NCLEX-RN Cardiovascular
Practice Questions 2026 |
Cardiac Nursing Q&A &
Rationales
|Graded A+ | Guaranteed
success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, While assessing a client on a cardiac unit, a nurse a. Assess for symptoms of left-sided heart failure.
identifies the presence of an S3 gallop. Which action
should the nurse take next? The presence of an S3 gallop is an early diastolic filling sound indicative of
increasing left ventricular pressure and left ventricular failure. The other actions
a. Assess for symptoms of left-sided heart failure. are not warranted.
b. Document this as a normal finding.
c. Call the health care provider immediately.
d. Transfer the client to the intensive care unit.
A nurse cares for a client with right-sided heart failure. a. Weight is the best indication that you are gaining or losing fluid.
The client asks, Why do I need to weigh myself every
day? How should the nurse respond? Daily weights are needed to document fluid retention or fluid loss. One liter of
fluid equals 2.2 pounds. The other responses do not address the importance of
a. Weight is the best indication that you are gaining or monitoring fluid retention or loss.
losing fluid.
b. Daily weights will help us make sure that you're eating
properly.
c. The hospital requires that all inpatients be weighed
daily.
d. You need to lose weight to decrease the incidence of
heart failure.
A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure who has a. Avoid using salt substitutes.
been prescribed enalapril (Vasotec). Which statement
should the nurse include in this clients teaching? Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as enalapril inhibit the
excretion of potassium. Hyperkalemia can be a life-threatening side effect, and
a. Avoid using salt substitutes. clients should be taught to limit potassium intake. Salt substitutes are composed
b. Take your medication with food. of potassium chloride. ACE inhibitors do not need to be taken with food and have
c. Avoid using aspirin-containing products. no impact on the clients pulse rate. Aspirin is often prescribed in conjunction with
d. Check your pulse daily. ACE inhibitors and is not contraindicated.
After administering newly prescribed captopril (Capoten) b. Instruct the client to ask for assistance when rising from bed.
to a client with heart failure, the nurse implements
interventions to decrease complications. Which priority Administration of the first dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
intervention should the nurse implement for this client? is often associated with hypotension, usually termed first-dose effect. The nurse
should instruct the client to seek assistance before arising from bed to prevent
a. Provide food to decrease nausea and aid in injury from postural hypotension. ACE inhibitors do not need to be taken with
absorption. food. Collaboration with unlicensed assistive personnel to provide hygiene is not
b. Instruct the client to ask for assistance when rising from a priority. The client should be encouraged to complete activities of daily living as
bed. independently as possible. The nurse should monitor for hyperkalemia, not
c. Collaborate with unlicensed assistive personnel to hypokalemia, especially if the client has renal insufficiency secondary to heart
bathe the client. failure.
d. Monitor potassium levels and check for symptoms of
hypokalemia.
A nurse assesses a client after administering isosorbide d. Administer PRN acetaminophen.
mononitrate (Imdur). The client reports a headache.
Which action should the nurse take? The vasodilating effects of isosorbide mononitrate frequently cause clients to
have headaches during the initial period of therapy. Clients should be told about
a. Initiate oxygen therapy. this side effect and encouraged to take the medication with food. Some clients
b. Hold the next dose of Imdur. obtain relief with mild analgesics, such as acetaminophen. The clients headache is
c. Instruct the client to drink water. not related to hypoxia or dehydration; therefore, these interventions would not
d. Administer PRN acetaminophen. help. The client needs to take the medication as prescribed to prevent angina; the
medication should not be held.
Practice Questions 2026 |
Cardiac Nursing Q&A &
Rationales
|Graded A+ | Guaranteed
success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, While assessing a client on a cardiac unit, a nurse a. Assess for symptoms of left-sided heart failure.
identifies the presence of an S3 gallop. Which action
should the nurse take next? The presence of an S3 gallop is an early diastolic filling sound indicative of
increasing left ventricular pressure and left ventricular failure. The other actions
a. Assess for symptoms of left-sided heart failure. are not warranted.
b. Document this as a normal finding.
c. Call the health care provider immediately.
d. Transfer the client to the intensive care unit.
A nurse cares for a client with right-sided heart failure. a. Weight is the best indication that you are gaining or losing fluid.
The client asks, Why do I need to weigh myself every
day? How should the nurse respond? Daily weights are needed to document fluid retention or fluid loss. One liter of
fluid equals 2.2 pounds. The other responses do not address the importance of
a. Weight is the best indication that you are gaining or monitoring fluid retention or loss.
losing fluid.
b. Daily weights will help us make sure that you're eating
properly.
c. The hospital requires that all inpatients be weighed
daily.
d. You need to lose weight to decrease the incidence of
heart failure.
A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure who has a. Avoid using salt substitutes.
been prescribed enalapril (Vasotec). Which statement
should the nurse include in this clients teaching? Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as enalapril inhibit the
excretion of potassium. Hyperkalemia can be a life-threatening side effect, and
a. Avoid using salt substitutes. clients should be taught to limit potassium intake. Salt substitutes are composed
b. Take your medication with food. of potassium chloride. ACE inhibitors do not need to be taken with food and have
c. Avoid using aspirin-containing products. no impact on the clients pulse rate. Aspirin is often prescribed in conjunction with
d. Check your pulse daily. ACE inhibitors and is not contraindicated.
After administering newly prescribed captopril (Capoten) b. Instruct the client to ask for assistance when rising from bed.
to a client with heart failure, the nurse implements
interventions to decrease complications. Which priority Administration of the first dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
intervention should the nurse implement for this client? is often associated with hypotension, usually termed first-dose effect. The nurse
should instruct the client to seek assistance before arising from bed to prevent
a. Provide food to decrease nausea and aid in injury from postural hypotension. ACE inhibitors do not need to be taken with
absorption. food. Collaboration with unlicensed assistive personnel to provide hygiene is not
b. Instruct the client to ask for assistance when rising from a priority. The client should be encouraged to complete activities of daily living as
bed. independently as possible. The nurse should monitor for hyperkalemia, not
c. Collaborate with unlicensed assistive personnel to hypokalemia, especially if the client has renal insufficiency secondary to heart
bathe the client. failure.
d. Monitor potassium levels and check for symptoms of
hypokalemia.
A nurse assesses a client after administering isosorbide d. Administer PRN acetaminophen.
mononitrate (Imdur). The client reports a headache.
Which action should the nurse take? The vasodilating effects of isosorbide mononitrate frequently cause clients to
have headaches during the initial period of therapy. Clients should be told about
a. Initiate oxygen therapy. this side effect and encouraged to take the medication with food. Some clients
b. Hold the next dose of Imdur. obtain relief with mild analgesics, such as acetaminophen. The clients headache is
c. Instruct the client to drink water. not related to hypoxia or dehydration; therefore, these interventions would not
d. Administer PRN acetaminophen. help. The client needs to take the medication as prescribed to prevent angina; the
medication should not be held.
