Critical Care Nursing Questions

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: A: Education on protection of human subjects is crucial for nurses to understand ethical principles when conducting research studies. It ensures compliance with ethical guidelines and protection of research participants. B: Participation of staff nurses on ethics committees is not directly related to conducting research studies and may not specifically involve protection of human subjects. C: Written descriptions of how nurses participate in ethics programs do not necessarily focus on research studies and may not cover the specific ethical considerations required in research. D: Written policies and procedures related to response to ethical issues are important but may not provide the necessary knowledge on protection of human subjects for conducting research studies.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Assess the patient's current vital signs. The nurse's first action should be to gather objective data to assess the patient's condition and determine the urgency of the situation. Vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, provide crucial information for the initial assessment. This will help the nurse identify any signs of sepsis, shock, or other serious conditions that require immediate intervention. The other choices are incorrect because: B: Giving acetaminophen without assessing the patient's vital signs and determining the cause of the symptoms could mask important clinical information and delay appropriate treatment. C: While obtaining a urine sample may be necessary later to rule out a urinary tract infection, it is not the most immediate priority in this case. D: Delaying the patient's assessment and care based on estimated wait times is not appropriate when the patient presents with potentially serious symptoms. Immediate evaluation is required in this scenario.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bundle of care. A bundle of care refers to a set of evidence-based interventions that, when implemented together, have been shown to improve patient outcomes. In this scenario, keeping the head of the bed elevated, daily awakening from sedation, and oral care protocols are bundled together to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. This approach is based on the idea that implementing multiple interventions simultaneously is more effective than individual interventions alone. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because: B: Clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations for healthcare providers based on evidence but do not necessarily involve a group of interventions bundled together. C: Patient safety goals are specific objectives aimed at improving patient safety outcomes, but they do not specifically refer to a group of interventions bundled together. D: Quality improvement initiatives focus on improving processes and outcomes in healthcare settings but do not necessarily involve a group of interventions bundled together for a specific purpose like in this case.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube. In acute respiratory failure, especially in the setting of pneumonia and COPD, mechanical ventilation is often necessary to support breathing. Endotracheal intubation allows for precise control of airway patency, oxygenation, and ventilation. Emergency tracheostomy (choice A) is typically reserved for long-term ventilatory support. Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (choice C) may not provide sufficient support in severe cases. Oxygen via bag-valve-mask (choice D) may not be adequate for ventilatory support in acute respiratory failure.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because after brain death is confirmed, maintaining perfusion and oxygenation of organs is crucial to ensure their viability for donation. This process allows organs to be retrieved in optimal condition during the operation. Choice A is incorrect because a signed donor card is not a legal mandate for organ retrieval. Choice C is incorrect as the healthcare proxy's consent is typically required for organ donation. Choice D is incorrect because life support is not immediately withdrawn upon brain death confirmation; instead, organ preservation measures are initiated.