, ATI Cardiac ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION GUIDE (A+ GRADED 100%
VERIFIED) LATEST VERSION 2025!!
1. Q: Where is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) normally located?
A: 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line (left side).
2. Q: What heart sound is often heard in patients with heart failure?
A: S3 gallop (often termed "ventricular gallop").
3. Q: You hear a murmur that is described as "blowing" and heard best at the 5th ICS
midclavicular line. Which valve is likely involved?
A: Mitral valve.
4. Q: A patient has ST segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which area of the heart is
affected?
A: Inferior wall.
5. Q: What is the most sensitive and specific lab test to diagnose an acute myocardial
infarction?
A: Troponin I or T.
6. Q: Which parameter on a pulmonary artery catheter reflects left ventricular end-diastolic
pressure?
A: Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).
7. Q: A patient's ECG shows absent P waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm. What is this
rhythm?
A: Atrial fibrillation.
8. Q: What is the normal range for central venous pressure (CVP)?
A: 2–8 mmHg.
9. Q: The nurse hears a pericardial friction rub. What condition should be suspected?
A: Pericarditis.
10. Q: Which heart sound is normal in children but pathologic in adults over 40?
A: S3.
,11. Q: What does a pulseless electrical activity (PEA) rhythm look like on ECG?
A: Organized electrical activity without a palpable pulse.
12. Q: What is the primary pacemaker of the heart?
A: Sinoatrial (SA) node.
13. Q: Which diagnostic test is non-invasive and uses ultrasound to evaluate heart structure
and function?
A: Echocardiogram.
14. Q: What does a stress test evaluate?
A: The heart's response to increased oxygen demand (exercise or pharmacologic).
15. Q: A patient has a prolonged PR interval >0.20 seconds. What is this called?
A: First-degree AV block.
16. Q: Which blood test is monitored to assess the effect of heparin therapy?
A: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
17. Q: What does an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) indicate?
A: Heart failure (volume overload/stretch on ventricles).
18. Q: What is a normal ejection fraction percentage?
A: 55–70%.
19. Q: Which ECG change is indicative of myocardial ischemia?
A: ST segment depression.
20. Q: What does a Q wave represent on ECG?
A: Previous myocardial infarction (necrosis).
21–40: Cardiac Medications
21. Q: What is the primary action of nitroglycerin?
A: Venodilation, which decreases preload and myocardial oxygen demand.
22. Q: Before giving a beta-blocker, what should the nurse assess?
A: Heart rate and blood pressure.
23. Q: A patient on furosemide (Lasix) complains of muscle weakness. What electrolyte
imbalance should you suspect?
A: Hypokalemia.
, 24. Q: What is the antidote for heparin overdose?
A: Protamine sulfate.
25. Q: Which medication class is contraindicated in heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction?
A: Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem) — can decrease
contractility.
26. Q: What is the therapeutic INR range for a patient on warfarin?
A: Usually 2.0–3.0 (may be 2.5–3.5 for mechanical valves).
27. Q: Which statin medication requires monitoring for muscle pain and liver enzymes?
A: All statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin).
28. Q: What teaching is essential for a patient starting isosorbide mononitrate?
A: Take it on a schedule that includes a daily nitrate-free period to prevent tolerance.
29. Q: A patient is started on lisinopril. What is a key side effect to monitor in the first weeks?
A: Hypotension and persistent dry cough.
30. Q: Which medication is a potassium-sparing diuretic often used in heart failure?
A: Spironolactone.
31. Q: What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?
A: Increases cardiac contractility (positive inotrope) and slows conduction through the AV node.
32. Q: What is a key sign of digoxin toxicity?
A: Nausea, vomiting, confusion, visual disturbances (yellow halos), and arrhythmias.
33. Q: Which drug is given for symptomatic bradycardia?
A: Atropine.
34. Q: What medication is a direct thrombin inhibitor?
A: Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
35. Q: Which drug class ends in "-sartan" and is used as an alternative to ACE inhibitors?
A: Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
36. Q: What should be assessed before and during an infusion of dobutamine?
A: Heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG for arrhythmias.
37. Q: What is the priority action if a patient develops chest pain?
A: Administer nitroglycerin sublingual as ordered and call for help/monitor vital signs.
COMPLETE SOLUTION GUIDE (A+ GRADED 100%
VERIFIED) LATEST VERSION 2025!!
1. Q: Where is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) normally located?
A: 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line (left side).
2. Q: What heart sound is often heard in patients with heart failure?
A: S3 gallop (often termed "ventricular gallop").
3. Q: You hear a murmur that is described as "blowing" and heard best at the 5th ICS
midclavicular line. Which valve is likely involved?
A: Mitral valve.
4. Q: A patient has ST segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which area of the heart is
affected?
A: Inferior wall.
5. Q: What is the most sensitive and specific lab test to diagnose an acute myocardial
infarction?
A: Troponin I or T.
6. Q: Which parameter on a pulmonary artery catheter reflects left ventricular end-diastolic
pressure?
A: Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).
7. Q: A patient's ECG shows absent P waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm. What is this
rhythm?
A: Atrial fibrillation.
8. Q: What is the normal range for central venous pressure (CVP)?
A: 2–8 mmHg.
9. Q: The nurse hears a pericardial friction rub. What condition should be suspected?
A: Pericarditis.
10. Q: Which heart sound is normal in children but pathologic in adults over 40?
A: S3.
,11. Q: What does a pulseless electrical activity (PEA) rhythm look like on ECG?
A: Organized electrical activity without a palpable pulse.
12. Q: What is the primary pacemaker of the heart?
A: Sinoatrial (SA) node.
13. Q: Which diagnostic test is non-invasive and uses ultrasound to evaluate heart structure
and function?
A: Echocardiogram.
14. Q: What does a stress test evaluate?
A: The heart's response to increased oxygen demand (exercise or pharmacologic).
15. Q: A patient has a prolonged PR interval >0.20 seconds. What is this called?
A: First-degree AV block.
16. Q: Which blood test is monitored to assess the effect of heparin therapy?
A: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
17. Q: What does an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) indicate?
A: Heart failure (volume overload/stretch on ventricles).
18. Q: What is a normal ejection fraction percentage?
A: 55–70%.
19. Q: Which ECG change is indicative of myocardial ischemia?
A: ST segment depression.
20. Q: What does a Q wave represent on ECG?
A: Previous myocardial infarction (necrosis).
21–40: Cardiac Medications
21. Q: What is the primary action of nitroglycerin?
A: Venodilation, which decreases preload and myocardial oxygen demand.
22. Q: Before giving a beta-blocker, what should the nurse assess?
A: Heart rate and blood pressure.
23. Q: A patient on furosemide (Lasix) complains of muscle weakness. What electrolyte
imbalance should you suspect?
A: Hypokalemia.
, 24. Q: What is the antidote for heparin overdose?
A: Protamine sulfate.
25. Q: Which medication class is contraindicated in heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction?
A: Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem) — can decrease
contractility.
26. Q: What is the therapeutic INR range for a patient on warfarin?
A: Usually 2.0–3.0 (may be 2.5–3.5 for mechanical valves).
27. Q: Which statin medication requires monitoring for muscle pain and liver enzymes?
A: All statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin).
28. Q: What teaching is essential for a patient starting isosorbide mononitrate?
A: Take it on a schedule that includes a daily nitrate-free period to prevent tolerance.
29. Q: A patient is started on lisinopril. What is a key side effect to monitor in the first weeks?
A: Hypotension and persistent dry cough.
30. Q: Which medication is a potassium-sparing diuretic often used in heart failure?
A: Spironolactone.
31. Q: What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?
A: Increases cardiac contractility (positive inotrope) and slows conduction through the AV node.
32. Q: What is a key sign of digoxin toxicity?
A: Nausea, vomiting, confusion, visual disturbances (yellow halos), and arrhythmias.
33. Q: Which drug is given for symptomatic bradycardia?
A: Atropine.
34. Q: What medication is a direct thrombin inhibitor?
A: Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
35. Q: Which drug class ends in "-sartan" and is used as an alternative to ACE inhibitors?
A: Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
36. Q: What should be assessed before and during an infusion of dobutamine?
A: Heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG for arrhythmias.
37. Q: What is the priority action if a patient develops chest pain?
A: Administer nitroglycerin sublingual as ordered and call for help/monitor vital signs.
