USMLE Step 3 Quiz: Icu To Ward Transition

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Icu To Ward Transition, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for USMLE Step 3.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. Obtain blood cultures and start broad-spectrum antibiotics.
2. Order a CT angiogram of the chest to rule out pulmonary embolism.
3. Administer a dose of intravenous lorazepam. (correct answer)
4. Initiate haloperidol for recurrent ICU delirium.

Explanation: The patient's presentation of agitation, tremulousness, diaphoresis, hypertension, and tachycardia shortly after discontinuing a continuous benzodiazepine infusion is highly suggestive of benzodiazepine withdrawal. The most appropriate immediate action is to treat the withdrawal with a benzodiazepine, such as lorazepam. This addresses the underlying cause of his symptoms and prevents progression to seizures or delirium tremens. While his symptoms overlap with other conditions, the specific constellation and timing make withdrawal most likely.

Question 2

1. Administration of high-dose intravenous corticosteroids.
2. Early and structured physical and occupational therapy. (correct answer)
3. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies.
4. A course of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG).

Explanation: This patient's presentation is classic for critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIP/CIM), a common complication of prolonged critical illness characterized by diffuse, symmetric weakness. The cornerstone of management for CIP/CIM is supportive care, with early and intensive rehabilitation being the most crucial intervention to improve strength and long-term functional recovery. Electromyography can confirm the diagnosis but is not a therapeutic intervention. Corticosteroids and IVIG are not indicated and may be harmful.

Question 3

1. The peak troponin level during the admission.
2. Confirmation that beta-blocker therapy was initiated.
3. A list of all consulting services involved in the CCU.
4. Results of the most recent serum potassium and creatinine levels. (correct answer)

Explanation: Patients with NSTEMI are often started on multiple new medications, including ACE inhibitors (like his home lisinopril), beta-blockers, and possibly aldosterone antagonists. These medications, combined with potential renal insults during an acute illness, can lead to hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury. Therefore, knowing the most recent potassium and creatinine levels is critical for safely continuing or titrating his medications on the ward. While the peak troponin, beta-blocker status, and consultant list are important parts of the history, the electrolyte and renal function status have the most immediate implication for medication safety and preventing an imminent adverse event.

Question 4

1. Perform a portable bladder ultrasound. (correct answer)
2. Obtain a stat serum creatinine.
3. Insert a straight catheter for immediate drainage.
4. Administer a 500 mL normal saline bolus.

Explanation: The patient's history of BPH, recent Foley catheterization, and current symptoms strongly suggest acute urinary retention. The most appropriate initial step is to confirm the diagnosis non-invasively with a portable bladder ultrasound (bladder scan). This will quantify the amount of urine in the bladder and confirm the diagnosis before proceeding with catheterization. Inserting a catheter (straight or indwelling) is a therapeutic intervention that should follow diagnosis. Obtaining a creatinine level is important to assess for post-renal injury but does not confirm the immediate problem. Administering fluids would worsen the retention and discomfort.

Question 5

1. Decrease the evening insulin glargine dose. (correct answer)
2. Discontinue the insulin glargine entirely.
3. Hold the next morning's dose of pre-meal insulin lispro.
4. Increase her bedtime snack caloric content.

Explanation: Nocturnal hypoglycemia in a patient on a basal-bolus insulin regimen is most often caused by an excessive dose of the long-acting (basal) insulin, in this case, insulin glargine. The most appropriate management is to reduce the dose of the glargine to prevent recurrence. Discontinuing it entirely would lead to hyperglycemia. Holding the morning lispro does not address the cause of the nocturnal hypoglycemia. While a larger snack might help, adjusting the insulin dose is the primary and most reliable intervention.

Question 6

1. Reassure the patient that incidental findings are common and rarely significant.
2. Inform the patient of the finding and ensure a clear follow-up plan is in place before discharge. (correct answer)
3. Order an immediate PET scan to characterize the nodule during the current admission.
4. Defer any discussion or workup until after the patient has fully recovered from the GI bleed.

Explanation: A key responsibility of the ward team during an ICU-to-ward transition is ensuring that important but non-acute issues and incidental findings are not lost to follow-up. A new 2-cm lung nodule is a potentially serious finding that requires further investigation. The most appropriate action is to communicate the finding to the patient and arrange for appropriate outpatient follow-up, typically with a repeat CT scan in a specified timeframe or a pulmonology consultation. Deferring the discussion, providing false reassurance, or ordering an advanced imaging test like a PET scan without first obtaining a diagnostic CT would be inappropriate.

Question 7

1. Notify hospital security and social work to place a psychiatric hold.
2. Assess the patient's understanding of the risks of leaving and his decision-making capacity. (correct answer)
3. Immediately arrange for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) to facilitate his request.
4. Explain that his insurance will likely refuse to pay for his hospitalization if he leaves AMA.

Explanation: When a patient wishes to leave AMA, the physician's first responsibility is to ensure the patient has decision-making capacity. This involves assessing their ability to understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of treatment (including leaving) and to communicate a choice. Exploring the patient's reasons for wanting to leave can also reveal barriers to care that may be addressable. A psychiatric hold is not appropriate unless the patient is a danger to self or others due to a psychiatric condition. Arranging OPAT is a potential option, but only after capacity is confirmed and a shared decision-making process occurs. Using financial threats is coercive and unethical.

Question 8

1. Prescription for long-term oral azithromycin.
2. Referral for pulmonary rehabilitation. (correct answer)
3. Scheduling a 6-month follow-up with her pulmonologist.
4. Providing an incentive spirometer and instructions for use.

Explanation: For patients hospitalized with a COPD exacerbation, pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive intervention that has been shown to improve exercise capacity, reduce symptoms of dyspnea, and significantly decrease hospital readmissions. It is a critical component of post-hospitalization care. While azithromycin has a role in select patients with frequent exacerbations, it is not a universal recommendation. A 6-month follow-up is too distant, and an incentive spirometer is generally not effective for COPD.

Question 9

1. Continue intravenous thiamine until discharge from the hospital. (correct answer)
2. Administer oral folic acid and multivitamin supplementation daily.
3. Initiate scheduled lorazepam taper for alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
4. Check serum ammonia levels daily for hepatic monitoring.

Explanation: Patients with alcohol use disorder are at high risk for thiamine deficiency and Wernicke encephalopathy, especially during acute illness. IV thiamine should be continued until the patient is stable and reliably taking oral nutrition, as oral absorption may be impaired during acute illness. While multivitamin supplementation is important, IV thiamine continuation takes priority for preventing Wernicke encephalopathy. Lorazepam is only indicated if withdrawal symptoms are present. Ammonia monitoring is not routinely indicated for pancreatitis without signs of hepatic encephalopathy.

Question 10

1. Administering a dose of furosemide for his edema.
2. Placing the patient on a strict fluid and sodium restriction.
3. Ensuring the nephrology service is aware of the patient for scheduled dialysis. (correct answer)
4. Ordering a 12-lead ECG to monitor for QRS changes.

Explanation: The most critical aspect of this patient's care is ensuring he receives his life-sustaining hemodialysis on schedule. Care transitions are a high-risk time for communication failures. The ward physician must proactively communicate with the nephrology service to confirm the patient is on their schedule for his dialysis session the next day (Wednesday). Patients with ESRD are often anuric, so furosemide would be ineffective. While fluid/sodium restriction and ECG monitoring are important, they are secondary to ensuring he receives definitive treatment for his renal failure.

Question 11

1. Initiate an oral afterload reduction agent like hydralazine.
2. Consult the palliative care service to clarify goals and manage symptoms. (correct answer)
3. Re-evaluate for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
4. Begin a continuous infusion of low-dose dobutamine.

Explanation: This patient has advanced, symptomatic, end-stage heart disease, is not a candidate for definitive therapy, and has expressed a desire for comfort-focused care. This is a clear indication for a palliative care consultation. The palliative care team can assist with complex symptom management (dyspnea), advance care planning, and discussing options such as hospice. Afterload reduction is contraindicated in severe aortic stenosis. Re-evaluating for TAVR goes against the patient's stated wishes. While inotropes might be used for palliation, this decision should be made within the context of a formal goals of care discussion led by the primary or palliative care team.

Question 12

1. Rivaroxaban.
2. Dabigatran.
3. Warfarin. (correct answer)
4. Apixaban.

Explanation: The management of PE in patients with severe chronic kidney disease (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²) is complex, as most direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are renally cleared and have limited data or are contraindicated in this population. Warfarin is the most appropriate and safest choice for this patient, as its metabolism is not dependent on renal function. Dabigatran is contraindicated with a CrCl < 30. Rivaroxaban is also contraindicated with a CrCl < 30 for PE treatment. While apixaban can be used with caution in some patients with CKD, warfarin remains the preferred agent in severe renal impairment, especially in the context of a life-threatening PE.

Question 13

1. Administer one unit of platelets.
2. Order a peripheral blood smear and an anti-PF4 antibody ELISA. (correct answer)
3. Re-initiate prophylactic heparin to prevent thrombosis.
4. Assume sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia and monitor counts daily.

Explanation: The patient has new-onset thrombocytopenia with a >50% drop from baseline that occurred 5-10 days after exposure to heparin. This presentation is concerning for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a prothrombotic condition. Even though heparin was stopped 4 days ago, HIT can present with a delayed onset. The most appropriate next step is to send diagnostic tests for HIT, including the anti-PF4 antibody ELISA, and review a peripheral smear. Platelet transfusion is contraindicated in HIT unless there is life-threatening bleeding. Re-initiating heparin would be dangerous. While sepsis can cause thrombocytopenia, the timing and severity of the drop warrant a workup for HIT.

Question 14

1. Obtain baseline thyroid function tests, liver function tests, and a pulmonary function test.
2. Decrease the dose to 200 mg daily for long-term maintenance.
3. Contact the cardiology service to clarify the indication and intended duration of therapy. (correct answer)
4. Ensure the patient is counseled on photosensitivity and other common side effects.

Explanation: Amiodarone is a complex medication with significant toxicity, often started in the acute setting for arrhythmias post-MI. It is not always intended for long-term use. A critical patient safety action during the transition from ICU/CCU is to clarify the plan for such high-risk medications with the specialty service that recommended them. The ward physician must determine if this was meant as a short-term bridge or if cardiology intends for it to be continued long-term. This clarification must occur before decisions about maintenance dosing (B), long-term monitoring (A), or counseling (D) are made.

Question 15

1. Change the patient's diet to full liquids to make swallowing easier.
2. Make the patient NPO and request a repeat formal swallow evaluation. (correct answer)
3. Obtain a chest radiograph to assess for aspiration pneumonia.
4. Begin empirical treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Explanation: Coughing with meals and a gurgly voice are signs of active aspiration, indicating that the current diet is not safe for the patient. The most appropriate and safest immediate action is to make the patient NPO (nothing by mouth) to prevent further aspiration events. A repeat formal swallow evaluation by a speech-language pathologist is necessary to reassess his swallowing function and recommend a safe feeding strategy. While a chest radiograph is needed if pneumonia is suspected, the priority is to prevent further aspiration. Changing the diet without a formal evaluation or starting antibiotics empirically would be inappropriate.

Question 16

1. Application of soft wrist restraints to prevent falls.
2. Administration of quetiapine 25 mg orally.
3. Requesting a neurology consultation to rule out seizures.
4. Implementing a sleep hygiene protocol and frequent reorientation. (correct answer)

Explanation: This patient is experiencing delirium, which is common in elderly postoperative patients. The first-line management for delirium, particularly the hypoactive or mixed types with nocturnal agitation, is a multicomponent, nonpharmacologic approach. This includes frequent reorientation, maintaining a normal sleep-wake cycle, ensuring hearing aids and glasses are in use, and managing the environment to be calm and quiet. Pharmacologic interventions like quetiapine are reserved for severe agitation that poses a risk to the patient or staff. Restraints can worsen agitation and should be a last resort. There is no indication of seizure activity.

Question 17

1. Discontinue all antibiotics as she is clinically improved.
2. Continue IV cefepime until a 14-day course is complete.
3. Obtain a repeat urine culture to confirm eradication.
4. Transition to an appropriate oral antibiotic to complete the course. (correct answer)

Explanation: The standard of care for a patient who has responded well to IV antibiotics for a serious infection like pyelonephritis is to transition to an effective oral agent to complete the treatment course (typically 7-14 days total). This is known as IV-to-PO conversion and is a key principle of antibiotic stewardship that facilitates earlier discharge and reduces the risks of IV access. Discontinuing antibiotics after only 5 days would be an inadequate duration of therapy. Continuing IV therapy when an oral option is available is unnecessary. A repeat culture (test-of-cure) is not routinely recommended for patients who have had a good clinical response.

Question 18

1. Inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF).
2. Skilled nursing facility (SNF).
3. Long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). (correct answer)
4. Home with home health services.

Explanation: This patient's continued need for tracheostomy management and weaning, combined with his profound deconditioning, makes him an ideal candidate for a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). LTACHs specialize in caring for patients with complex medical needs, such as ventilator weaning, who no longer require intensive care but are not yet stable enough for other levels of care. An IRF requires patients to be able to tolerate 3 hours of therapy per day, which is unlikely for this patient. A standard SNF is typically not equipped to handle a new tracheostomy. Home is not a safe option given his high level of care needs.