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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Critical Care Nursing Quiz: Test Your ICU Knowledge

Quick practice with ICU exam questions - instant results and rationales.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ernie BlakeUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art medical equipment heart monitor IV bag nursing icons on dark blue background for critical care quiz

This critical care nursing quiz helps you practice ICU scenarios and exam-style questions, so you can build confidence fast. Check your answers, read brief rationales, and focus your study time where it counts. For more focused review, try our telemetry quiz, explore emergency medicine practice questions, or reinforce cardio concepts with perfusion nclex questions.

In septic shock, the preferred first-line vasopressor to maintain MAP is norepinephrine.
True
False
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Which sedation scale is commonly used in ICUs to target light sedation in ventilated adults?
Aldrete Score
Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)
Braden Scale
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
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Which intervention best reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) risk as part of a care bundle?
Elevate head of bed 30-45 degrees
Continuous deep sedation
Routine prophylactic antibiotics
Daily chest physiotherapy for all
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For a patient with suspected stroke symptoms in the ICU, the preferred initial imaging modality is non-contrast head CT.
True
False
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Which is the most appropriate first-line therapy for symptomatic bradycardia with hypotension?
Adenosine IV
Magnesium sulfate IV
Amiodarone IV
Atropine IV
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Delirium in the ICU is best screened using tools such as the CAM-ICU or ICDSC.
True
False
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Which bundle element most directly prevents central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)?
Routine heparin flushes
Daily chest X-ray
Prophylactic vancomycin
Maximal sterile barrier precautions during insertion
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Which electrolyte abnormality most increases the risk of torsades de pointes in critically ill patients?
Hypernatremia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperchloremia
Hypomagnesemia
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Continuous waveform capnography is the most reliable method to confirm endotracheal tube placement after intubation.
True
False
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Albumin is preferred over crystalloid for initial fluid resuscitation in septic shock.
True
False
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In DKA management, which parameter guides the transition from IV insulin to subcutaneous insulin?
Normalization of blood glucose alone
Urine ketones turning negative
Resolution of anion gap metabolic acidosis
Serum osmolality below 300 mOsm/kg
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Citrate is used as an anticoagulant in continuous renal replacement therapy to reduce circuit clotting risk.
False
True
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Which ABG pattern is most consistent with early sepsis-induced hyperventilation?
Metabolic acidosis with high PaCO2
Respiratory alkalosis with low PaCO2
Respiratory acidosis with high PaCO2
Metabolic alkalosis with high HCO3-
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A cuff leak test helps assess risk of post-extubation stridor due to laryngeal edema.
False
True
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Which initial ventilator setting is most appropriate for an adult with ARDS to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury?
Tidal volume 4-6 mL/kg predicted body weight
Tidal volume 10-12 mL/kg actual body weight
High tidal volume with zero PEEP
Tidal volume 8 mL/kg predicted body weight with no FiO2 adjustment
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For a patient with suspected tension pneumothorax during mechanical ventilation, which immediate action is indicated?
Perform emergent needle decompression without waiting for imaging
Increase PEEP to improve oxygenation
Place the patient in Trendelenburg
Administer a fluid bolus first
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What is the recommended target temperature range and duration for targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ROSC?
Target 28-30 C for 12 hours
Immediate rewarming to 37.5 C
Maintain normothermia only if fever occurs
Target 32-36 C for at least 24 hours
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Which hemodynamic change is most consistent with cardiac tamponade?
Bradycardia with wide QRS
Equalization of diastolic pressures across chambers
Increased pulse pressure
High cardiac output state
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In massive transfusion protocols, which ratio of products is commonly targeted to mimic whole blood?
1:2:1 of PRBCs:FFP:Platelets
2:1:1 of PRBCs:FFP:Platelets
1:1:1 of PRBCs:FFP:Platelets
3:1:0 of PRBCs:FFP:Platelets
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Which parameter is most appropriate to titrate in ARDS to avoid oxygen toxicity while maintaining oxygenation?
FiO2 reduced to the lowest level that maintains SpO2 88-95%
Tidal volume increased to raise PaO2
Respiratory rate increased to raise PaO2
PEEP reduced first regardless of oxygenation
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Hemodynamic Concepts -

    Learn to interpret vital signs and invasive monitoring data in our critical care assessment quiz and critical care nursing exam questions to guide evidence-based interventions.

  2. Analyze Respiratory Parameters -

    Assess arterial blood gases and ventilator settings to make informed decisions on mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy.

  3. Apply Advanced Cardiac Life Support Principles -

    Practice ACLS algorithms and ECG rhythm analysis through targeted critical care practice questions to enhance emergency response skills.

  4. Evaluate Neurological Assessment Findings -

    Identify changes in consciousness, Glasgow Coma Scale scoring, and intracranial pressure implications for prompt intervention.

  5. Demonstrate Prioritization of Care -

    Use realistic scenarios to rank nursing interventions for shock, sepsis, and multi-organ dysfunction in an intensive care setting.

  6. Identify Medication and Fluid Management Strategies -

    Recognize indications, contraindications, and potential adverse effects of inotropes, vasopressors, and electrolyte replacements.

Cheat Sheet

  1. ABCDE Assessment Mnemonic -

    The ABCDE framework (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) provides a systematic rapid-assessment tool in critical care, minimizing oversights of life-threatening issues (source: American Heart Association). Recall "A-B-C-D-E to Save the Day" to check airway patency, ensure adequate ventilation, assess hemodynamic status, evaluate neurological function, and expose the patient for hidden injuries.

  2. Hemodynamic Monitoring and MAP Calculation -

    Critical care nursing exam questions often challenge you to calculate MAP using the formula MAP = CO × SVR, where CO is cardiac output and SVR is systemic vascular resistance (source: Society of Critical Care Medicine). Remember that a MAP ≥65 mmHg is typically targeted to ensure end-organ perfusion and guide vasopressor titration during shock states.

  3. Low Tidal Volume Ventilation in ARDS -

    Adhering to ARDSNet protocols, use low tidal volumes of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight with plateau pressures <30 cm H₂O to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury, a frequent topic in intensive care nursing questions (source: New England Journal of Medicine). Employ a PEEP titration strategy to optimize alveolar recruitment while monitoring for barotrauma.

  4. Early Sepsis Recognition and Bundle Implementation -

    Apply the Surviving Sepsis Campaign's 1-Hour Bundle - obtain lactate, blood cultures, administer broad-spectrum antibiotics, and give 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension - in under 60 minutes to improve outcomes (source: Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines). Mnemonic "Sepsis Six" helps recall oxygen, blood cultures, antibiotics, fluids, lactate, and urine output monitoring practices.

  5. Systematic ABG Interpretation -

    In nursing critical care quiz questions, ABG analysis follows a structured three-step method: assess pH, PaCO₂, and HCO₃❻, then determine primary disturbance and compensation (source: UpToDate). Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation (pH = pKa + log([HCO₃❻]/0.03×PaCO₂)) to deepen understanding and validate findings.

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