Trivia Flashcards
7 cards from real Acute Care Nurse Practitioner practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Trivia flashcards as text
Which scoring system is used to assess the severity of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients?
Answer: SOFA score
The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score evaluates 6 organ systems and is used to define and monitor sepsis-related organ dysfunction.
A patient's ABG shows: pH 7.28, PaCO2 58, HCO3 26. What is the PRIMARY acid-base disturbance?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Elevated PaCO2 (>45) with low pH indicates respiratory acidosis; the near-normal HCO3 suggests this is acute with limited compensation.
Which intervention has the STRONGEST evidence for reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)?
Answer: Elevating the head of bed to 30-45 degrees
Elevating the head of bed to 30-45 degrees is a core VAP bundle element with strong evidence for reducing microaspiration and VAP incidence.
A patient develops fever, encephalopathy, and thrombocytopenia after a red blood cell transfusion. Which condition is MOST likely?
Answer: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
The pentad of TTP includes fever, thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, neurological changes, and renal impairment; it may be triggered by transfusion.
Which is the MOST appropriate initial sedation goal for a mechanically ventilated ICU patient per current PADIS guidelines?
Answer: Light sedation or alert/calm (RASS 0 to -2)
The 2018 PADIS guidelines recommend targeting light sedation (RASS 0 to -2) to reduce ICU length of stay, ventilator days, and delirium.
A patient with known HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) requires anticoagulation. Which agent should be used?
Answer: Argatroban
Argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is a first-line anticoagulant for HIT as it does not cross-react with heparin antibodies.
Which pulmonary artery catheter reading BEST reflects left ventricular preload?
Answer: Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP/PCWP)
Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (wedge pressure) reflects left atrial pressure and serves as a surrogate for left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (preload).