BKAT CRITICAL CARE REVIEW EXAM 2025–2026 | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH EXPERT EXPLANATIONS
ACLS drug and dose for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - CORRECT ANSWERS-Atropine 0.5 mg
repeated up to a total dose of 3 mg
Signs and symptoms of digitalis toxicity - CORRECT ANSWERS-Loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, and vision changes including blind spots, blurred vision, seeing spots,
and changes in how colors look
Causes of low volume ventilator alarm - CORRECT ANSWERS-Tube disconnection
Causes of high pressure ventilator alarm - CORRECT ANSWERS-Biting on ETT, coughing, mucus
plug, bronchospasm, mucus or water in the tube, or kinked tubing
How much is too much output in chest tube over one hour following surgery? - CORRECT
ANSWERS->150 mL
Appropriate pressure for suctioning is - CORRECT ANSWERS-120 mmHg
Causes of decreased breath sounds - CORRECT ANSWERS-Pneumonia, heart failure, pleural
effusion, and increased chest wall thickness
Nursing action to check for proper ETT placement - CORRECT ANSWERS-Listen to bilateral
breath sounds
Preload - CORRECT ANSWERS-volume left in the left ventricle at the end of diastole
What is preload affected by? - CORRECT ANSWERS-venous return to the heart, atrial kick,
total volume, and ventricular compliance
, What drugs can affect preload? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Furosemide and nitroglycerin
Afterload - CORRECT ANSWERS-Amount of pressure heart has to overcome to pump blood
out
What drugs may affect afterload? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Vasoconstricters and vasodilators
Contractility - CORRECT ANSWERS-the contractile force of the heart, how much will it take to
move the preload out against the afterload
What is the appropriate hold time after pulling an arterial line? - CORRECT ANSWERS-5-10
min
What part of the heart does the PAOP affect? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Left ventricle
What part of the heart does the CVP affect? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Right ventricle
What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Increased left
ventricular end diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left ventricular dysfunction or failure
What does it mean if CVP is elevated? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Fluid overload or decreased
compliance (such as with ARDS and COPD)
Difference between stable and unstable angina - CORRECT ANSWERS-Stable angina: pain
happens with certain activities but then goes away with rest.
Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts longer
ECG changes with an acute MI? - CORRECT ANSWERS-ST elevation or depression
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH EXPERT EXPLANATIONS
ACLS drug and dose for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - CORRECT ANSWERS-Atropine 0.5 mg
repeated up to a total dose of 3 mg
Signs and symptoms of digitalis toxicity - CORRECT ANSWERS-Loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, and vision changes including blind spots, blurred vision, seeing spots,
and changes in how colors look
Causes of low volume ventilator alarm - CORRECT ANSWERS-Tube disconnection
Causes of high pressure ventilator alarm - CORRECT ANSWERS-Biting on ETT, coughing, mucus
plug, bronchospasm, mucus or water in the tube, or kinked tubing
How much is too much output in chest tube over one hour following surgery? - CORRECT
ANSWERS->150 mL
Appropriate pressure for suctioning is - CORRECT ANSWERS-120 mmHg
Causes of decreased breath sounds - CORRECT ANSWERS-Pneumonia, heart failure, pleural
effusion, and increased chest wall thickness
Nursing action to check for proper ETT placement - CORRECT ANSWERS-Listen to bilateral
breath sounds
Preload - CORRECT ANSWERS-volume left in the left ventricle at the end of diastole
What is preload affected by? - CORRECT ANSWERS-venous return to the heart, atrial kick,
total volume, and ventricular compliance
, What drugs can affect preload? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Furosemide and nitroglycerin
Afterload - CORRECT ANSWERS-Amount of pressure heart has to overcome to pump blood
out
What drugs may affect afterload? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Vasoconstricters and vasodilators
Contractility - CORRECT ANSWERS-the contractile force of the heart, how much will it take to
move the preload out against the afterload
What is the appropriate hold time after pulling an arterial line? - CORRECT ANSWERS-5-10
min
What part of the heart does the PAOP affect? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Left ventricle
What part of the heart does the CVP affect? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Right ventricle
What does it mean when the PAOP is elevated? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Increased left
ventricular end diastolic pressure that could be indicative of left ventricular dysfunction or failure
What does it mean if CVP is elevated? - CORRECT ANSWERS-Fluid overload or decreased
compliance (such as with ARDS and COPD)
Difference between stable and unstable angina - CORRECT ANSWERS-Stable angina: pain
happens with certain activities but then goes away with rest.
Unstable angina: chest pain can occur at rest, becomes more sever or frequent, or lasts longer
ECG changes with an acute MI? - CORRECT ANSWERS-ST elevation or depression
