A patient in the intensive care unit has had blood work drawn several times over the past 24 hours and the nurse notes that the patient's serum lactic acid level is trending upward. The most recent level is elevated at 5.3 mEq/L.
What interpretation should the nurse draw from this assessment finding?
A) The patient is experiencing increased intracranial pressure.
B) Intracellular contents are being released into the patient's vascular space.
C) The patient has developed a systemic infection.
D) The patient is experiencing a deficit in oxygen supply.
Question 2An acutely ill patient has had a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) placed and the critical care nurse is closely monitoring the data that the PAC provides.
When documenting the patient's mean arterial pressure, the nurse understands that this value represents:
A) The midpoint between the patient's systolic arterial blood pressure and diastolic arterial blood pressure
B) The average arterial blood pressure throughout the patient's cardiac cycle
C) The difference between the patient's systolic arterial blood pressure and diastolic arterial blood pressure
D) The standard deviation of the patient's arterial blood pressure over a given time period
Question 3An arterial line has been ordered for a patient who is receiving treatment in the critical care unit. The nurse on the unit should recognize that this patient will benefit from:
A) Bolus infusion of intravenous solution
B) Simultaneous administration of more than one antibiotic
C) Frequent blood pressure monitoring
D) Serial blood culture samples
Question 4A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the medical unit with a diagnosis of pyelonephritis but failed to respond appreciably to antibiotic therapy.
Upon demonstrating warning signs and symptoms of septic shock, the patient has transferred to the intensive care unit for treatment. Recent assessments suggest that the patient's infection is now beginning to resolve. What types of monitoring and assessment are likely to be required in this patient's immediate care? Select all that apply.
A) Peripheral intravenous access
B) Arterial line access
C) Pulmonary artery catheterization
D) Ventricular assist device
E) Cardiac monitoring
Question 5A patient who has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with extensive burns is conscious but unable to speak due to upper airway trauma. When communicating with this patient, the ICU nurse should adopt which of the following strategies?
A) Provide brief explanations and directions to the patient.
B) Ask the patient questions that can be answered with a nod or a shake of the head.
C) Defer to a friend or family member of the patient when information is needed.
D) Speak to the patient slowly and with increased volume.
Question 6A patient is being treated in the critical care unit for urosepsis. The patient's level of consciousness has decreased over the past 12 hours, but the nurse is continuing to conduct regularly scheduled pain assessments in the knowledge that:
A) Pain is associated with a consequent decrease in renal function.
B) Pain blunts the patient's awareness of other important signs and symptoms.
C) Pain contributes to hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
D) Pain increases the patient's cardiac workload.
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