FCCS Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2024) 200 Questions
.What labs should you order immediately when assessing the
acutely ill or injured pt? (2) - Correct Answer ✅ABG, BG
What is the single most important indicator of critical illness?
(hint: it's a vital sign) - Correct Answer ✅Tachypnea
Increase in depth of breathing - Correct Answer
✅Kussmaul/hyperpnea
Increase in depth of breathing, also called Kussmaul or
hyperpnea, may indicate what severe acid/base abnormality?
- Correct Answer ✅severe metabolic acidosis
Periodic breathing with apnea or hypopnea - Correct
Answer ✅Cheyne-Stokes
Periodic breathing with apnea or hypopnea (Cheyne-stokes
breathing) may indicate what? - Correct Answer ✅Severe
brainstem injury or cardiac dysfunction
,FCCS Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2024) 200 Questions
When you assess the A (airway) in a critically ill patient, what
are you look/listening/feeling for? - Correct Answer
✅*LOOK:* cyanosis, altered respiratory pattern and rate, use
of accessory respiratory muscles, tracheal tug, paradoxical
breathing, altered consciousness
*LISTEN:* noisy breathing (grunting, stridor, wheezing,
gurgling); silence indicates complete obstruction
*FEEL:* decreased or absent airflow
When you assess the B (breathing) in a critically ill patient,
what are you look/listening/feeling for? - Correct Answer
✅*LOOK:* cyanosis, altered respiratory pattern and rate, use
of accessory respiratory muscles, tracheal tug, paradoxical
breathing, *equality and depth of breaths, O2 sats*, altered
consciousness
*LISTEN:* dyspnea, inability to talk, noisy breathing, dullness
to percussion, auscultation of breath sounds
*FEEL:* symmetry and extent of chest movements, position
of trachea, crepitus, abd. distension
What is pulsus paradoxus? - Correct Answer ✅decrease in
>10mmHG in systole during inspiration
,FCCS Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2024) 200 Questions
When you assess the C (circulation) in a critically ill patient,
what are you look/listening/feeling for? - Correct Answer
✅*LOOK:* reduced peripheral perfusion (pallor) and delayed
cap refill, hemorrhage (obvious or concealed), AMS, dyspnea,
decreased urine output, jugular venous distension
*LISTEN:* altered heart sounds, carotid bruits
*FEEL:* precordial cardiac pulsation, central and peripheral
pulses (assessing rate, quality, regularity, symmetry), cool
extremities
How do you intubate in someone with a cervical spine injury?
- Correct Answer ✅Immobilize with C-collar, then elevate
mandible/open the mouth
Which airway is not used if airway reflexes are intact, as it
may cause gagging/laryngospasm/emesis: nasopharyngeal
airway or oropharyngeal airway? - Correct Answer
✅oropharyngeal airway
, FCCS Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2024) 200 Questions
Oropharyngeal airway - Correct Answer ✅a curved device
inserted through the patient's mouth into the pharynx to help
maintain an open airway
Nasopharyngeal airway - Correct Answer ✅Airway adjunct
inserted into the nostril of an unresponsive patient, or a
patient with an altered level of consciousness who is unable
to maintain airway patency independently.
When is a nasopharyngeal airway contraindicated? - Correct
Answer ✅-LeFort II or III fracture
-*Basilar skull fracture*
-CSF rhinorrhea
-Raccoon eyes
-Periorbital edema
-*Coagulopathy*
-Previous transsphenoidal hypophysectomy or Caldwell-Luc
procedure