ATI RN
Critical Care Nursing Exam Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient in the critica l care unit. The physician has ordered patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for the patient. The nurse understands what facts about the PCA? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Step-by-step rationale for why Answer A is correct:
1. Patient-controlled analgesia (PC
A) allows patients to self-administer pain medication within preset limits, promoting pain management.
2. PCA is considered safe and effective as it provides better pain control, reduces the risk of overdose, and allows for individualized dosing.
3. Healthcare providers can monitor and adjust the PCA settings as needed to ensure optimal pain relief.
4. Studies have shown that PCA is a preferred method for postoperative pain management due to its efficacy and safety profile.
5. Overall, PCA is a reliable and beneficial approach to analgesia administration in postoperative patients.
Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
B: While PCA may have fewer side effects compared to some routes, this is not a defining characteristic of PCA.
C: While patients do have some control over their treatment with PCA, the primary focus is on pain management rather than giving control to critically ill patients.
D: PCA can be used effectively without family
Question 2 of 5
Nociceptors differ from other nerve receptors in the body in what way?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because nociceptors are specialized nerve receptors that do not adapt much to continual pain response. This lack of adaptation allows nociceptors to continuously signal the presence of tissue-damaging stimuli, which is crucial for the perception of pain.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because nociceptors do not inhibit the infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils (
B), they do play a role in the inflammatory response (
C), and they transmit various types of stimuli including thermal, mechanical, and chemical, not just thermal stimuli (
D).
Question 3 of 5
The nursing is caring for a patient who has had an arterial line inserted. To reduce the risk of complications, what is the priority nursing intervention?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Obtain a portable x-ray to confirm placement. This is the priority intervention because it ensures the arterial line is correctly positioned, reducing the risk of complications such as dislodgement or improper placement. Applying a pressure dressing (choice
A) may be necessary but is not the priority. Ensuring tubing connections are tightened (choice
B) is important for preventing leaks but does not address placement. Restraining the affected extremity (choice
D) is unnecessary and can lead to complications. The x-ray confirms correct placement, ensuring accurate monitoring and treatment.
Question 4 of 5
A patient who has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and has a poor prognosis plans a trip across the country to settle some issues with their siblings. The nurse recognizes that the patient is manifesting which psychosocial response to death?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Anxiety about unfinished business. The patient's desire to settle issues with their siblings before death indicates a concern about unresolved matters. This response aligns with the concept of psychosocial responses to death, specifically the need for closure and resolution. Restlessness (choice
A) may not necessarily indicate a specific focus on unfinished business. Yearning and protest (choice
B) typically refer to the initial stages of grief, not specifically related to settling unresolved issues. Fear of the meaninglessness of one's life (choice
D) is more existential and philosophical, whereas the patient's focus here is on addressing specific issues with their siblings.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is assessing a client and identifies a bruit over the thyroid. This finding is consistent with which interpretation?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The presence of a bruit over the thyroid indicates increased blood flow, characteristic of hyperthyroidism. This excess blood flow is due to the hypermetabolic state in hyperthyroidism, leading to turbulent blood flow and the audible bruit. A bruit is not typically associated with hypothyroidism, thyroid cysts, or thyroid cancer, as these conditions do not cause increased blood flow.
Therefore, the correct interpretation is hyperthyroidism.