Critical Care Nursing Practice Questions

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees. Elevating the head of the bed helps promote optimal airway clearance by facilitating drainage of secretions and reducing the risk of aspiration. This position also improves lung expansion and oxygenation. Choice B is important for preventing venous thromboembolism but not directly related to airway clearance. Choice C may not be appropriate as excessive sedation can impair airway clearance. Choice D is important for preventing pressure ulcers but does not directly address airway clearance.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: Accurately identifying patients is a National Patient Safety Goal to prevent errors in patient care. Proper patient identification ensures correct treatments and medications are given, reducing harm. Restraint elimination, medication reconciliation, and infection reduction are important goals but not specific National Patient Safety Goals. Accurate patient identification directly addresses patient safety concerns.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Verbally coach the patient to breathe with the ventilator. This approach allows the nurse to address the patient's anxiety and help them synchronize their breathing with the ventilator, promoting better ventilation and oxygenation. It is important to first try non-invasive interventions before resorting to sedation or manual ventilation. Sedating the patient (B) should be a last resort to avoid potential complications. Manual ventilation (C) may disrupt the ventilator settings and cause respiratory distress. Increasing the rate of propofol infusion (D) is not indicated unless the patient's sedation level is inadequate.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C (10 to 20 mg/dL). The normal BUN-to-creatinine ratio is approximately 10:1. With a serum creatinine level of 0.7 mg/dL, the expected BUN level should be around 7 to 14 mg/dL. Therefore, choice C (10 to 20 mg/dL) falls within this expected range. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not align with the typical BUN-to-creatinine ratio and would indicate abnormal kidney function.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Sense of loss of control of the situation. The wife's demand to reassign the nurse indicates her need for control over her husband's care, as she may feel overwhelmed by the sudden cardiac arrest and hospitalization. By requesting a different nurse, she seeks to regain a sense of control and assurance. The other choices are incorrect because: A does not align with the wife's immediate concern, B does not explain her request for a nurse reassignment, and C does not address her emotional response to the situation.