying the provision of health care are
beneficence and nonmaleficence.
A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. The patient does
not have an advance directive. Which statement would be the best way to
approach the family regarding his ongoing care?
a.
"I will refer this case to the hospital ethics committee, and they will contact
you when they have a decision."
b.
"What do you want to do about the patient's care at this point?"
c.
"Dr. Smith believes that there is no hope at this point and recommends do-not-
resuscitate status."
d.
"What would the patient want if he knew he were in this situation?"
ANS: D
Approaching the family and asking what they know about the patient's wishes and
preferences is the best way to begin this discussion. Emotional support for the
patient and the family is important as they discuss advance care planning in the
critical care setting.
A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. After a family
conference, the practitioner orders a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, and
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palliative care is begun. How does this affect the patient's treatment?
a.
The patient will continue to receive the same aggressive treatment short of
resuscitation if he has another cardiac arrest.
b.
All treatment will be stopped, and the patient will be allowed to die.
c.
All attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging
his life.
d.
The patient will be immediately transferred to hospice.
ANS: C
When palliative care is begun, the primary goal is to keep the patient comfortable by
continuing assessments and managing symptoms that might cause pain, anxiety, or
distress.
Which statement best describes the concept of pain?
a.
Pain is an uncomfortable experience present only in the patient with an intact
nervous system.
b.
Pain is an unpleasant experience accompanied by crying and tachycardia.
c.
Pain is activation of the sympathetic nervous system from an injury.
d.
Pain is whatever the patient experiencing it says it is, occurring when that
patient says it does.
ANS: D
Pain is described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated
with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. This
definition emphasizes the subjective and multidimensional nature of pain. More
specifically, the subjective characteristic implies that pain is whatever the person
experiencing it says it is and that it exists whenever he or she says it does.
What are the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious stimuli
associated with pain called?
a.
Perception
b.
Nociception
c.
Transduction
d.
Transmission
ANS: B
Nociception represents the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious
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stimuli necessary, but not sufficient, for pain. Transduction refers to mechanical (eg,
surgical incision), thermal (eg, burn), or chemical (eg, toxic substance) stimuli that
damage tissues. As a result of transduction, an action potential is produced and is
transmitted by nociceptive nerve fibers in the spinal cord that reach higher centers of
the brain. This is called transmission, and it represents the second process of
nociception. Pain sensation transmitted by the nervous system (NS) pathway
reaches the thalamus, and the pain sensation transmitted by the parasympathetic
nervous system (PS) pathway reaches brainstem, hypothalamus, and thalamus.
These parts of the central nervous system (CNS) contribute to the initial perception
of pain.
C fibers are small-diameter, unmyelinated fibers that transmit what type of
pain?
a.
Aching
b.
Sharp
c.
Prickling
d.
Concentrated
ANS: A
C fibers are implicated in the transmission of pain described as dull, diffuse,
prolonged, and delayed. Alpha fibers conduct the rapid acute pain sensation
described as prickling, sharp, and fast. These fibers are activated by mechanical and
thermal stimuli and are carried by the neospinothalamic tract.
Which assessment findings might indicate respiratory depression after opioid
administration?
a.
Flushed, diaphoretic skin
b.
Shallow respirations with a rate of 24 breaths/min
c.
Tense, rigid posture
d.
Snoring
Answer: D. Snoring is a warning sign. It can be a sign of respiratory depression
associated with airway obstruction by the tongue, leading to hypoxemia and possibly
to cardiorespiratory arrest. A patient snoring after the administration of an opioid
requires the critical care nurse to observe closely.
The patient is admitted to the critical care unit with hemodynamic instability
and an allergy to morphine. The nurse anticipates that the practitioner will
order which medication for severe pain?
a.
Hydromorphone
Critical Care Nursing EXAM 2 2025 PRACTICE GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
What are the two basic ethical principles underlying the provision of health
care?
a.
Beneficence and nonmaleficence
b.
Veracity and beneficence
c.
Fidelity and nonmaleficence
d.
Veracity and fidelity
ANS: A
The two basic ethical principles underlying the provision of health care are
beneficence and nonmaleficence.
A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. The patient does
not have an advance directive. Which statement would be the best way to
approach the family regarding his ongoing care?
a.
"I will refer this case to the hospital ethics committee, and they will contact
you when they have a decision."
b.
"What do you want to do about the patient's care at this point?"
c.
"Dr. Smith believes that there is no hope at this point and recommends do-not-
resuscitate status."
d.
"What would the patient want if he knew he were in this situation?"
ANS: D
Approaching the family and asking what they know about the patient's wishes and
preferences is the best way to begin this discussion. Emotional support for the
patient and the family is important as they discuss advance care planning in the
critical care setting.
A patient was admitted several weeks ago with an acute myocardial infarction
and subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Since a
cardiac arrest 5 days ago, the patient has been unresponsive. An
electroencephalogram shows no meaningful brain activity. After a family
conference, the practitioner orders a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, and
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palliative care is begun. How does this affect the patient's treatment?
a.
The patient will continue to receive the same aggressive treatment short of
resuscitation if he has another cardiac arrest.
b.
All treatment will be stopped, and the patient will be allowed to die.
c.
All attempts will be made to keep the patient comfortable without prolonging
his life.
d.
The patient will be immediately transferred to hospice.
ANS: C
When palliative care is begun, the primary goal is to keep the patient comfortable by
continuing assessments and managing symptoms that might cause pain, anxiety, or
distress.
Which statement best describes the concept of pain?
a.
Pain is an uncomfortable experience present only in the patient with an intact
nervous system.
b.
Pain is an unpleasant experience accompanied by crying and tachycardia.
c.
Pain is activation of the sympathetic nervous system from an injury.
d.
Pain is whatever the patient experiencing it says it is, occurring when that
patient says it does.
ANS: D
Pain is described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated
with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. This
definition emphasizes the subjective and multidimensional nature of pain. More
specifically, the subjective characteristic implies that pain is whatever the person
experiencing it says it is and that it exists whenever he or she says it does.
What are the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious stimuli
associated with pain called?
a.
Perception
b.
Nociception
c.
Transduction
d.
Transmission
ANS: B
Nociception represents the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious
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stimuli necessary, but not sufficient, for pain. Transduction refers to mechanical (eg,
surgical incision), thermal (eg, burn), or chemical (eg, toxic substance) stimuli that
damage tissues. As a result of transduction, an action potential is produced and is
transmitted by nociceptive nerve fibers in the spinal cord that reach higher centers of
the brain. This is called transmission, and it represents the second process of
nociception. Pain sensation transmitted by the nervous system (NS) pathway
reaches the thalamus, and the pain sensation transmitted by the parasympathetic
nervous system (PS) pathway reaches brainstem, hypothalamus, and thalamus.
These parts of the central nervous system (CNS) contribute to the initial perception
of pain.
C fibers are small-diameter, unmyelinated fibers that transmit what type of
pain?
a.
Aching
b.
Sharp
c.
Prickling
d.
Concentrated
ANS: A
C fibers are implicated in the transmission of pain described as dull, diffuse,
prolonged, and delayed. Alpha fibers conduct the rapid acute pain sensation
described as prickling, sharp, and fast. These fibers are activated by mechanical and
thermal stimuli and are carried by the neospinothalamic tract.
Which assessment findings might indicate respiratory depression after opioid
administration?
a.
Flushed, diaphoretic skin
b.
Shallow respirations with a rate of 24 breaths/min
c.
Tense, rigid posture
d.
Snoring
Answer: D. Snoring is a warning sign. It can be a sign of respiratory depression
associated with airway obstruction by the tongue, leading to hypoxemia and possibly
to cardiorespiratory arrest. A patient snoring after the administration of an opioid
requires the critical care nurse to observe closely.
The patient is admitted to the critical care unit with hemodynamic instability
and an allergy to morphine. The nurse anticipates that the practitioner will
order which medication for severe pain?
a.
Hydromorphone
