CARDIAC ATI EXAM STUDY SHEET COMPLETE QUESTIONS ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
Cardiac ATI Comprehensive Study Guide 2026/2027
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update
Question:
● You are providing teaching to a PT who is 2 days post op following a heart transplant. Which
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching? 1. You may no longer be able to feel
chest pain 2. Your level of activity intolerance will not change 3. after 6 months you will no longer
need to restrict you Na 4. You will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12 months.
Answer:
1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain- transplant PTs no longer feel chest pain due to
denervation of the heart
Question:
● ER nurse is assessing PT with bradydysrhythmia. Which finding should he expect? 1. Confusion
2. Friction Rub 3. HTN 4. Dry skin.
Answer:
1. Confusion- as a result of decreased tissue perfusion
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who had an anterior MI. PTs hx shows she is 1 wk post op open
cholecystectomy the RN knows that which intervention is contraindicated? 1. Administering IV
morphine 2. giving O2 at 2L NC 3. Helping client to BSC 4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy.
Answer:
4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy- having surgery within 3 wks is a contraindication for
thrombolytic therapy
Question:
,● You are caring for a PT who has endocarditis. Which finding should you recognize as a
complication? 1. Ventricular depolarization 2. Guillain Barre Syndrome 3. Myelodysplastic
syndrome 4. Valvular disease.
Answer:
4. Valvular disease- damage will occur as a result of inflammation or infection of the endocardium
Question:
● You are caring for PT with BP of 254/139, you recognize the PT is in a hypertensive crisis.
Which action should you take first? 1. Obtain blood samples for testing 2. Tell the PT to report
vision changes 3. Place HOB at 45 degrees 4. Initiate IV access.
Answer:
3. Place HOB at 45 degrees-ABC's this will promote respiratory status and promote venous return
reducing workload on heart **Initiate IV access- not first action
Question:
● When performing a cardiac assessment what is the point of maximal impulse? 1. 2nd intercostal
space right to the sternum 2. 2nd intercostal space left to the sternum 3. 5th intercostal space to the
left of thermal border 4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line.
Answer:
4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line-this is best to hear the apex of the heart which
is considered maximal impulse
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who is experiencing Afib. You should report what finding to the
provider? 1. Slurred speech 2. Irregular pulse 3. Dependent edema 4. Persistant fatigue.
Answer:
1. Slurred speech- greatest risk is an embolus and this can indicate embolus
Question:
, ● You are assessing a PT with Left sided heart failure. What manifestation should you expect to
find? 1. Increased abdominal girth 2. Weak peripheral pulses 3. Jugular venous neck distention 4.
Dependent edema.
Answer:
2. Weak peripheral pulses- r/t decreased CO from LSHF
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who is being treated for HF and has prescriptions for digoxin and
furosemide. You plan to monitor for which of the following as an adverse effect of these meds? 1.
SOB 2. Lightheadedness 3. Dry cough 4. Metallic taste.
Answer:
2. Lightheadedness- can cause a sudden drop in BP= lightheadedness
Question:
● You are monitoring a PT following coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). Which finding
indicates cardiac tamponade? 1. Sternal instability 2. Increased WBC count 3. BP of 140/82 on
inspiration and 154/90 on expiration 4. Sinus rhythm with occasional premature atrial contractions
and HR 88.
Answer:
3. BP of 140/82 on inspiration and 154/90 on expiration= pulses paradoxus
Question:
● What is Pulsus Paradoxus?
Answer:
When the systolic BP is 10 points higher on expiration than on inspiration **This is indicative of
cardiac tamponade
Question:
● You are preparing PT for coronary angiography. You should report what finding to the provider
prior to procedure? 1. Hgb 14.4 2. HX: PAD peripheral arterial disease 3. UOP of 200ml in 4 hr 4.
Cardiac ATI Comprehensive Study Guide 2026/2027
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update
Question:
● You are providing teaching to a PT who is 2 days post op following a heart transplant. Which
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching? 1. You may no longer be able to feel
chest pain 2. Your level of activity intolerance will not change 3. after 6 months you will no longer
need to restrict you Na 4. You will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12 months.
Answer:
1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain- transplant PTs no longer feel chest pain due to
denervation of the heart
Question:
● ER nurse is assessing PT with bradydysrhythmia. Which finding should he expect? 1. Confusion
2. Friction Rub 3. HTN 4. Dry skin.
Answer:
1. Confusion- as a result of decreased tissue perfusion
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who had an anterior MI. PTs hx shows she is 1 wk post op open
cholecystectomy the RN knows that which intervention is contraindicated? 1. Administering IV
morphine 2. giving O2 at 2L NC 3. Helping client to BSC 4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy.
Answer:
4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy- having surgery within 3 wks is a contraindication for
thrombolytic therapy
Question:
,● You are caring for a PT who has endocarditis. Which finding should you recognize as a
complication? 1. Ventricular depolarization 2. Guillain Barre Syndrome 3. Myelodysplastic
syndrome 4. Valvular disease.
Answer:
4. Valvular disease- damage will occur as a result of inflammation or infection of the endocardium
Question:
● You are caring for PT with BP of 254/139, you recognize the PT is in a hypertensive crisis.
Which action should you take first? 1. Obtain blood samples for testing 2. Tell the PT to report
vision changes 3. Place HOB at 45 degrees 4. Initiate IV access.
Answer:
3. Place HOB at 45 degrees-ABC's this will promote respiratory status and promote venous return
reducing workload on heart **Initiate IV access- not first action
Question:
● When performing a cardiac assessment what is the point of maximal impulse? 1. 2nd intercostal
space right to the sternum 2. 2nd intercostal space left to the sternum 3. 5th intercostal space to the
left of thermal border 4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line.
Answer:
4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line-this is best to hear the apex of the heart which
is considered maximal impulse
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who is experiencing Afib. You should report what finding to the
provider? 1. Slurred speech 2. Irregular pulse 3. Dependent edema 4. Persistant fatigue.
Answer:
1. Slurred speech- greatest risk is an embolus and this can indicate embolus
Question:
, ● You are assessing a PT with Left sided heart failure. What manifestation should you expect to
find? 1. Increased abdominal girth 2. Weak peripheral pulses 3. Jugular venous neck distention 4.
Dependent edema.
Answer:
2. Weak peripheral pulses- r/t decreased CO from LSHF
Question:
● You are caring for a PT who is being treated for HF and has prescriptions for digoxin and
furosemide. You plan to monitor for which of the following as an adverse effect of these meds? 1.
SOB 2. Lightheadedness 3. Dry cough 4. Metallic taste.
Answer:
2. Lightheadedness- can cause a sudden drop in BP= lightheadedness
Question:
● You are monitoring a PT following coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). Which finding
indicates cardiac tamponade? 1. Sternal instability 2. Increased WBC count 3. BP of 140/82 on
inspiration and 154/90 on expiration 4. Sinus rhythm with occasional premature atrial contractions
and HR 88.
Answer:
3. BP of 140/82 on inspiration and 154/90 on expiration= pulses paradoxus
Question:
● What is Pulsus Paradoxus?
Answer:
When the systolic BP is 10 points higher on expiration than on inspiration **This is indicative of
cardiac tamponade
Question:
● You are preparing PT for coronary angiography. You should report what finding to the provider
prior to procedure? 1. Hgb 14.4 2. HX: PAD peripheral arterial disease 3. UOP of 200ml in 4 hr 4.
