General Review Flashcards
7 cards from real CCRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 General Review flashcards as text
A patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage develops hyponatremia with signs of dehydration. Which condition is most likely?
Answer: Cerebral salt wasting
Cerebral salt wasting causes hyponatremia with hypovolemia, unlike SIADH which causes euvolemia.
Which ventilator setting most directly improves oxygenation in a hypoxemic patient?
Answer: Increasing PEEP and FiO2
PEEP and FiO2 are the primary settings adjusted to improve oxygenation.
A patient in cardiogenic shock has an intra-aortic balloon pump. When does the balloon inflate?
Answer: During diastole to augment coronary perfusion
The IABP inflates during diastole to improve coronary perfusion and deflates in systole to reduce afterload.
Which finding indicates worsening status in a patient with acute liver failure?
Answer: Increasing ammonia and worsening encephalopathy
Rising ammonia with worsening encephalopathy signals deteriorating liver function.
A patient with severe asthma exacerbation has a normalizing PaCO2 after being initially low. What does this suggest?
Answer: Impending respiratory failure from fatigue
A normalizing or rising PaCO2 in severe asthma signals tiring respiratory muscles and impending failure.
Which nursing action is most important to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia?
Answer: Maintaining head-of-bed elevation at 30-45 degrees
Elevating the head of bed 30-45 degrees reduces aspiration risk and VAP incidence.
A patient with massive pulmonary embolism becomes hemodynamically unstable. Which treatment is most appropriate?
Answer: Thrombolytic therapy
Thrombolytics are indicated for massive PE causing hemodynamic instability.