AACN CCRN-Adult Exam - Topic 1 Question 6 Discussion

Actual exam question for AACN's CCRN-Adult exam

Question #: 6
Topic #: 1

A patient is intubated, is unable to follow simple commands, and has no history of alcohol abuse. The patient has become increasingly disoriented and confused over the past 24 hours. After assessment and treatment of pain, the best medication intervention for management is

Alorazepam (Ativan).

Bcisatracurium (Nimbex).

Cmidazolam (Versed).

Ddexmedetomidine (Precedex).

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) is the most appropriate medication for managing agitation and delirium in a critically ill intubated patient. It provides sedation without significant respiratory depression and has analgesic properties, which makes it suitable for patients who are disoriented and confused. Unlike benzodiazepines (lorazepam and midazolam) or neuromuscular blockers (cisatracurium), dexmedetomidine can improve delirium outcomes and facilitates easier weaning from mechanical ventilation. Reference: = AACN Certification and Core Review for High Acuity and Critical Care, 7th Edition, AACN Handbook for CCRN Certification, pp. 57-60.

by Mireya at Mar 06, 2025, 04:55 AM

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Kattie

3 months ago

I didn’t expect midazolam to be the go-to!

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Thaddeus

3 months ago

Lorazepam could work too, but not ideal for intubated patients.

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Aileen

3 months ago

Wait, isn’t dexmedetomidine better for this situation?

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Rene

4 months ago

Definitely agree, it’s great for sedation.

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Noemi

4 months ago

I think midazolam is the best choice here.

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Annette

4 months ago

I’m leaning towards midazolam too, but I remember there are specific cases where other agents might be preferred. I just can’t remember the details right now.

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Anika

4 months ago

I practiced a question similar to this, and I think lorazepam was mentioned as a common sedative, but I wonder if it’s appropriate given the patient's confusion.

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Ashton

4 months ago

I feel like dexmedetomidine could be a good option since it provides sedation without respiratory depression, but I can't recall if it's the first-line treatment in this scenario.

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Trina

5 months ago

I remember studying sedation protocols, and I think midazolam is often used for intubated patients, but I'm not entirely sure if it's the best choice here.

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Amber

5 months ago

This is a tricky one. Cisatracurium is a neuromuscular blocker, so that doesn't seem like the right choice for managing the patient's confusion and disorientation. I'm going to go with either lorazepam or midazolam, but I'll make sure to consider the potential side effects and interactions before selecting the final answer.

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Hannah

5 months ago

Okay, let's see. The key details here are the intubation, confusion, and lack of alcohol history. I'm leaning towards lorazepam or midazolam since they're commonly used for agitated, intubated patients. But I'll double-check the guidelines to make sure I'm not missing anything.

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France

5 months ago

Hmm, I'm a little unsure about this one. The patient is intubated and disoriented, so I'm wondering if a sedative like midazolam or dexmedetomidine might be better to manage their agitation and confusion. I'll have to think this through carefully.

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Clay

5 months ago

This seems like a pretty straightforward question. The patient is intubated, confused, and has no history of alcohol abuse, so I'm thinking the best medication intervention would be a benzodiazepine like lorazepam.

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Cristal

11 months ago

I think lorazepam (Ativan) would be the most effective choice in this situation.

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Brynn

11 months ago

I would go with cisatracurium (Nimbex) for better management.

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Dana

11 months ago

I disagree, I believe dexmedetomidine (Precedex) would be more appropriate.

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Alpha

11 months ago

I think the best medication intervention is midazolam (Versed).

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Sharita

11 months ago

Hold up, are we sure the patient isn't just really good at charades and is just playing a prank on us? Maybe we should try to communicate through interpretive dance first.

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Lenna

11 months ago

C: I suggest we consider the patient's symptoms and choose the medication that will help with their disorientation and confusion.

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Hildegarde

11 months ago

B: I agree, let's focus on the medication options provided and choose the best one for the patient's condition.

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Dalene

11 months ago

A: I think we should stick to medical interventions, interpretive dance might not be the best approach.

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Elza

12 months ago

A. Lorazepam (Ativan) is the way to go. It's a tried and true benzodiazepine that can really take the edge off in situations like this.

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Myong

12 months ago

C. Midazolam (Versed) would be my pick. It's a well-known sedative that should help calm the patient down.

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Marica

12 months ago

I'd go with D. Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) - it seems like the best option to manage the patient's agitation and confusion without the sedative effects of the other choices.

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Coral

11 months ago

I'm leaning towards A. Lorazepam (Ativan) can help with agitation and confusion in this situation.

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Gerardo

11 months ago

I agree with you on D. Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) seems like the best choice to manage the patient's symptoms.

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Nikita

11 months ago

I would go with C. Midazolam (Versed) is a good option for sedation and can help with the patient's confusion.

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Novella

11 months ago

I think D is a good choice too. Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) can help manage the patient's agitation without causing too much sedation.

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