CRITICAL CARE HESI EXIT Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!! Critical Care Exit HESI Exam

Metoprolol

Beta-blocker used to treat hypertension

Second degree heart block

Telemetry pattern with prolonged PR interval and decreased conduction time from SA node to AV junction

Restless, intubated client

Client on mechanical ventilation exhibiting restlessness and breath sounds on right side only

Train derailment triage

Priority order: Middle-aged man wandering, Woman sitting with blanket, Crying child, Mother and father just arrived

Pneumonia with severe SOB

Client with pneumonia admitted with pH 7.30, PaO2 60, PaCO2 62, HCO3 35; Immediate communication to HCP for drowsiness and difficulty in arousing

Burn patient with serum potassium of 4

Patient with burn injuries and potassium level of 4; Medication choice for potassium not provided

Bedridden patient for 2 weeks

Patient bedridden for 2 weeks with pH 7.37, PO2 90, PCO2 40, HCO3 25; Priority action is turning patient side to side q2h

Assess 40-year-old with sickle cell crisis

Priority assessment for a 40-year-old with sickle cell crisis

Major disaster triage

Priority order: Cut over eye, Move patient to medical surgical unit, Patient with abnormal liver levels

Carotid picture

Pointing to the neck to indicate carotid artery

Wound vac effectiveness

Checking seal to ensure no leaks in wound vac

Magnesium antidote

Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium toxicity

Trouble swallowing

Assess gag reflex or consider thickening of fluids

Disconnected chest tube

Get new saline bottle to stick end into until reconnecting tube

Ventricular fibrillation

Defibrillate with a shock once; Consider calcium levels

Chest tube volume

Mark container between 100 and 150

Heart sounds audio

S1S2 heart sounds audio

Patient on benzos

Narcan is not the answer for a patient on benzodiazepines

Abdominal rigidity

Low hemoglobin level is the most concerning

Low hemoglobin level

Priority assessment for patients with low hemoglobin levels

Patient on Heparin going for surgery

Assess patient for bleeding before surgery

Fever of 101

Best nursing diagnosis related to temperature elevation

Listening and hearing silence, then kortokoff sound

Follow through by checking blood pressure

Pancreatitis and elevated liver function

Expectation of patient with pancreatitis and elevated liver function who drinks alcohol daily or frequently

Dark, tarry stool

Sign of gastrointestinal bleed, consider NSAIDs

Morphine in PCA pump

Ensure the lock is on the machine

Vasopressin

Vasoconstrictor medication

MRSA isolation

Isolate patient and obtain swabs

Thick secretions

Increase fluid intake

Chronic renal failure

Symptoms of chronic renal failure

Black tag during a disaster

Patient exhibiting specific symptoms

Types of shock

Different types of shock and their signs and symptoms

Blood product administration

Procedures and considerations for administering blood products

Premedicate with Benadryl

Pre-medication for patients with previous reactions

PR interval

Time required for the impulse to travel from atria through the AV node

Isotonic solutions

Different types of isotonic solutions

Tracheostomy care

Important considerations for tracheostomy care

CVA and thrombus formation

Heart conditions related to thrombus formation

Left hemisphere lesion

Symptoms and effects of a left hemisphere lesion

Right hemisphere lesion

Symptoms and effects of a right hemisphere lesion

Burn classification

Different degrees of burns and their characteristics

Neurovascular status

Assessment of pain, pallor, pulse, paresthesia, and paralysis

Signs of shock

Signs and symptoms of shock

Increased ICP

Indicator of increased intracranial pressure

Spinal shock

Complete loss of all reflexes

U wave prominence

Indication of hypokalemia

First degree, second degree, third degree burns

Classification and characteristics of different degrees of burns

Neurological assessments

Hourly neurological assessments for head injury

Pulmonary embolism

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism

MODS

Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome after an abdominal gunshot wound

Endotracheal tube placement

Checking placement by listening to breath sounds

Anaphylactic reaction

Patient should wear a bracelet indicating allergies

Hemorrhagic shock

Treatment with isotonic fluids

Heat stroke

Treatment with increased IV fluids and cooling measures

CPR on intubated client

Repositioning endotracheal tube during CPR

Meperidine overdose

Naloxone administration and monitoring for difficulty in arousing

MICU patient

Patient with easily obliterated radial pulse and below-normal pressures; Consider hypovolemic shock

Epidural bleed

Assessing if the patient was knocked out by the blow

CPR for pregnant lady

Performing Heimlich maneuver with chest compressions

Patient with shortness of breath and chest pain

Administering oxygen by face mask

Acetaminophen overdose

Administering acetylcysteine as the antidote

Heparin protocol

Increasing the rate of heparin infusion based on PTT result

Calculating heart rate from EKG strip

Counting R-R intervals and multiplying by 10

Meningitis suspicion

Performing lumbar puncture

Low albumin

Feeding options for patients with low albumin

BNP and diuretic

BNP level and diuretic prescription for heart failure

Acute renal failure

Administering IV potassium for low levels

Pulseless VT

Defibrillation with 200 to 360 joules

Acid-base disorders

Identifying different acid-base disorders based on blood gas values

Waveforms in a normal EKG

Identification of P wave, QRS complex, T wave, ST segment, PR interval