ATI RN
Critical Care Nursing Questions and Answers PDF Questions
Question 1 of 5
When planning the response to the potential use of smallpox as an agent of terrorism, the emergency department (ED) nurse manager will plan to obtain adequate quantities of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Vaccine. Smallpox is a contagious and potentially deadly disease caused by the variola virus. The smallpox vaccine is the most effective way to prevent and control the spread of smallpox. By obtaining adequate quantities of the smallpox vaccine, the ED nurse manager can protect healthcare workers and the public from contracting the virus in case of a smallpox bioterrorism event. Atropine (
B) is used to treat certain types of nerve agent poisoning, not smallpox. Antibiotics (
C) are ineffective against viruses like smallpox. Whole blood (
D) is not specifically needed for smallpox treatment.
Question 2 of 5
After a change-of-shift report on a ventilator weaning unit, which patient should the nurse assess first?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D - Patient who was successfully weaned and extubated 4 hours ago and now has no urine output for the last 6 hours. This patient should be assessed first because the absence of urine output for 6 hours after being extubated could indicate acute kidney injury or other serious complications that need immediate attention. Urine output is a crucial indicator of renal function and can reflect the patient's overall hemodynamic status. In contrast, the other choices do not present immediate life-threatening conditions.
Choice A involves a patient in rest mode post-failed breathing trial, which does not require immediate assessment.
Choice B mentions continuous PETCO2 monitoring, which is important but not as urgent as assessing a patient with no urine output.
Choice C describes a patient with a ScvO2 of 69%, which may need monitoring but does not indicate an urgent priority compared to assessing a patient with no urine output after recent extubation.
Question 3 of 5
What is the nurse’s priority intervention when a terminally ill patient reports severe breakthrough pain?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer a prescribed PRN opioid analgesic. This is the priority intervention because severe breakthrough pain requires immediate relief, and opioids are the most effective for managing severe pain in terminally ill patients. Warm compresses (
A) may provide some comfort but do not address the underlying pain. Reassessing pain after 2 hours (
C) delays necessary relief. Distraction techniques (
D) are not appropriate for severe breakthrough pain as they do not directly address the pain itself. Administering the prescribed opioid analgesic promptly is crucial for providing timely and effective pain management in this situation.
Question 4 of 5
The patient has been admitted to the hospital with nausea and vomiting that started 5 days earlier. Blood pressure is 80/44 mm Hg and heart rate is 122 beats/min; the patient has not voided in 8 hours, and the bladder is not distended. The nurse anticipates a prescription for “stat” administration of
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: fluid replacement with 0.45% saline. The patient's low blood pressure, tachycardia, and lack of urine output indicate hypovolemia. Fluid replacement with saline will help restore circulating volume, improve blood pressure, and support renal perfusion. A: Blood transfusion is not indicated as the primary issue is hypovolemia, not anemia. C: Inotropic agents are used to increase cardiac contractility but are not the initial treatment for hypovolemia. D: Antiemetics may help with symptoms but do not address the underlying issue of fluid loss and hypovolemia.
Question 5 of 5
What must the patient must be able of in order to provide informed consent?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because informed consent requires the patient to have knowledge and competence to make a decision. This involves understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the proposed treatment.
Choice A is incorrect as it pertains to a physical ability unrelated to decision-making.
Choice C is incorrect as consent must be verbal or written, not just nodding.
Choice D is incorrect as consent can be obtained in various ways, not specifically through reading and writing in English.