Critical Care and Clinical Decision-Making
Scenarios: Essential Nursing Knowledge for
Safe Patient Management
When setting up a room for a new patient, what emergency equipment MUST be accessible and working
at the bedside? - ✔✔Bag Valve mask
You are on shift and overhear another nurse discussing confidential patient information on their cell
phone during their break. What would be the BEST action to take? - ✔✔Speak with the nurse in private
afterwards to remind her of HIPAA regulations
What should you monitor for a patient at risk for respiratory depression? - ✔✔PaO2
What is a complication of high PEEP? - ✔✔Pneumothorax
What hospital acquired condition do proton pump inhibitors help prevent? - ✔✔Ventilator acquired
pneumonia
What is the primary medication for glucose in a patient with acute diabetic ketoacidosis? -
✔✔Continuous IV regular insulin
What staff member would you ask to accompany you when transporting an intubated patient to imaging
for a CT? - ✔✔Respiratory Therapist
Which ventilator setting correlates with the amount of volume of air delivered to the lungs with each
breath? - ✔✔Tidal volume
What data supports the accuracy of an arterial line BP reading? - ✔✔Transducer 3mm above right
atrium WRONG
, You are in the middle of receiving a bedside report at change of shift when you and the other nurse
notice a new order for NG tube insertion that the physician placed 30 minutes ago on the previous
nurse's shift. How should you handle the order? - ✔✔Complete an incident report and give it to the
supervisor WRONG
Why should heparin IV infusion be administered in a dedicated IV line? - ✔✔To minimize the risk of
accidental bolus to patient
You have received an order to remove your patient's surgical staples. What assessment finding indicates
the need for further discussion with the ordering provider? - ✔✔Gap between sides of incision
A new nurse asks you if a patient who is intubated and receiving an IV paralytic can sense what is going
on around them. Which of the following is the BEST response? - ✔✔"The paralytic decreases the
patient's awareness of their surroundings."
Your patient's with a wound vac keeps alarming with an air leak and the wound care nurse cannot see
the patient until tomorrow. What steps can you take to troubleshoot the alarm? - ✔✔Gently pat around
the edge of the transparent dressing
What is a frequent complication of pancreatoduodectomy, also known as Whipple surgery? -
✔✔Delayed gastric empytying
You are helping admit a new patient who is unconscious and does not have family at the bedside. While
inspecting their belongings you find many $100 bills in their wallet. What should you do NEXT? -
✔✔Document in the patient's medical record WRONG
Which of the following helps prevent errors when programming a smart IV pump to administer a
medication infusion? - ✔✔Utilize the preset concentration whenever possible
Which of the following infusions must be stopped before a patient on a ventilator can be extubated? -
✔✔Propofol (Diprivan)
Scenarios: Essential Nursing Knowledge for
Safe Patient Management
When setting up a room for a new patient, what emergency equipment MUST be accessible and working
at the bedside? - ✔✔Bag Valve mask
You are on shift and overhear another nurse discussing confidential patient information on their cell
phone during their break. What would be the BEST action to take? - ✔✔Speak with the nurse in private
afterwards to remind her of HIPAA regulations
What should you monitor for a patient at risk for respiratory depression? - ✔✔PaO2
What is a complication of high PEEP? - ✔✔Pneumothorax
What hospital acquired condition do proton pump inhibitors help prevent? - ✔✔Ventilator acquired
pneumonia
What is the primary medication for glucose in a patient with acute diabetic ketoacidosis? -
✔✔Continuous IV regular insulin
What staff member would you ask to accompany you when transporting an intubated patient to imaging
for a CT? - ✔✔Respiratory Therapist
Which ventilator setting correlates with the amount of volume of air delivered to the lungs with each
breath? - ✔✔Tidal volume
What data supports the accuracy of an arterial line BP reading? - ✔✔Transducer 3mm above right
atrium WRONG
, You are in the middle of receiving a bedside report at change of shift when you and the other nurse
notice a new order for NG tube insertion that the physician placed 30 minutes ago on the previous
nurse's shift. How should you handle the order? - ✔✔Complete an incident report and give it to the
supervisor WRONG
Why should heparin IV infusion be administered in a dedicated IV line? - ✔✔To minimize the risk of
accidental bolus to patient
You have received an order to remove your patient's surgical staples. What assessment finding indicates
the need for further discussion with the ordering provider? - ✔✔Gap between sides of incision
A new nurse asks you if a patient who is intubated and receiving an IV paralytic can sense what is going
on around them. Which of the following is the BEST response? - ✔✔"The paralytic decreases the
patient's awareness of their surroundings."
Your patient's with a wound vac keeps alarming with an air leak and the wound care nurse cannot see
the patient until tomorrow. What steps can you take to troubleshoot the alarm? - ✔✔Gently pat around
the edge of the transparent dressing
What is a frequent complication of pancreatoduodectomy, also known as Whipple surgery? -
✔✔Delayed gastric empytying
You are helping admit a new patient who is unconscious and does not have family at the bedside. While
inspecting their belongings you find many $100 bills in their wallet. What should you do NEXT? -
✔✔Document in the patient's medical record WRONG
Which of the following helps prevent errors when programming a smart IV pump to administer a
medication infusion? - ✔✔Utilize the preset concentration whenever possible
Which of the following infusions must be stopped before a patient on a ventilator can be extubated? -
✔✔Propofol (Diprivan)
