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Critical Care Nursing EXAM 2025 PRACTICE GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
How do you identify the Phlebostatic Axis?
Draw two imaginary lines with the patient supine, Draw the first line, a horizontal line,
through the midchest, halfway between the outermost anterior and posterior surface.
Draw the second line, a vertical line, through the fourth intercostal space at the
sternum. The axis is at the intersection of the two imaginary lines.
What is Zeroing?
Confirms when the pressure within the system is zero, the monitor reads zero.
How should you position the patient for the first reading of a Invasive Line BP?
Supine, unless the patients BP is extremely sensitive to orthostatic changes (then
45*).
When is arterial blood pressure monitoring indicated?
Acute hypertension and hypotension, respiratory failure, shock, neurologic injury,
coronary interventioanl procedures, continuous infusion of vasoactive drugs, and
frequent ABG's.
What are complications of arterial lines?
Hemorrhage, infection, thrombus formation, neurovascular impairment, and loss of
limb.
When is hemorrhage most likely to occur with an arterial line?
When the catheter dislodges or the line disconnects.
What do you do to avoid catheter dislodging or disconnection in a arterial
line?
Use luer-lok connections, always check the arterial waveform, and activate alarms.
How often do you change the pressure tubing, flush bag and transducer with a
arterial line?
Every 96 hours.
What do you do when infection is suspected with an arterial line?
Remove the catheter and replace the equipment.
What do you perform before inserting a line into a radial artery?
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Allen test.
What does the Allen test confirm?
Ulnar circulation to the hand is adequate.
How often do you flush a arterial line system?
Every 1 - 4 hours.
What should the pressure bag for an arterial line be inflated too?
300 mm Hg.
How much fluid should the arterial line system be delivering her hour?
3 - 6 mL/hr.
Why do you not used heparanized saline solution for flush solutions?
Risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
How often do you evaluate the neurovascular status of the affected arm with
the arterial line?
Every hour.
What is Hemodynamic Monitoring?
Measurement of pressure, flow and oxygenation within the cardiovascular system.
What are values that are measured in the ICU with Hemodynamic Monitoring?
Systemic and Pulmonary arterial pressures, central venous pressures (CVP),
pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), CO/CI, SV/SV index (SVI) and O2
saturation of the hemoglobin of arterial blood (SaO2) and mixed venous oxygen
saturation (SvO2).
What is Cardiac Output?
The volume of blood in liters pumped by the heart in 1 minute.
What is the Stroke Volume?
The volume ejected with each heartbeat.
What determines Blood Pressure?
CO and the forces opposing blood flow.
What determines SV?
Preload, afterload, and contractility.
What is Preload?
Volume within the ventricle at the end of diastole.
What does PAWP reflect?
Critical Care Nursing EXAM 2025 PRACTICE GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
How do you identify the Phlebostatic Axis?
Draw two imaginary lines with the patient supine, Draw the first line, a horizontal line,
through the midchest, halfway between the outermost anterior and posterior surface.
Draw the second line, a vertical line, through the fourth intercostal space at the
sternum. The axis is at the intersection of the two imaginary lines.
What is Zeroing?
Confirms when the pressure within the system is zero, the monitor reads zero.
How should you position the patient for the first reading of a Invasive Line BP?
Supine, unless the patients BP is extremely sensitive to orthostatic changes (then
45*).
When is arterial blood pressure monitoring indicated?
Acute hypertension and hypotension, respiratory failure, shock, neurologic injury,
coronary interventioanl procedures, continuous infusion of vasoactive drugs, and
frequent ABG's.
What are complications of arterial lines?
Hemorrhage, infection, thrombus formation, neurovascular impairment, and loss of
limb.
When is hemorrhage most likely to occur with an arterial line?
When the catheter dislodges or the line disconnects.
What do you do to avoid catheter dislodging or disconnection in a arterial
line?
Use luer-lok connections, always check the arterial waveform, and activate alarms.
How often do you change the pressure tubing, flush bag and transducer with a
arterial line?
Every 96 hours.
What do you do when infection is suspected with an arterial line?
Remove the catheter and replace the equipment.
What do you perform before inserting a line into a radial artery?
, Page 2 of 6
Allen test.
What does the Allen test confirm?
Ulnar circulation to the hand is adequate.
How often do you flush a arterial line system?
Every 1 - 4 hours.
What should the pressure bag for an arterial line be inflated too?
300 mm Hg.
How much fluid should the arterial line system be delivering her hour?
3 - 6 mL/hr.
Why do you not used heparanized saline solution for flush solutions?
Risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
How often do you evaluate the neurovascular status of the affected arm with
the arterial line?
Every hour.
What is Hemodynamic Monitoring?
Measurement of pressure, flow and oxygenation within the cardiovascular system.
What are values that are measured in the ICU with Hemodynamic Monitoring?
Systemic and Pulmonary arterial pressures, central venous pressures (CVP),
pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), CO/CI, SV/SV index (SVI) and O2
saturation of the hemoglobin of arterial blood (SaO2) and mixed venous oxygen
saturation (SvO2).
What is Cardiac Output?
The volume of blood in liters pumped by the heart in 1 minute.
What is the Stroke Volume?
The volume ejected with each heartbeat.
What determines Blood Pressure?
CO and the forces opposing blood flow.
What determines SV?
Preload, afterload, and contractility.
What is Preload?
Volume within the ventricle at the end of diastole.
What does PAWP reflect?
