CRNI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CRNI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A Jehovah's Witness patient requires urgent surgery with expected blood loss. Which blood management strategy is MOST appropriate? → Use autologous blood salvage with a continuous circuit
2. What is the recommended minimum syringe size for flushing a central venous catheter to prevent catheter rupture? → 10 mL
3. What is the significance of catheter-related thrombosis in patients with PICCs compared to other central venous catheters? → PICCs are associated with higher rates of upper extremity DVT compared to other CVCs
4. Which site should be AVOIDED for peripheral IV insertion in a patient who had a right-sided mastectomy? → Right arm
5. What temperature should blood products be stored at in the blood bank prior to transfusion? → 1-6 degrees C
6. What is the maximum recommended dextrose concentration for peripheral IV infusion in pediatric patients? → 12.5%
7. Which imaging modality is the gold standard for confirming central venous catheter tip position? → Chest X-ray (posteroanterior)
8. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when handling antineoplastic agents according to current INS standards? → Double chemotherapy-tested gloves, gown, and face shield
9. A patient develops hypotension, dyspnea, and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates within 6 hours of transfusion. Which complication should the nurse suspect? → Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
10. Which complication is unique to neonatal umbilical vein catheter (UVC) use? → Hepatic necrosis from malposition
11. A patient develops sudden dyspnea, tachycardia, and hypotension during central line removal. What is the most likely complication? → Venous air embolism
12. What is the maximum infusion time allowed for one unit of packed red blood cells? → 4 hours
13. A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition. Which laboratory panel should be monitored at least twice weekly? → Basic metabolic panel including glucose, electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine
14. A 5-year-old requires IV potassium chloride supplementation. What is the maximum recommended concentration for peripheral IV administration? → 40 mEq/L
15. Which of the following is not a common safety measure? → Immunization
16. The pulsatile (push-pause) flushing technique is used primarily to: → Create turbulence that dislodges fibrin and drug deposits from the catheter lumen
17. Which pump feature allows the clinician to administer a loading dose followed by a continuous maintenance infusion? → Bolus-to-continuous mode (loading dose with automatic transition to maintenance rate)
18. Which assessment finding is most consistent with early peripheral IV infiltration? → Cool, pale, swollen skin at the insertion site
19. Which complication is most commonly associated with long-term PICC use in home infusion patients? → Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
20. What is the maximum recommended rate for initiating total parenteral nutrition in an adult patient? → 25-50% of goal rate for the first 24 hours
21. Most of the body's water is found in → cells.
22. Which complication is MOST specifically associated with rituximab infusion therapy? → Tumor lysis syndrome
23. After phlebitis develops at a peripheral IV site, where should the replacement IV be inserted? → In the opposite extremity or proximal to the inflamed site
24. What is the recommended method for securing a peripheral IV catheter to prevent dislodgement? → Manufactured catheter stabilization device (engineered stabilization device)
25. What is the appropriate action when a pediatric patient's IV site shows a grade 2 infiltration on the INS scale? → Discontinue the IV and elevate the extremity
26. Which assessment finding during a central venous catheter dressing change would indicate possible catheter migration? → The external catheter length has changed from the documented insertion measurement
27. Which sedation assessment tool was specifically developed to monitor opioid-induced sedation in patients receiving IV analgesic infusions? → Pasero Opioid-induced Sedation Scale (POSS)
28. Which developmental consideration is most important when preparing a school-age child (6-12 years) for IV insertion? → Providing a simple, honest explanation of what to expect
29. A patient's pre-transfusion type and screen reveals an unexpected antibody. What is the appropriate nursing action? → Notify the blood bank for antigen-negative compatible units
30. In the US home infusion model, who shares primary responsibility for patient education about IV therapy? → The infusion nurse and the home infusion pharmacy team