Exam 3: Critical Care

In the intensive care unit, the nurse cares for a client who is being treated for hypotension with a continuous infusion of dopamine.  Which assessment finding indicates that the infusion rate may need to be adjusted?

The nurse is caring for an intubated client whose oxygen saturation begins to drop.  What action should the nurse take first?

The student nurse observes the respiratory therapist (RT) preparing to draw an arterial blood gas from the radial artery.  The RT performs the Allen's test and the student asks why this test performed before the blood sample is drawn.  Which statement made by the RT is most accurate?

The flight nurse assesses an alert and oriented client at an industrial accident scene who was impaled in the abdomen by a pair of scissors.  Which nursing action is the immediate priority on arrival at the scene?

The nurse is preparing to defibrillate a client who suddenly went into ventricular fibrillation.  Which steps are essential prior to delivering a shock?  Select all that apply.

The nurse observes a nursing student performing chest compressions on an adult client.  Which technique indicates that the student understands how to provide high-quality chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

A client is brought to the emergency department after his face slammed into a brick wall during a gang fight.  Which client assessment finding is most important for the nurse to consider before inserting a nasogastric tube?

The home health nurse is providing care for a 6-year-old client who has a tracheostomy and is being mechanically ventilated when the ventilator's apnea alarm sounds.  The nurse finds the client to be unresponsive and pulseless, and there are no other caregivers present.  Which action should the nurse take first?

An emergency department nurse is sent to the scene of a massive motor vehicle collision.  A client there reports neck pain.  Which actions should the nurse perform at this time?  Select all that apply.

To obtain accurate continuous blood pressure readings via a radial arterial catheter, the nurse places the air-filled interface of the stopcock at the phlebostatic axis.  Where is it located?

The nurse is caring for an 11-month-old child in the pediatric hospital.  Which of these child's findings would be a common criterion to activate the rapid response team?  Select all that apply.

A client at 32 weeks gestation goes into cardiac arrest.  What is the nurse's best action while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation for this client?