AACN Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
Charcot's Triad - Answer-RUQ pain, fever, jaundice (indicates cholangitis)
Reynold's pentad - Answer-RUQ pain, fever, jaundice, AMS, hypotension (indicates
worsening cholangitis)
Murphy's sign - Answer-pain with palpation of the RUQ during inspiration, indicative of
cholecystitis
Psoas sign - Answer-RLQ pain with extension of right thigh/hip indicative of appendicitis
Kehr's sign - Answer-Left shoulder pain caused by irritation of the undersurface of the
diaphragm by blood leaking from a ruptured spleen. While Kehr's sign (left shoulder
pain) is commonly a symptom of splenic rupture, right shoulder pain typically signals
liver or gallbladder irritation
Cullen's sign - Answer-Ecchymosis in periumbilical area, seen with pancreatitis
Grey Turner's sign - Answer-Atraumatic ecchymosis in the flank, typically indicating
hemorrhagic pancreatitis
Beck's triad - Answer-JVD, muffled heart sounds, decreased BP (indicate cardiac
tamponade)
Cushing's triad - Answer-bradycardia, bradypnea, hypertension (indicate increased ICP;
normal ICP=5-15 mm Hg)
Charcot's neurologic triad - Answer-Nystagmus, staccato speech, intentional tremor
(indicate MS)
Virchow's triad - Answer-Venous stasis, hypercoagulability, endothelial damage (high
risk of thrombosis)
Shock Triad - Answer-Hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea
Opioid Poisoning Triad - Answer-CNS depression (AMS, coma), respiratory depression,
miosis (pinpoint pupils)
Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome: 3 signs - Answer-short PR interval, delta waves, and
wide QRS complex
Behcet's disease - Answer-Recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, eye inflammation
,3 D's of pellagra (niacin, vit B3, deficiency) - Answer-Diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis
Serotonin Syndrome - Answer-Similar to NMS but caused by serotonin medications,
and has HYPERreflexive muscle activity
Symptoms= mental status changes and hyperthermia. Treatment=cyproheptadine
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - Answer-Adverse reaction to antipsychotics with
severe "lead pipe" rigidty, FEVER (102-104), tachycardia, tachypnea, mental status
changes
lethal triad of trauma - Answer-Hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy
Neurogenic shock: 3 symptoms - Answer-Hypothermia, hypotension, bradycardia
Whipple's triad - Answer-1. Fasting hypoglycemia <50
2. Symptoms during hypoglycemia
3. Immediate relief of symptoms after the administration of IV glucose
(suggest insulinoma)
Reactive arthritis rhyme - Answer-Can't see (conjunctivitis), can't pee (urethritis or
cervicitis), can't climb a tree (arthritis)
Murphy's Triad - Answer-RLQ pain, nausea/vomiting, fever (indicates appendicitis)
Acidosis vs Alkalosis - Answer-ROME:
Respiratory - Opposite
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is up
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is down
Metabolic - Equal
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is down
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is up
ACE Inhibitors - Answer-"PRIL" Captopril, Enalapril, Afosiopril
Antihypertensive. Blocks ACE in lungs from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II
(powerful vasoconstrictor). Decreases BP, Decreased Aldosterone secretions, Sodium
and fluid loss.
Check BP before giving (hypotension)
*Orthostatic Hypotension
ARBs - Answer-"SARTAN"
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
They decrease blood pressure, increase CO
, -Examples: Valsartan (Diovan), Losartan (Cozaar), and Irbesartan (Avapro)
-Uses: hypertension and heart failure
-Nursing Considerations: watch for hyperkalemia, hypotension, and renal dysfunction
Cholesterol Medications end in - Answer--statin
Beta blockers end in - Answer--olol
Calcium Channel Blockers end in - Answer--dipine (and verapamil and diltiazem)
5 P's of compartment syndrome - Answer-Pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia,
paralysis
Hypoglycemia rhyme - Answer-Cold and clammy, need some candy
"TIRED"
T: tachycardia
I: irritable
R: restlessness
E: excessive hunger
D: diaphoresis
Hyperglycemia rhyme - Answer-Hot and dry, sugar high
3 Ps
Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
WBC range - Answer-4.5-11 x 10^3/uL
RBC range - Answer-Male: 4.5 - 5.5 x 10^6/uL
Female: 4 - 5 x 10^6/uL
Hgb range - Answer-Male: 14-18 g/dL
Female: 12-16 g/dL
Hct range - Answer-Male: 42-52%
Female: 36-46%
MCV range (size of RBCs) - Answer-80-100 fL
MCH range - Answer-28-34 pg (color)
MCHC range (color, how red RBCs are) - Answer-32 - 36%
RDW range (red cell distribution width; variation in RBC size) - Answer-12 - 14.6%
Platelets range - Answer-Range: 150 - 400 x 10^3/uL
Answers
Charcot's Triad - Answer-RUQ pain, fever, jaundice (indicates cholangitis)
Reynold's pentad - Answer-RUQ pain, fever, jaundice, AMS, hypotension (indicates
worsening cholangitis)
Murphy's sign - Answer-pain with palpation of the RUQ during inspiration, indicative of
cholecystitis
Psoas sign - Answer-RLQ pain with extension of right thigh/hip indicative of appendicitis
Kehr's sign - Answer-Left shoulder pain caused by irritation of the undersurface of the
diaphragm by blood leaking from a ruptured spleen. While Kehr's sign (left shoulder
pain) is commonly a symptom of splenic rupture, right shoulder pain typically signals
liver or gallbladder irritation
Cullen's sign - Answer-Ecchymosis in periumbilical area, seen with pancreatitis
Grey Turner's sign - Answer-Atraumatic ecchymosis in the flank, typically indicating
hemorrhagic pancreatitis
Beck's triad - Answer-JVD, muffled heart sounds, decreased BP (indicate cardiac
tamponade)
Cushing's triad - Answer-bradycardia, bradypnea, hypertension (indicate increased ICP;
normal ICP=5-15 mm Hg)
Charcot's neurologic triad - Answer-Nystagmus, staccato speech, intentional tremor
(indicate MS)
Virchow's triad - Answer-Venous stasis, hypercoagulability, endothelial damage (high
risk of thrombosis)
Shock Triad - Answer-Hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea
Opioid Poisoning Triad - Answer-CNS depression (AMS, coma), respiratory depression,
miosis (pinpoint pupils)
Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome: 3 signs - Answer-short PR interval, delta waves, and
wide QRS complex
Behcet's disease - Answer-Recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, eye inflammation
,3 D's of pellagra (niacin, vit B3, deficiency) - Answer-Diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis
Serotonin Syndrome - Answer-Similar to NMS but caused by serotonin medications,
and has HYPERreflexive muscle activity
Symptoms= mental status changes and hyperthermia. Treatment=cyproheptadine
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - Answer-Adverse reaction to antipsychotics with
severe "lead pipe" rigidty, FEVER (102-104), tachycardia, tachypnea, mental status
changes
lethal triad of trauma - Answer-Hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy
Neurogenic shock: 3 symptoms - Answer-Hypothermia, hypotension, bradycardia
Whipple's triad - Answer-1. Fasting hypoglycemia <50
2. Symptoms during hypoglycemia
3. Immediate relief of symptoms after the administration of IV glucose
(suggest insulinoma)
Reactive arthritis rhyme - Answer-Can't see (conjunctivitis), can't pee (urethritis or
cervicitis), can't climb a tree (arthritis)
Murphy's Triad - Answer-RLQ pain, nausea/vomiting, fever (indicates appendicitis)
Acidosis vs Alkalosis - Answer-ROME:
Respiratory - Opposite
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is up
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is down
Metabolic - Equal
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is down
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is up
ACE Inhibitors - Answer-"PRIL" Captopril, Enalapril, Afosiopril
Antihypertensive. Blocks ACE in lungs from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II
(powerful vasoconstrictor). Decreases BP, Decreased Aldosterone secretions, Sodium
and fluid loss.
Check BP before giving (hypotension)
*Orthostatic Hypotension
ARBs - Answer-"SARTAN"
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
They decrease blood pressure, increase CO
, -Examples: Valsartan (Diovan), Losartan (Cozaar), and Irbesartan (Avapro)
-Uses: hypertension and heart failure
-Nursing Considerations: watch for hyperkalemia, hypotension, and renal dysfunction
Cholesterol Medications end in - Answer--statin
Beta blockers end in - Answer--olol
Calcium Channel Blockers end in - Answer--dipine (and verapamil and diltiazem)
5 P's of compartment syndrome - Answer-Pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia,
paralysis
Hypoglycemia rhyme - Answer-Cold and clammy, need some candy
"TIRED"
T: tachycardia
I: irritable
R: restlessness
E: excessive hunger
D: diaphoresis
Hyperglycemia rhyme - Answer-Hot and dry, sugar high
3 Ps
Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
WBC range - Answer-4.5-11 x 10^3/uL
RBC range - Answer-Male: 4.5 - 5.5 x 10^6/uL
Female: 4 - 5 x 10^6/uL
Hgb range - Answer-Male: 14-18 g/dL
Female: 12-16 g/dL
Hct range - Answer-Male: 42-52%
Female: 36-46%
MCV range (size of RBCs) - Answer-80-100 fL
MCH range - Answer-28-34 pg (color)
MCHC range (color, how red RBCs are) - Answer-32 - 36%
RDW range (red cell distribution width; variation in RBC size) - Answer-12 - 14.6%
Platelets range - Answer-Range: 150 - 400 x 10^3/uL
