NURS 8026 Exam Questions and Correct
Answers
What is a common reason for emergency department visits in the United States?
Chest pain accounts for approximately six million annual visits.
What is the significance of chest pain in terms of health?
It is a warning sign of injury or potential injury.
What structures in the thoracic cavity contain nociceptors?
All major structures in the thoracic cavity.
What spinal nerves are involved in the transmission of chest pain?
Peripheral nerves conjugate toward spinal nerves T1-T5.
What type of chest pain is characterized by abrupt tearing?
Aortic dissection.
What type of chest pain occurs with exertion and is relieved by rest?
Angina or ischemia.
What are common non-modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD)?
Age, race, family history of early heart disease, and gender.
Which races are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians?
African American/Black, American Indian, and Mexican American.
What are some modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD)?
,Tobacco use, elevated LDL, decreased HDL, high blood pressure, obesity, and psychological
stress.
What is the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8?
A set of guidelines for preventing heart disease, including not smoking, being active, and
maintaining healthy blood pressure and glucose levels.
What is the most common cause of chest pain in children and adolescents?
Musculoskeletal injury.
What percentage of cardiovascular deaths are due to cardiac arrest?
50% of all cardiovascular deaths.
How often does sudden cardiac arrest occur in the U.S.?
One sudden cardiac death occurs every 1.5 minutes.
What is the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims?
Overall survivor rate is approximately 12%.
What should be included in the history of present illness (HPI) for chest pain?
Age, gender, quality of pain, onset, aggravating and alleviating factors, and associated
symptoms.
What are some associated symptoms of chest pain?
Fatigue, pallor, diaphoresis, dyspnea, palpitation, hemoptysis, fever, nausea, and edema.
What is a key consideration when assessing chest pain?
Differentiating between life-threatening coronary artery ischemia and other causes.
, What is the role of the cardiac plexus in chest pain?
It joins and shares common spinal nerves, contributing to pain sensation.
What type of chest pain might be associated with pulmonary embolus?
Sudden onset chest pain with associated shortness of breath.
What is the significance of a family history of heart disease?
It increases the risk of coronary artery disease, especially if diagnosed at a young age.
What lifestyle factor is linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction?
Periodontal disease.
What are the potential neurological outcomes for those resuscitated from cardiac
arrest?
10-40% of those resuscitated may have neurological damage.
What are the risk factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
Men > 45, women > 55 (or premature menopause without HRT), family history of premature
CAD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol > 240 mg/dl, HDL < 40 mg/dl, LDL > 190
mg/dl, and smoking.
What is the prevalence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the US?
Occurs every 40 seconds, with over 790,000 new cases each year.
What percentage of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome die before reaching the
hospital?
More than half of patients die before reaching the hospital.
How do gender differences affect the presentation of Acute Myocardial Infarction?
Answers
What is a common reason for emergency department visits in the United States?
Chest pain accounts for approximately six million annual visits.
What is the significance of chest pain in terms of health?
It is a warning sign of injury or potential injury.
What structures in the thoracic cavity contain nociceptors?
All major structures in the thoracic cavity.
What spinal nerves are involved in the transmission of chest pain?
Peripheral nerves conjugate toward spinal nerves T1-T5.
What type of chest pain is characterized by abrupt tearing?
Aortic dissection.
What type of chest pain occurs with exertion and is relieved by rest?
Angina or ischemia.
What are common non-modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD)?
Age, race, family history of early heart disease, and gender.
Which races are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians?
African American/Black, American Indian, and Mexican American.
What are some modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD)?
,Tobacco use, elevated LDL, decreased HDL, high blood pressure, obesity, and psychological
stress.
What is the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8?
A set of guidelines for preventing heart disease, including not smoking, being active, and
maintaining healthy blood pressure and glucose levels.
What is the most common cause of chest pain in children and adolescents?
Musculoskeletal injury.
What percentage of cardiovascular deaths are due to cardiac arrest?
50% of all cardiovascular deaths.
How often does sudden cardiac arrest occur in the U.S.?
One sudden cardiac death occurs every 1.5 minutes.
What is the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims?
Overall survivor rate is approximately 12%.
What should be included in the history of present illness (HPI) for chest pain?
Age, gender, quality of pain, onset, aggravating and alleviating factors, and associated
symptoms.
What are some associated symptoms of chest pain?
Fatigue, pallor, diaphoresis, dyspnea, palpitation, hemoptysis, fever, nausea, and edema.
What is a key consideration when assessing chest pain?
Differentiating between life-threatening coronary artery ischemia and other causes.
, What is the role of the cardiac plexus in chest pain?
It joins and shares common spinal nerves, contributing to pain sensation.
What type of chest pain might be associated with pulmonary embolus?
Sudden onset chest pain with associated shortness of breath.
What is the significance of a family history of heart disease?
It increases the risk of coronary artery disease, especially if diagnosed at a young age.
What lifestyle factor is linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction?
Periodontal disease.
What are the potential neurological outcomes for those resuscitated from cardiac
arrest?
10-40% of those resuscitated may have neurological damage.
What are the risk factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
Men > 45, women > 55 (or premature menopause without HRT), family history of premature
CAD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol > 240 mg/dl, HDL < 40 mg/dl, LDL > 190
mg/dl, and smoking.
What is the prevalence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the US?
Occurs every 40 seconds, with over 790,000 new cases each year.
What percentage of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome die before reaching the
hospital?
More than half of patients die before reaching the hospital.
How do gender differences affect the presentation of Acute Myocardial Infarction?
