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Critical Care HESI Practice Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A patient in septic shock is most likely to have which initial finding?
- Bradycardia
- Hypothermia
- Increased urine output
✔✔B. Hypotension
Which rhythm requires immediate defibrillation?✔✔A. Ventricular fibrillation
- Atrial fibrillation
- Sinus tachycardia
- First-degree heart block
What is the priority nursing action when a ventilator alarm sounds for high pressure?✔✔A. Assess for patient coughing or obstruction 1 / 4
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- Call respiratory therapy immediately
- Turn off the ventilator alarm
- Increase tidal volume
Which lab is most important to monitor in a patient receiving heparin infusion in the ICU?✔✔A. aPTT
B. INR
- Troponin
- Creatinine
A patient with a spinal cord injury suddenly develops severe hypertension, headache, and bradycardia. What condition is this?
- Septic shock
- Neurogenic shock
- Hypovolemic shock
✔✔B. Autonomic dysreflexia
What is the priority action if a chest tube becomes disconnected from the drainage system? 2 / 4
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✔✔A. Place the tube end in sterile water
- Reconnect it quickly without cleaning
- Clamp the tube permanently
- Remove the tube
Which medication is the first-line treatment for symptomatic bradycardia?✔✔A. Atropine
- Epinephrine
- Amiodarone
- Dopamine
Which finding suggests cardiac tamponade?
- Widened pulse pressure
- Increased urine output
- Bounding pulses
✔✔B. Muffled heart sounds
What is the nurse’s first action when a patient’s endotracheal tube becomes dislodged? 3 / 4
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✔✔A. Manually ventilate with a bag-valve mask
- Call the physician
- Reinsert the tube immediately
- Increase oxygen flow
Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk for ventricular arrhythmias?✔✔A. Hypokalemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hypercalcemia
- Hypermagnesemia
What is the purpose of using norepinephrine in septic shock?
- Increase urine output
- Increase heart rate
- Reduce fever
✔✔B. Maintain blood pressure
Which action prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia?
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