Hemodynamics & Vital Signs
An adult patient has a heart rate of 46 beats per minute. What is this called?
What is Bradycardia?
What is the normal serum potassium range?
What is 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L?
What assessment tool is commonly used to objectively measure a patient's loss of consciousness?
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Before administering digoxin, which assessment is most important?
What is Apical heart rate?
What assessment framework should the nurse use first when evaluating a rapidly deteriorating patient?
What is Airway, Breathing, and Circulation?
A patient's blood pressure is 82/48 mmHg. What is your primary concern?
What is inadequate tissue/organ perfusion?
Which laboratory value tells us about the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity?
What is Hemoglobin?
What adventitious lung sound is commonly associated with fluid in the alveoli, such as with pulmonary edema?
What are crackles?
A patient receiving a continuous heparin infusion develops significant bleeding. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
What is Protamine sulfate?
What is the minimum expected urine output for an adult patient?
What is 0.5 mL/kg/hr?
What Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) is generally considered the minimum target for adequate tissue perfusion in a critically ill adult?
What is greater than or equal to 65 mmHg?
A patient's potassium is 6.2 mEq/L. What major complication is the nurse most concerned about?
What are cardiac dysrhythmias?
A patient suddenly develops facial droop, slurred speech, and unilateral arm weakness. What should the nurse suspect?
What is an acute stroke?
A patient receives IV regular insulin for severe hyperkalemia. Why is dextrose often administered with it?
What is to prevent hypoglycemia while insulin shifts potassium into the cells?
What is the maximum possible score on the Glasgow Coma Scale?
What is 15?
What does stroke volume represent?
What is the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction?
What lab value is commonly trended in critically ill patients to help assess tissue perfusion and physiologic stress?
What is lactate?
A patient suddenly develops severe dyspnea and has absent breath sounds on the right side. What should the nurse suspect?
What is Pneumothorax?
A patient with chest pain has an order for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which assessment finding would make the nurse hold the medication and reassess/notify the provider?
A. HR 92 bpm
B. BP 82/48 mmHg
C. SpO₂ 95%
D. Pain 8/10
What is B, the patient's blood pressure?
What are the two shockable cardiac arrest rhythms?
What are ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT)?
What two factors determine Cardiac Output?
What is Heart Rate x Stroke Volume?
A patient presents with chest pain. Which laboratory value is most specific for myocardial injury?
What is cardiac troponin?
Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Post-op patient reporting incisional pain 8/10
B. Patient with HR 52 who is asymptomatic
C. Patient who suddenly becomes restless and confused
D. Patient with a temperature of 101.2°F
Who is Patient C?
A patient receiving norepinephrine has a BP of 76/42 mmHg. The infusion is increased according to the prescribed titration parameters. What assessment finding best indicates the medication is having its desired effect?
A. Decreased temperature
B. Increased MAP
C. Decreased respiratory rate
D. Increased potassium
What is B- an increased MAP?
What are the four main categories of shock?
What are hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive?