ATI RN
Critical Care Nursing Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient in the ICU is complaining that he is not sleeping well at night because of anxiety. Which of the following would be the most helpful intervention for the nurse to make?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: C: Providing the patient with 5 minutes of effleurage (gentle massage) and minimizing disruptions is the most helpful intervention. Effleurage can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, improving sleep quality. Minimizing disruptions creates a conducive environment for sleep. A: Providing a bath after REM sleep may disrupt the patient's sleep cycle, worsening anxiety. B: Increasing pain medication may not address the root cause of anxiety and could lead to dependency or side effects. D: Monitoring brain waves with polysomnography is an invasive procedure not typically indicated for managing anxiety-related sleep issues.
Question 2 of 9
A client is receiving atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg PO after a myocardial infarction. The nurse determines the client's apical pulse is 65 beats per minute. What action should the nurse implement next?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Administer the medication. Atenolol is a beta-blocker used to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. In this scenario, the client's apical pulse of 65 beats per minute is within the normal range for a client taking atenolol after a myocardial infarction. Therefore, the nurse should proceed with administering the medication as prescribed to help maintain the client's heart rate and blood pressure within the therapeutic range. A: Measuring the blood pressure is important but not the immediate next step as the client's heart rate is within the normal range. B: Reassessing the apical pulse is unnecessary since it is already within the normal range for a client on atenolol. C: Notifying the healthcare provider is not indicated as there are no signs of concern with the client's heart rate at 65 bpm.
Question 3 of 9
Which of the following are accepted nonpharmacological approaches to managing pain and/or anxiety in critically ill patients? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Environmental manipulation involves adjusting factors like lighting, noise levels, and room temperature to create a soothing environment, which can help reduce pain and anxiety. Step 2: By controlling the physical surroundings, patients may feel more comfortable and relaxed, leading to improved pain management and reduced anxiety levels. Step 3: Explanations of monitoring equipment and guided imagery are not directly related to environmental changes that can impact pain and anxiety. Step 4: Music therapy, while beneficial for some patients, is not categorized as environmental manipulation.
Question 4 of 9
The nurse assesses a patient who is admitted for an overdo se of sedatives. The nurse expects to find which acid-base alteration?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hypoventilation and respiratory acidosis. When a patient overdoses on sedatives, it can lead to respiratory depression causing hypoventilation. Hypoventilation results in retention of CO2, leading to respiratory acidosis. This is because the body is not effectively exhaling CO2, causing an increase in carbonic acid levels and a decrease in blood pH. The other choices are incorrect because hyperventilation would lead to respiratory alkalosis (Choice A), hypoventilation does not cause respiratory alkalosis (Choice C), and normal oxygen levels do not indicate the acid-base imbalance caused by sedative overdose (Choice D).
Question 5 of 9
Following an emergency Cesarean delivery, the nurse encourages the new mother to breastfeed her newborn. The client asks why she should breastfeed now. Which information should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because breastfeeding helps stimulate the uterus to contract, which reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage in the mother. When the baby suckles at the breast, it triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that causes the uterus to contract. This contraction helps the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size and shape, promoting faster healing and reducing bleeding. Choice B is incorrect because lactation initiation is a separate process that involves hormonal changes and milk production, which may not occur immediately after delivery. Choice C is incorrect as bonding can occur through various interactions beyond breastfeeding. Choice D is incorrect as neonatal hypoglycemia is primarily prevented by ensuring the baby receives adequate nutrition, which can also be achieved through other feeding methods besides breastfeeding.
Question 6 of 9
The nurse caring for a mechanically ventilated patient note s the high pressure alarm sounding but cannot quickly identify the cause of the alarm. The nurasbeir bn.cootme/ste stht e patient’s oxygen saturation is decreasing and heart rate and respiratory rate are increasing. What is the nurse’s priority action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The nurse's priority is to ensure the patient's safety and well-being. Calling the rapid response team will allow for immediate assessment by a team of healthcare professionals to address the deteriorating condition. This step takes precedence over troubleshooting the ventilator or manually ventilating the patient. Asking for a new ventilator (A) or manually ventilating the patient (D) does not address the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment and intervention. Continuing to troubleshoot the alarm (C) can delay critical interventions needed for the patient's worsening condition. Thus, calling the rapid response team is the most appropriate action to address the escalating clinical situation promptly.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with a very concerned family. Given that the family is under high stress, what nursing intervention will best ameliorate their stress while preserving independence?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encourage the family to participate in patient care tasks. This intervention helps to alleviate stress by involving the family in care, promoting a sense of control and empowerment. It also fosters a collaborative relationship between the family and healthcare team. The other choices are incorrect because B only focuses on asking questions but doesn't actively involve the family in care. C may add pressure on the selected representative and exclude others. D limits family involvement and may increase stress by restricting visitation.
Question 8 of 9
Which patient should the nurse notify the organ procureme nt organization (OPO) to evaluate for possible organ donation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the patient is a 36-year-old with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 and no activity on electroencephalogram, indicating severe brain injury and likely irreversible neurological damage. This patient meets the criteria for potential organ donation as they are neurologically devastated. Choice B is incorrect because the patient's condition is related to stroke and atrial fibrillation, not severe brain injury that would make them a candidate for organ donation. Choice C is incorrect because although the patient has a brain injury and a lower Glasgow Coma Scale score, the history of a reversible cause (ovarian cancer metastasis) and a higher GCS score compared to choice A make this patient less suitable for organ donation evaluation. Choice D is incorrect as the patient's diabetic and cardiovascular history does not suggest severe brain injury that would qualify for organ donation.
Question 9 of 9
When caring for a patient who has an arterial catheter in the left radial artery for arterial pressure-based cardiac output (APCO) monitoring, which information obtained by the nurse is most important to report to the health care provider?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: There is redness at the catheter insertion site. Redness at the catheter insertion site could indicate infection, which is a serious complication that requires immediate attention to prevent sepsis. Reporting this to the healthcare provider promptly is crucial for timely intervention. Choices A, C, and D are not as urgent. A positive Allen test (choice A) assesses collateral circulation and is important for assessing perfusion before arterial cannulation but does not require immediate intervention. Choice C (MAP is 86 mm Hg) falls within the normal range, so it does not indicate an urgent issue. The visibility of the dicrotic notch in the arterial waveform (choice D) is a normal finding and does not require immediate action.