Free Critical Care and Emergency Nursing MCQs with Answers
50 Critical Care and Emergency Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Covers rapid assessment and stabilisation of patients with airway obstruction, respiratory failure, shock, cardiac arrest, sepsis, poisoning and major electrolyte disturbances. It includes triage, the ABCDE approach, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilator and monitor care, emergency medicines and distinguishing life-threatening deterioration from stable illness.
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50 questions · page 1 of 3
- A. Encourage the patient to drink warm water
- B. Assess the airway and call for emergency help
- C. Place the patient flat and elevate the legs
- D. Administer a prescribed oral bronchodilator
Explanation: Stridor, inability to speak normally and cyanosis indicate a life-threatening upper airway obstruction.
Correct answer: Assess the airway and call for emergency help- A. Place the patient in the recovery position
- B. Begin chest compressions and activate emergency response
- C. Give two rescue breaths before calling for help
- D. Check the blood pressure before starting treatment
Explanation: Occasional gasping is not normal breathing, and an absent pulse indicates cardiac arrest.
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions and activate emergency response- A. Offer oral fluids to thin respiratory secretions
- B. Apply prescribed oxygen and summon urgent assistance
- C. Encourage coughing and reassess after thirty minutes
- D. Administer an oral antipyretic for the fever
Explanation: Severe hypoxaemia and altered mental status show life-threatening breathing failure.
Correct answer: Apply prescribed oxygen and summon urgent assistance- A. Silence the alarm and leave the patient undisturbed
- B. Assess the patient, oxygenation and ventilator connections
- C. Increase the tidal volume to overcome the alarm
- D. Disconnect the ventilator and wait for improvement
Explanation: The patient is assessed before troubleshooting equipment because a high-pressure alarm may result from secretions, biting, bronchospasm or…
Correct answer: Assess the patient, oxygenation and ventilator connections- A. Start prescribed isotonic intravenous fluid replacement
- B. Give a prescribed oral laxative to clear the bowel
- C. Place a warm blanket and delay intravenous access
- D. Restrict fluids until the blood pressure improves
Explanation: The findings indicate hypovolaemic shock from fluid loss, so rapid vascular access and prescribed isotonic fluid replacement support…
Correct answer: Start prescribed isotonic intravenous fluid replacement- A. A temperature of 38.1°C
- B. A heart rate of 104 beats per minute
- C. Hypotension with altered mental status
- D. A history of treated hypertension
Explanation: Hypotension together with confusion suggests inadequate organ perfusion and possible septic shock.
Correct answer: Hypotension with altered mental status- A. Naloxone to reverse opioid respiratory depression
- B. Flumazenil to reverse opioid respiratory depression
- C. Atropine to treat opioid-related bradycardia
- D. Protamine to reverse opioid anticoagulation
Explanation: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Correct answer: Naloxone to reverse opioid respiratory depression- A. Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring
- B. Encourage potassium-rich fruit and fruit juice
- C. Administer a prescribed potassium supplement
- D. Remove the cardiac monitor to reduce anxiety
Explanation: Severe hyperkalaemia with ECG changes can rapidly cause fatal dysrhythmias, so continuous cardiac monitoring and urgent medical escalation…
Correct answer: Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring- A. A patient with a closed ankle fracture and normal breathing
- B. A patient with minor burns who walks independently
- C. A patient with severe breathing difficulty and cyanosis
- D. A patient with a superficial scalp wound and stable vital signs
Explanation: Severe breathing difficulty and cyanosis indicate an immediate threat to life under the ABCDE approach.
Correct answer: A patient with severe breathing difficulty and cyanosis- A. Suction the mouth while maintaining cervical alignment
- B. Give oral fluids to clear the blood from the mouth
- C. Place the patient in a sitting position without support
- D. Insert a nasogastric tube before clearing the airway
Explanation: Gurgling indicates fluid obstructing the airway, so suction is needed while spinal precautions are maintained because facial trauma may…
Correct answer: Suction the mouth while maintaining cervical alignment- A. Apply firm direct pressure over the wound
- B. Elevate the injured leg above the heart
- C. Clean the wound with antiseptic solution
- D. Assess the patient’s pain score carefully
Explanation: Severe external haemorrhage is an immediate circulation threat, so firm direct pressure should begin at once.
Correct answer: Apply firm direct pressure over the wound- A. Intramuscular adrenaline
- B. Intravenous furosemide
- C. Oral cetirizine
- D. Subcutaneous insulin
Explanation: The combination of airway swelling, bronchospasm and circulatory symptoms indicates anaphylaxis.
Correct answer: Intramuscular adrenaline- A. Administer high-concentration oxygen and call for immediate decompression
- B. Place the patient flat and reassess after fifteen minutes
- C. Encourage coughing to clear possible airway secretions
- D. Start oral fluids while awaiting a chest radiograph
Explanation: These findings strongly suggest tension pneumothorax, which can rapidly obstruct venous return and cause shock.
Correct answer: Administer high-concentration oxygen and call for immediate decompression- A. Give a rapidly absorbed oral glucose source
- B. Administer the prescribed long-acting insulin
- C. Restrict oral intake until the glucose is repeated
- D. Give a high-protein meal without checking again
Explanation: The symptoms and glucose level indicate symptomatic hypoglycaemia. A conscious patient who can swallow safely should receive fast-acting…
Correct answer: Give a rapidly absorbed oral glucose source- A. Maintain airway support and continuously monitor oxygenation
- B. Allow the patient to sleep without further observations
- C. Remove all monitoring leads to reduce stimulation
- D. Give oral water before checking the neurological state
Explanation: Return of spontaneous circulation does not end the emergency because recurrent dysrhythmia, hypoxia and neurological injury may occur.
Correct answer: Maintain airway support and continuously monitor oxygenation- A. Keep the head of the bed elevated thirty to forty-five degrees
- B. Keep the patient completely flat during feeding
- C. Disconnect the ventilator briefly every hour
- D. Give routine antibiotics to prevent all respiratory infections
Explanation: Head elevation reduces aspiration of gastric contents and is a key preventive measure for ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Correct answer: Keep the head of the bed elevated thirty to forty-five degrees- A. Atropine
- B. Naloxone
- C. Protamine
- D. Vitamin K
Explanation: The cholinergic symptoms indicate organophosphate poisoning. Atropine blocks muscarinic effects such as bronchial secretions and…
Correct answer: Atropine- A. Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
- B. Offer water to correct the suspected dehydration
- C. Restrain the limbs to stop all movement
- D. Place a spoon between the patient’s teeth
Explanation: During a seizure, airway protection and prevention of injury are the immediate priorities.
Correct answer: Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety- A. Synchronized cardioversion
- B. Routine chest compressions
- C. Oral potassium replacement
- D. A slow intravenous fluid restriction
Explanation: A rapid wide-complex rhythm with hypotension and chest pain is an unstable tachyarrhythmia.
Correct answer: Synchronized cardioversion- A. Prompt preparation for prescribed vasopressor therapy
- B. Administration of oral antihypertensive medicine
- C. Removal of intravenous access to prevent fluid overload
- D. Delay of treatment until the next routine blood pressure
Explanation: Persistent poor perfusion and low pressure after initial fluid resuscitation suggest septic shock requiring vasopressor support according…
Correct answer: Prompt preparation for prescribed vasopressor therapyCritical Care and Emergency Nursing MCQs: common questions
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