Patient Assessment Mastery Guide ACCS Exam
Prep Resource with Practice Questions &
Solutions 2025
Four critical life function - ✔✔1. Ventilation 2. Oxygenation 3. Circulation 4. Perfusion
Which of the four critical life functions is the first priority? - ✔✔Ventilation
What assessment would determine how well a patient is ventilating? - ✔✔RR, tidal volume, chest
movement, breath sounds, EtC02, & PaC02
How would the adult critical care specialist determine if a patient has a problem with oxygenation? -
✔✔HR, color, sensorium, Sa02, & Pa02.
What information would help the adult critical care specialist determine if a patient's circulation is
adequate? - ✔✔Pulse/HR and strength, CO
What changes would indicate that a patient may not have adequate perfusion? - ✔✔Blood pressure,
sensorium, temperature, urine output, hemodynamics.
Describe the difference between "Signs" & "Symptoms" and list an example of each. - ✔✔Signs:
objective information, those things you can see or measure.
Example: color, pulse, edema, BP ect.
Symptoms: subjective information, those things a pt. must tell you.
Example: nausea, dyspnea, pain, muscle weakness etc.
List 6 items that are important to examine when reviewing a patient's chart. - ✔✔1. Pt chart review.
2. Respiratory care orders
3. Pt progress notes
, 4. Pt lab reports
5. I&O's
6. Fluid balance
Define advance directives. - ✔✔Set of instructions documenting what treatment a patient would want if
he was unable to make medical decisions.
List and describe the four types of advance directives. - ✔✔1. Do not resuscitate (DNR): request not to
have cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed.
Do not intubate
2. (DNI):request not to be intubated. May use NIV.
3. Living Will: describes treatment pt. would want if one becomes terminally ill. Less than 6 mo to live.
4. Durable Power of Attorney fir health care: legal document that names a health care proxy responsible
for making health care decisions.
A proper written order for respiratory care should include what four factors? - ✔✔1. Type of therapy
2. Frequency
3. Medication dosage and dilution
4. Physician signature
The adult critical care specialist has just finished administering an aerosol treatment with albuterol to a
pt. with asthma. How should the treatment be charted? - ✔✔Date, time, reaction ect.
What is the normal value for urine output? - ✔✔40 mL/hr (1 liter/day)
What findings might indicate that the pt.'s fluid intake has exceeded their urine output? - ✔✔1. Weight
gain
2. Electrolyte imbalance
3. Increased hemodynamic pressure
4. Decreased lung compliance
Prep Resource with Practice Questions &
Solutions 2025
Four critical life function - ✔✔1. Ventilation 2. Oxygenation 3. Circulation 4. Perfusion
Which of the four critical life functions is the first priority? - ✔✔Ventilation
What assessment would determine how well a patient is ventilating? - ✔✔RR, tidal volume, chest
movement, breath sounds, EtC02, & PaC02
How would the adult critical care specialist determine if a patient has a problem with oxygenation? -
✔✔HR, color, sensorium, Sa02, & Pa02.
What information would help the adult critical care specialist determine if a patient's circulation is
adequate? - ✔✔Pulse/HR and strength, CO
What changes would indicate that a patient may not have adequate perfusion? - ✔✔Blood pressure,
sensorium, temperature, urine output, hemodynamics.
Describe the difference between "Signs" & "Symptoms" and list an example of each. - ✔✔Signs:
objective information, those things you can see or measure.
Example: color, pulse, edema, BP ect.
Symptoms: subjective information, those things a pt. must tell you.
Example: nausea, dyspnea, pain, muscle weakness etc.
List 6 items that are important to examine when reviewing a patient's chart. - ✔✔1. Pt chart review.
2. Respiratory care orders
3. Pt progress notes
, 4. Pt lab reports
5. I&O's
6. Fluid balance
Define advance directives. - ✔✔Set of instructions documenting what treatment a patient would want if
he was unable to make medical decisions.
List and describe the four types of advance directives. - ✔✔1. Do not resuscitate (DNR): request not to
have cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed.
Do not intubate
2. (DNI):request not to be intubated. May use NIV.
3. Living Will: describes treatment pt. would want if one becomes terminally ill. Less than 6 mo to live.
4. Durable Power of Attorney fir health care: legal document that names a health care proxy responsible
for making health care decisions.
A proper written order for respiratory care should include what four factors? - ✔✔1. Type of therapy
2. Frequency
3. Medication dosage and dilution
4. Physician signature
The adult critical care specialist has just finished administering an aerosol treatment with albuterol to a
pt. with asthma. How should the treatment be charted? - ✔✔Date, time, reaction ect.
What is the normal value for urine output? - ✔✔40 mL/hr (1 liter/day)
What findings might indicate that the pt.'s fluid intake has exceeded their urine output? - ✔✔1. Weight
gain
2. Electrolyte imbalance
3. Increased hemodynamic pressure
4. Decreased lung compliance
