NURS 6512 Advanced Health
Assessment 200 questions and
answers with rationales 2025-
2026
Cardiovascular System
Question 1
A 62-year-old patient reports pressure-like chest discomfort occurring when climbing stairs and
relieved after resting. Which condition is most likely?
A. Unstable angina
B. Stable angina
C. Pericarditis
D. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B. Stable angina
Rationale:
Stable angina occurs predictably with exertion when myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply
and improves with rest or nitroglycerin.
Question 2
During cardiac auscultation, the nurse practitioner hears an S3 heart sound. This finding is most
associated with:
A. Normal aging
B. Volume overload and heart failure
C. Aortic valve stenosis only
D. Bradycardia
,Correct Answer: B. Volume overload and heart failure
Rationale:
An S3 reflects rapid ventricular filling and is commonly associated with increased ventricular
volume, systolic heart failure, and dilated ventricles.
Question 3
A patient presents with a blood pressure of 190/120 mmHg but denies symptoms and has no
evidence of organ injury. This finding represents:
A. Hypertensive emergency
B. Hypertensive urgency
C. Normal variation
D. Orthostatic hypotension
Correct Answer: B. Hypertensive urgency
Rationale:
Severe blood pressure elevation without acute target-organ damage is classified as hypertensive
urgency.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most consistent with left ventricular failure?
A. Hepatomegaly
B. Pulmonary crackles
C. Ascites
D. Peripheral venous ulcers
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale:
Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary venous congestion, resulting in dyspnea and crackles.
Question 5
A patient has a low-pitched extra heart sound immediately before S1. This is:
,A. S2
B. S3
C. S4
D. Murmur
Correct Answer: C. S4
Rationale:
S4 occurs when atrial contraction pushes blood into a stiff ventricle, commonly seen with
hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy.
Question 6
Which medication class is commonly used for hypertension and may cause a persistent dry
cough?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. Calcium channel blockers
C. Beta blockers
D. Diuretics
Correct Answer: A. ACE inhibitors
Rationale:
ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, which may cause a persistent dry cough.
Question 7
A patient has a murmur heard best at the left lower sternal border that increases with
inspiration. Which valve is involved?
A. Mitral
B. Aortic
C. Tricuspid
D. Pulmonic
Correct Answer: C. Tricuspid
Rationale:
Right-sided murmurs, including tricuspid regurgitation, become louder with inspiration.
, Question 8
A patient with heart failure reports gaining 4 pounds in three days. The nurse practitioner
should interpret this as:
A. Improved nutrition
B. Possible fluid retention
C. Increased muscle mass
D. Normal aging
Correct Answer: B. Possible fluid retention
Rationale:
Rapid weight gain in heart failure usually reflects fluid accumulation.
Question 9
Which vascular assessment finding suggests chronic venous insufficiency?
A. Cool pale extremity
B. Absent pulses
C. Brown discoloration near the ankles
D. Dependent pallor
Correct Answer: C. Brown discoloration near the ankles
Rationale:
Hemosiderin deposition from chronic venous hypertension causes brown pigmentation around
the ankles.
Question 10
A patient complains of sudden severe chest pain described as "tearing" and radiating to the
back. Which diagnosis is most concerning?
A. GERD
B. Aortic dissection
C. Stable angina
D. Costochondritis
Correct Answer: B. Aortic dissection
Assessment 200 questions and
answers with rationales 2025-
2026
Cardiovascular System
Question 1
A 62-year-old patient reports pressure-like chest discomfort occurring when climbing stairs and
relieved after resting. Which condition is most likely?
A. Unstable angina
B. Stable angina
C. Pericarditis
D. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: B. Stable angina
Rationale:
Stable angina occurs predictably with exertion when myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply
and improves with rest or nitroglycerin.
Question 2
During cardiac auscultation, the nurse practitioner hears an S3 heart sound. This finding is most
associated with:
A. Normal aging
B. Volume overload and heart failure
C. Aortic valve stenosis only
D. Bradycardia
,Correct Answer: B. Volume overload and heart failure
Rationale:
An S3 reflects rapid ventricular filling and is commonly associated with increased ventricular
volume, systolic heart failure, and dilated ventricles.
Question 3
A patient presents with a blood pressure of 190/120 mmHg but denies symptoms and has no
evidence of organ injury. This finding represents:
A. Hypertensive emergency
B. Hypertensive urgency
C. Normal variation
D. Orthostatic hypotension
Correct Answer: B. Hypertensive urgency
Rationale:
Severe blood pressure elevation without acute target-organ damage is classified as hypertensive
urgency.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most consistent with left ventricular failure?
A. Hepatomegaly
B. Pulmonary crackles
C. Ascites
D. Peripheral venous ulcers
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale:
Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary venous congestion, resulting in dyspnea and crackles.
Question 5
A patient has a low-pitched extra heart sound immediately before S1. This is:
,A. S2
B. S3
C. S4
D. Murmur
Correct Answer: C. S4
Rationale:
S4 occurs when atrial contraction pushes blood into a stiff ventricle, commonly seen with
hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy.
Question 6
Which medication class is commonly used for hypertension and may cause a persistent dry
cough?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. Calcium channel blockers
C. Beta blockers
D. Diuretics
Correct Answer: A. ACE inhibitors
Rationale:
ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, which may cause a persistent dry cough.
Question 7
A patient has a murmur heard best at the left lower sternal border that increases with
inspiration. Which valve is involved?
A. Mitral
B. Aortic
C. Tricuspid
D. Pulmonic
Correct Answer: C. Tricuspid
Rationale:
Right-sided murmurs, including tricuspid regurgitation, become louder with inspiration.
, Question 8
A patient with heart failure reports gaining 4 pounds in three days. The nurse practitioner
should interpret this as:
A. Improved nutrition
B. Possible fluid retention
C. Increased muscle mass
D. Normal aging
Correct Answer: B. Possible fluid retention
Rationale:
Rapid weight gain in heart failure usually reflects fluid accumulation.
Question 9
Which vascular assessment finding suggests chronic venous insufficiency?
A. Cool pale extremity
B. Absent pulses
C. Brown discoloration near the ankles
D. Dependent pallor
Correct Answer: C. Brown discoloration near the ankles
Rationale:
Hemosiderin deposition from chronic venous hypertension causes brown pigmentation around
the ankles.
Question 10
A patient complains of sudden severe chest pain described as "tearing" and radiating to the
back. Which diagnosis is most concerning?
A. GERD
B. Aortic dissection
C. Stable angina
D. Costochondritis
Correct Answer: B. Aortic dissection
