ATI RN
Critical Care Nursing Exam Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse responds to a ventilator alarm and finds the patient lying in bed holding the endotracheal tube (ET). Which action should the nurse take next?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct action is D: Manually ventilate the patient with 100% oxygen. This is crucial to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent hypoxia. Holding the ET tube can lead to extubation and airway compromise. Activating the rapid response team (A) may delay immediate intervention. Providing reassurance (B) is important but not the priority in this situation. Calling the health care provider (C) to reinsert the tube would also lead to a delay in providing essential respiratory support.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is concerned that a patient is at increased risk of developing a pulmonary embolus and develops a plan of care for prevention to include whic h intervention?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Mobility. Maintaining mobility helps prevent blood stasis, a leading factor in the development of pulmonary embolism. Movement promotes circulation, reducing the risk of blood clots. A: Antiseptic oral care is important for oral hygiene but not directly related to preventing pulmonary embolism. B: Bed rest with head of bed elevated can actually increase the risk of clots due to immobility. C: Coughing and deep breathing are beneficial for preventing respiratory complications but do not address the underlying cause of pulmonary embolism.
Question 3 of 5
What is the main purpose of certification for critical care n ursing?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: To validate a nurse’s knowledge of critical care nursing. Certification in critical care nursing validates a nurse's expertise and knowledge in this specialized area of nursing. It demonstrates that the nurse has met certain standards and competencies in critical care practice. This certification ensures that the nurse is well-equipped to provide high-quality care to critically ill patients. A: To assure the consumer that critical nurses will not make a mistake - This choice is incorrect because certification does not guarantee that nurses will not make mistakes. It focuses on validating knowledge and skills rather than infallibility. B: To help prepare the critical care nurse for graduate school - This choice is incorrect as certification is more focused on practice readiness rather than academic preparation. C: To assist in promoting magnet status for a facility - This choice is incorrect as magnet status relates more to the overall excellence and quality of nursing care in a facility, not individual certification.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is experiencing severe pain, despite receiving pain medication for the past 24 hours. The patients wife expresses concern about this to the nurse. Which response by the nurse would be most empowering to the patients family?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it empowers the family to take action by requesting a physician evaluation of the patient's pain control. This step is crucial in ensuring that the patient's pain is adequately managed. By involving the physician, the family can advocate for the patient's needs and potentially explore alternative pain management strategies. Choice A is incorrect because it dismisses the family's concerns and fails to address the need for further evaluation. Choice B may provide temporary relief but does not address the underlying issue of inadequate pain control. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests delaying action, which could lead to prolonged suffering for the patient.
Question 5 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 (PCA) 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
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