NURS 6512 Advanced Health Assessment Top 150 Cardiovascular Exam Questions and Answers

NURS 6512 Advanced Health
Assessment Top 150 Cardiovascular
Exam Questions and Answers 2025-
2026

Question 1

A patient presents with dyspnea, orthopnea, and bilateral crackles. Which condition is most
likely?

A. Right-sided heart failure
B. Left-sided heart failure
C. Peripheral arterial disease
D. Deep vein thrombosis

Correct Answer: B. Left-sided heart failure

Rationale:
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation, producing:

 Dyspnea

 Orthopnea

 Pulmonary crackles

 Pulmonary edema



Question 2

A patient with right-sided heart failure is most likely to exhibit:

A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Pink frothy sputum
D. Orthopnea

,Correct Answer: B. Jugular venous distention

Rationale:
Right-sided failure causes systemic venous congestion resulting in:

 JVD

 Peripheral edema

 Ascites

 Hepatomegaly



Question 3

Which heart sound is associated with ventricular volume overload?

A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4

Correct Answer: C. S3

Rationale:
S3 occurs during rapid ventricular filling and is associated with:

 Heart failure

 Increased ventricular volume

 Reduced systolic function



Question 4

An S4 heart sound indicates:

A. Increased ventricular compliance
B. Stiff ventricular walls
C. Normal aging only
D. Pulmonary congestion

Correct Answer: B. Stiff ventricular walls

,Rationale:
S4 occurs when atrial contraction pushes blood into a noncompliant ventricle.

Common causes:

 Hypertension

 Left ventricular hypertrophy

 Cardiomyopathy



Question 5

A systolic murmur radiating to the carotid arteries is characteristic of:

A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Mitral stenosis
D. Pulmonary regurgitation

Correct Answer: B. Aortic stenosis

Rationale:
Aortic stenosis causes obstruction of left ventricular outflow, producing:

 Harsh systolic murmur

 Right upper sternal border location

 Radiation to carotids



Question 6

A holosystolic murmur radiating to the axilla suggests:

A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Aortic regurgitation
D. Mitral stenosis

Correct Answer: A. Mitral regurgitation

, Rationale:
Mitral regurgitation causes backward blood flow from the left ventricle into the left atrium
during systole.



Question 7

Which murmur occurs during diastole?

A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral regurgitation
C. Mitral stenosis
D. Pulmonary stenosis

Correct Answer: C. Mitral stenosis

Rationale:
Mitral stenosis produces:

 Diastolic rumble

 Opening snap

 Best heard at the apex



Question 8

A patient with atrial fibrillation is at greatest risk for:

A. Pneumonia
B. Stroke
C. Kidney stones
D. Hyperthyroidism

Correct Answer: B. Stroke

Rationale:
Atrial fibrillation causes blood stasis in the atria, increasing thrombus formation and embolic
stroke risk.



Question 9

Which ECG finding is expected in atrial fibrillation?