1. The intensive care unit (ICU) nurse is providing care to a patient requiring IV polypharmacy.

Which prescriptions is this patient receiving? Select all that apply.

A. Sedation
B. Thrombolytics
C. Vasopressor titration
D. Mechanical ventilation
E. Hemodynamic monitoring

Rationale: ICU patients often require intensive and complicated nursing support related to the
use of IV polypharmacy and advanced technology. Prescriptions that are classified as IV
polypharmacy include sedation, thrombolytics, and vasopressor titration. Mechanical
ventilation and hemodynamic monitoring are advanced technology prescriptions.

2. The nurse is caring for a patient who has suffered arterial trauma during intraaortic balloon
pump (IABP) therapy. What is the appropriate nursing action for this patient?
A. Monitor coagulation profiles
B. Apply an occlusive dressing
C. Administer prophylactic heparin
D. Maintain head of the bed below 45 degrees

Rationale: Intraaortic balloon therapy has potential complications such as site infection,
thromboembolism, arterial trauma, hematologic complications, and hemorrhage from the
insertion site. Maintaining the head of the bed below 45 degrees helps to prevent
breathlessness in the patient in the event of arterial trauma. Monitoring coagulation profiles,
hematocrit, and platelet count is beneficial when the patient has a hematologic complication.
An occlusive dressing prevents risk of surface infection but is not used to treat arterial trauma
in the patient. Heparin helps to prevent thromboembolism but does not treat arterial trauma.

3. The nurse is providing care to several patients in the emergency department (ED). Which
patient does the nurse anticipate will be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU)?
A. A patient with a fractured wrist
B. A patient with stage IV metastatic breast cancer
C. A patient in a permanent vegetative state who has a urinary tract infection
D. The patient with a collapsed lung and multiple injuries sustained in a car accident

Rationale: The patient with a collapsed lung and multiple injuries sustained in a car accident
would be admitted to the trauma intensive care unit (ICU). Patients with minor acute injuries or
those who are not expected to recover from an illness is usually not admitted to an ICU.
Therefore, the ICU is not used to manage a fractured wrist; to prolong the natural process of
death such as the patient with stage IV metastatic breast cancer; or for the patient in a
persistent coma or vegetative state.