CRITICAL CARE EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS ASU FALL
2026 WITH ALL CORRECT & 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS|
LATEST UPDATE|ALREADY GRADED A+
Which of the following is true about sedating patients in the ICU?
Patients in the ICU must be sedated
Sedated patients require less monitoring
All sedative medications provide pain relief
Most patients who are intubated are sedated ✔Correct Answer-Most patients who are intubated
are sedated
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention by the nurse to reduce pain for a
nonverbal patient who is fidgeting in bed?
Increase the fentanyl drip per protocol and have a family member help you play music from the
patient's cell phone
Change medication order from tylenol to fentanyl drip
Increase the patient's propofol drip rate within the parameters listed on the protocol
Decrease the patient's propofol drip rate within the parameters listed on the protocol ✔Correct
Answer-Increase the fentanyl drip per protocol and have a family member help you play music from
the patient's cell phone
Which of the following are appropriate for assessing pain in a nonverbal patient? (Select all that
apply)
Assess changes in heart rate
Assess Temperature
Assess resistance to passive movement of the arms
Assess facial expression ✔Correct Answer-Assess changes in heart rate
Assess resistance to passive movement of the arms
Assess facial expression
Which of the following is NOT a common problem with most sedative agents?
Reduced ability to clear pulmonary secretions
, Increased alertness
Accumulation of the drug with prolonged infusion which can delay getting the patient off the
ventilator
Reduced useful REM sleep ✔Correct Answer-Increased alertness
Which of the following is NOT an appropriate nursing role in the sedated patient?
Monitor patient's vital signs in response to sedative medication
Assess patient for signs of complications of sedation such as immunosuppression
Determine the most appropriate sedative medication for the patient's condition
Monitor patient's level of sedation according to hospital protocol ✔Correct Answer-Determine the
most appropriate sedative medication for the patient's condition
What is a nurse allowed to do once a patient is on a propofol drip for sedation?
Make minor changes to the protocol
Increase the drip rate
Administer boluses for acute agitation
Change to Midazolam if it's ineffective ✔Correct Answer-Increase the drip rate
Which of the following patients most likely needs to be sedated?
A 92 year old male admitted to the telemetry unit who is recovering from a right hip replacement
surgery with no complications (post-op day 3)
A 45 year old female admitted status post gunshot wound to the abdomen. She has just undergone
abdominal surgery and is coming to the ICU on a ventilator
A 24 year old male reporting 9/10 pain admitted after a motor vehicle accident with a fractured right
humerus.
A 64 year old male admitted to the ICU with atrial fibrillation and a large deep vein thrombosis in his
right femoral vein ✔Correct Answer-A 45 year old female admitted status post gunshot wound to
the abdomen. She has just undergone abdominal surgery and is coming to the ICU on a ventilator
Which of the following is an appropriate scale to assess level of sedation in an ICU patient?
ICUOPT Sedation Scale
Wong Baker Sedation Scale
COPT Scale
2026 WITH ALL CORRECT & 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS|
LATEST UPDATE|ALREADY GRADED A+
Which of the following is true about sedating patients in the ICU?
Patients in the ICU must be sedated
Sedated patients require less monitoring
All sedative medications provide pain relief
Most patients who are intubated are sedated ✔Correct Answer-Most patients who are intubated
are sedated
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention by the nurse to reduce pain for a
nonverbal patient who is fidgeting in bed?
Increase the fentanyl drip per protocol and have a family member help you play music from the
patient's cell phone
Change medication order from tylenol to fentanyl drip
Increase the patient's propofol drip rate within the parameters listed on the protocol
Decrease the patient's propofol drip rate within the parameters listed on the protocol ✔Correct
Answer-Increase the fentanyl drip per protocol and have a family member help you play music from
the patient's cell phone
Which of the following are appropriate for assessing pain in a nonverbal patient? (Select all that
apply)
Assess changes in heart rate
Assess Temperature
Assess resistance to passive movement of the arms
Assess facial expression ✔Correct Answer-Assess changes in heart rate
Assess resistance to passive movement of the arms
Assess facial expression
Which of the following is NOT a common problem with most sedative agents?
Reduced ability to clear pulmonary secretions
, Increased alertness
Accumulation of the drug with prolonged infusion which can delay getting the patient off the
ventilator
Reduced useful REM sleep ✔Correct Answer-Increased alertness
Which of the following is NOT an appropriate nursing role in the sedated patient?
Monitor patient's vital signs in response to sedative medication
Assess patient for signs of complications of sedation such as immunosuppression
Determine the most appropriate sedative medication for the patient's condition
Monitor patient's level of sedation according to hospital protocol ✔Correct Answer-Determine the
most appropriate sedative medication for the patient's condition
What is a nurse allowed to do once a patient is on a propofol drip for sedation?
Make minor changes to the protocol
Increase the drip rate
Administer boluses for acute agitation
Change to Midazolam if it's ineffective ✔Correct Answer-Increase the drip rate
Which of the following patients most likely needs to be sedated?
A 92 year old male admitted to the telemetry unit who is recovering from a right hip replacement
surgery with no complications (post-op day 3)
A 45 year old female admitted status post gunshot wound to the abdomen. She has just undergone
abdominal surgery and is coming to the ICU on a ventilator
A 24 year old male reporting 9/10 pain admitted after a motor vehicle accident with a fractured right
humerus.
A 64 year old male admitted to the ICU with atrial fibrillation and a large deep vein thrombosis in his
right femoral vein ✔Correct Answer-A 45 year old female admitted status post gunshot wound to
the abdomen. She has just undergone abdominal surgery and is coming to the ICU on a ventilator
Which of the following is an appropriate scale to assess level of sedation in an ICU patient?
ICUOPT Sedation Scale
Wong Baker Sedation Scale
COPT Scale
