ATI RN
Critical Care Nursing NCLEX Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is assessing a client who complains of weight loss, racing heart rate, and difficulty sleeping. The nurse determines the client has moist skin with fine hair, prominent eyes, lid retraction, and a staring expression. These findings are consistent with which disorder?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Symptoms of weight loss, racing heart rate, and difficulty sleeping are common in hyperthyroidism. Step 2: Presence of moist skin, fine hair, prominent eyes, lid retraction, and staring expression are classic signs of Grave's disease, a type of hyperthyroidism. Step 3: Grave's disease is an autoimmune disorder where the thyroid gland is overactive, leading to excessive production of thyroid hormones. Step 4: Excess thyroid hormones increase metabolic rate, causing weight loss, racing heart rate, and insomnia. Step 5: Therefore, the findings described in the question are consistent with Grave's disease.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse in the ICU is responding to a patient who has just gone into cardiac arrest. A moment later, the nurse is notified that another patient has just gone into anaphylactic shock due to a drug allergy. She is conflicted as to what to do, as she is the only nurse available at the moment to tend to both patients. Which component of a healthy work environment is lacking in this scenario?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Appropriate staffing. In this scenario, the nurse is conflicted because she is the only nurse available to tend to both critical patients. Appropriate staffing ensures that there are enough healthcare professionals to provide timely and effective care to patients in need. In this situation, the lack of adequate staffing is evident as the nurse is overwhelmed and unable to give proper attention to both patients simultaneously. Effective decision making (choice A) can be hindered by inadequate staffing but is not the primary issue here. Authentic leadership (choice C) and meaningful recognition (choice D) are important components of a healthy work environment but are not directly related to the lack of staffing in this scenario.
Question 3 of 5
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) sponsors certification in critical care nursing for several critical care subspecialties. What is the most important benefit of such certification for the profession of nursing?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because certification validates nurses' expert knowledge and practice. This is important as it ensures that nurses have the necessary skills and competence to provide high-quality care in critical care settings. Certification is voluntary and not mandated by government regulations (Choice C). It goes beyond demonstrating basic knowledge (Choice D) by confirming specialized expertise. While certification may garner positive publicity (Choice A), the primary benefit is the validation of advanced skills and knowledge.
Question 4 of 5
A critical care unit has decided to implement several measures designed to improve intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to an expected improvement in patient outcomes, what is the most important effect that should resultf rom these measures?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: - Improved collaboration enhances job satisfaction and reduces burnout, leading to increased staff retention. - Higher staff retention promotes continuity of care, improves team dynamics, and enhances patient outcomes. Summary: - A: Not directly related to collaboration, more about performance evaluation. - B: Manners may improve, but not the most important effect of collaboration. - D: Collaboration involves open communication, so less discussion in front of patients is not a positive outcome.
Question 5 of 5
A patient is transferred to the ICU from the Birth Center of the hospital in the middle of the night after experiencing complications during delivery of her baby. The patients husband is anxious and explains to the ICU nurse that he doesnt understand why his wife has been moved to the ICU. She is going to die, isnt she? he asks the nurse. What is the nurses best response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it addresses the husband's concern directly by assuring him that every measure will be taken to provide the best care for his wife. This response shows empathy and provides reassurance, which is crucial in such a stressful situation. It helps to alleviate the husband's anxiety and fear by emphasizing the hospital's commitment to his wife's well-being. Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect: B: This response does not address the husband's immediate concern about his wife's well-being and may come across as dismissive. C: Offering a place to relax does not address the husband's specific question and does not provide the information he is seeking. D: Discussing health insurance is not appropriate at this moment of crisis and does not address the husband's fears about his wife's condition.