Getting ready for NCLEX-RN

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I am a GN getting ready to take boards on June 27th. I need some help with understanding ventilators (high pressure alarm, low pressure alarm, PEEP) and want to do in those situations. I also want to know what a good quiz score is on all the study material I have been using. I have been studying and taking quizs from Lippincotts, Kaplan, Saunders and some others. But sometimes I get in the 60's and 70's. What is an acceptable score on those?

Thank you

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I can help you a little bit with the vent stuff: High pressure means the machine is having a hard time pushing air into the patient. Causes could be mucus plug, excess secretions, pt biting on ET, tubing crimped, water in tubing , or just the patient fighting the vent. Basically anything coming betweent the vent and the pt's lungs. Low pressure means the machine is sensing unusually low pressure while ventilating the pt. Opposite types of problems. Could be a leak/disconnect in the system. PEEP is positive end expiratory pressure. This is a constant pressure the machine uses at the end of the pt's exhale - it helps keep the alveoli from collapsing at exhale. Peep settings will be anywhere from as low as 3 to as high as 10. This is a value which is ordered by the doctor.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

i didn't have any critical care type questions on my NCLEX. mostly normal, everyday stuff. i worried about my self scoring too. I always got around the 70's, I think like maybe twice I had an 80% or so... and I bet that I had already taken that test once before and was taking it again on accident! Everyone I knew got similar scores or lower. Everyone who I know tested about the same as me passed. I always read these messages that are like, "I'm making 90's on my self tests, will I pass?" and I just go to myself... "oh please!!!"

You'll do fine! Good luck.

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