The critical resource for nurses.
Practical, no-fluff guides, free practice questions, and bedside tools — sourced, nurse-reviewed, and grounded in real bedside practice.
ABG Interpreter
pH, PaCO₂, HCO₃⁻ → the acid-base call with compensation — plus anion gap, albumin correction, and delta ratio when you add electrolytes.
Open the toolStudy
Practice for the exam you're taking
NCLEX
Short sets that explain every option, not just the right one.
SCRN®
Stroke certification on the ABNN blueprint, current with the 2026 guideline.
CCRN®
Critical care on the AACN blueprint: hemodynamics, vents, drips.
CMSRN®
Med-surg on the MSNCB blueprint, organized by body system.
Practice
Try one right now
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1
A patient is being evaluated for mechanical thrombectomy. Which imaging finding best supports the presence of salvageable brain tissue?
Correct: B
A favorable thrombectomy profile shows a small infarct core with a large penumbra — the "mismatch" between already-dead tissue and hypoperfused-but-salvageable tissue. That mismatch is what thrombectomy aims to rescue and is central to extended-window selection. A completed large infarct, edema with shift, or an old lacune do not indicate salvageable tissue.
- A. Edema with midline shift indicates established injury, not a target for reperfusion.
- B. Correct. Small core + large penumbra = salvageable tissue (favorable mismatch).
- C. A completed large infarct means the tissue is already lost.
- D. A chronic lacune is old, non-salvageable tissue.
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2
Before a patient with acute stroke may take anything by mouth, which nursing assessment is the priority to prevent aspiration?
Correct: A
A validated bedside swallow screen must be passed before any oral intake — including oral medications — because dysphagia and aspiration are common and dangerous after stroke. This is a core stroke-certification and Joint Commission quality measure. The gag reflex alone does not reliably predict safe swallowing.
- A. Correct. A bedside swallow screen before any PO intake prevents aspiration.
- B. Bowel sounds do not assess swallowing safety.
- C. The gag reflex alone does not reliably predict safe swallowing.
- D. Abdominal girth is unrelated to aspiration risk.
Guides & explainers
Latest articles
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Early Warning Scores: Catching Deterioration Before the Code
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IV Drip Rates: The Two Formulas, and How Not to Panic
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Malignant Hyperthermia: The First Five Minutes
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