ATI Med-Surg Cardiovascular Exam 2026–2027 |
Complete 120 Practice Questions with Detailed
Answer Rationales | Comprehensive Nursing
Study Guide
A nurse is caring for a client who has pernicious anemia. Which of the following factors
should the nurse identify with this condition?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Hemolytic blood loss
C. Folic acid deficiency
D. Vitamin B12 deficiency - Correct Answer - D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
A nurse is teaching a 70-year-old client about risk factors for heart failure. The client has
mild asthma, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "My diabetes will not increase my risk of heart failure."
B. "My asthma makes it more likely for me to have heart failure."
C. "My age does not increase my risk of heart failure."
D. "My coronary artery disease is a risk factor for heart failure." - Correct Answer - D.
"My coronary artery disease is a risk factor for heart failure."
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has end-stage renal disease
and reports fatigue. The client's hemoglobin level is 8 g/dL. The nurse should expect a
prescription for which of the following medications?
A. Erythropoietin
B. Erythromycin
C. Filgrastim
D. Calcitriol - Correct Answer - A. Erythropoietin
pg. 1
,A nurse is showing a client who has right-sided heart failure an illustration of the heart.
Which of the following blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood to the right atrium?
A. Right coronary artery
B. Left carotid artery
C. Aorta
D. Superior vena cava - Correct Answer - D. Superior vena cava
A nurse is assessing a client who has fluid volume overload from a cardiovascular
disorder. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Jugular vein distension
B. Moist crackles
C. Postural hypotension
D. Increased heart rate
E. Fever - Correct Answer - A. Jugular vein distension
B. Moist crackles
D. Increased heart rate
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who had a bone marrow transplant
and has thrombocytopenia. Which of the following statements indicates that the client
understands the precautions he must take at home?
A. "I'll stick with soft foods for now."
B. "My family will be bringing me fresh flowers today."
C. "I'll use a new disposable razor each day."
D. "I'll blow my nose more often to avoid nosebleeds." - Correct Answer - A. "I'll stick
with soft foods for now."
pg. 2
,A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV ampicillin and develops urticaria and
dyspnea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Elevate the client's feet and legs
B. Administer epinephrine
C. Infuse 0.9% sodium chloride
D. Stop the medication infusion - Correct Answer - D. Stop the medication infusion
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure whose telemetry reading displays a
flattening of the T wave. Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse
anticipate as the cause of this ECG change?
A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
B. Digoxin level 0.7 ng/mL
C. Hemoglobin 9.8 g/dL
D. Calcium 8.0 mg - Correct Answer - A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking daily furosemide. The
client's apical pulse is weak and irregular. The nurse should identify these findings as
manifestations of which of the following electrolyte imbalances?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia - Correct Answer - A. Hypokalemia
A nurse is caring for a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm and is scheduled
for surgery. The client's vital signs are blood pressure 160/98 mmHg, heart rate
102/min, respirations 22/min, and SpO2 95%. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Administer antihypertensive medication for blood pressure
B. Monitor to ensure the client's urinary output is 20 mL/hr
C. Withhold pain medication to prepare the client for surgery
pg. 3
, D. Take the client's vital signs every 2 hr - Correct Answer - A. Administer
antihypertensive medication for blood pressure
A nurse is completing a medication history for a client who reports using fish oil as a
dietary supplement. Which of the following substances in fish oil should the nurse
recognize as a health benefit to the client?
A. Omega-3 fatty acids
B. Antioxidants
C. Vitamins A, D, and C
D. Beta-carotene - Correct Answer - A. Omega-3 fatty acids
A nurse is reviewing the menu selections of a client who has heart failure and
anticipates discharge to home the following day. Which of the following lunch choices
should the nurse identify as an indication that the client understands his dietary
instructions?
A. Turkey on whole-wheat bread
B. Hamburger and french fries
C. Frankfurter on a white roll
D. Macaroni and cheese - Correct Answer - A. Turkey on whole-wheat bread
A nurse is caring for a client who has a platelet count of 50,000/mm^3. After
discontinuing the client's peripheral IV site, which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Apply warm compresses
B. Apply pressure to the catheter removal site for 5 min
C. Place the affected arm in a dependent position
D. Clean the insertion site with alcohol - Correct Answer - B. Apply pressure to the
catheter removal site for 5 min
pg. 4
Complete 120 Practice Questions with Detailed
Answer Rationales | Comprehensive Nursing
Study Guide
A nurse is caring for a client who has pernicious anemia. Which of the following factors
should the nurse identify with this condition?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Hemolytic blood loss
C. Folic acid deficiency
D. Vitamin B12 deficiency - Correct Answer - D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
A nurse is teaching a 70-year-old client about risk factors for heart failure. The client has
mild asthma, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "My diabetes will not increase my risk of heart failure."
B. "My asthma makes it more likely for me to have heart failure."
C. "My age does not increase my risk of heart failure."
D. "My coronary artery disease is a risk factor for heart failure." - Correct Answer - D.
"My coronary artery disease is a risk factor for heart failure."
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has end-stage renal disease
and reports fatigue. The client's hemoglobin level is 8 g/dL. The nurse should expect a
prescription for which of the following medications?
A. Erythropoietin
B. Erythromycin
C. Filgrastim
D. Calcitriol - Correct Answer - A. Erythropoietin
pg. 1
,A nurse is showing a client who has right-sided heart failure an illustration of the heart.
Which of the following blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood to the right atrium?
A. Right coronary artery
B. Left carotid artery
C. Aorta
D. Superior vena cava - Correct Answer - D. Superior vena cava
A nurse is assessing a client who has fluid volume overload from a cardiovascular
disorder. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Jugular vein distension
B. Moist crackles
C. Postural hypotension
D. Increased heart rate
E. Fever - Correct Answer - A. Jugular vein distension
B. Moist crackles
D. Increased heart rate
A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who had a bone marrow transplant
and has thrombocytopenia. Which of the following statements indicates that the client
understands the precautions he must take at home?
A. "I'll stick with soft foods for now."
B. "My family will be bringing me fresh flowers today."
C. "I'll use a new disposable razor each day."
D. "I'll blow my nose more often to avoid nosebleeds." - Correct Answer - A. "I'll stick
with soft foods for now."
pg. 2
,A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV ampicillin and develops urticaria and
dyspnea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Elevate the client's feet and legs
B. Administer epinephrine
C. Infuse 0.9% sodium chloride
D. Stop the medication infusion - Correct Answer - D. Stop the medication infusion
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure whose telemetry reading displays a
flattening of the T wave. Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse
anticipate as the cause of this ECG change?
A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
B. Digoxin level 0.7 ng/mL
C. Hemoglobin 9.8 g/dL
D. Calcium 8.0 mg - Correct Answer - A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking daily furosemide. The
client's apical pulse is weak and irregular. The nurse should identify these findings as
manifestations of which of the following electrolyte imbalances?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia - Correct Answer - A. Hypokalemia
A nurse is caring for a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm and is scheduled
for surgery. The client's vital signs are blood pressure 160/98 mmHg, heart rate
102/min, respirations 22/min, and SpO2 95%. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Administer antihypertensive medication for blood pressure
B. Monitor to ensure the client's urinary output is 20 mL/hr
C. Withhold pain medication to prepare the client for surgery
pg. 3
, D. Take the client's vital signs every 2 hr - Correct Answer - A. Administer
antihypertensive medication for blood pressure
A nurse is completing a medication history for a client who reports using fish oil as a
dietary supplement. Which of the following substances in fish oil should the nurse
recognize as a health benefit to the client?
A. Omega-3 fatty acids
B. Antioxidants
C. Vitamins A, D, and C
D. Beta-carotene - Correct Answer - A. Omega-3 fatty acids
A nurse is reviewing the menu selections of a client who has heart failure and
anticipates discharge to home the following day. Which of the following lunch choices
should the nurse identify as an indication that the client understands his dietary
instructions?
A. Turkey on whole-wheat bread
B. Hamburger and french fries
C. Frankfurter on a white roll
D. Macaroni and cheese - Correct Answer - A. Turkey on whole-wheat bread
A nurse is caring for a client who has a platelet count of 50,000/mm^3. After
discontinuing the client's peripheral IV site, which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Apply warm compresses
B. Apply pressure to the catheter removal site for 5 min
C. Place the affected arm in a dependent position
D. Clean the insertion site with alcohol - Correct Answer - B. Apply pressure to the
catheter removal site for 5 min
pg. 4
