HEALTHSTREAM Jane Assessment Test 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS | 100%
GUARANTEED PASS (NEW UPDATED VERSION)
Section 1: Cardiovascular & Respiratory
1. A patient assessment reveals distended neck veins, pulsus paradoxus, and
decreased systolic pressure. This assessment is most consistent with:
• A. Pericarditis
• B. Cardiac tamponade
• C. Congestive heart failure
• D. Myocardial infarction
• Rationale: This is Beck's triad, a classic presentation of cardiac tamponade.
Pulsus paradoxus is a drop in systolic BP >10 mmHg during inspiration .
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with severe sepsis and third-degree heart
block. The patient is hypotensive. The treatment for this life-threatening rhythm
change includes:
• A. Atropine 1 mg IV push
• B. Amiodarone bolus
• C. Transcutaneous pacing
• D. Epinephrine infusion
• Rationale: Third-degree heart block with hemodynamic instability
(hypotension) is an emergency. Transcutaneous pacing provides temporary
electrical capture of the ventricles to maintain cardiac output .
3. The patient experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) arrived on the
unit an hour ago with TPA infusing. Initially, the patient's neurologic exam was
normal. The nurse assesses the patient and finds him now disoriented. The next
nursing action should be to:
• A. Notify the physician
, • B. Continue the TPA infusion
• C. Discontinue the TPA
• D. Administer IV heparin
• Rationale: A change in neurologic status in a patient receiving thrombolytic
therapy is the hallmark sign of intracranial hemorrhage, a life-threatening
complication. The infusion must be stopped immediately .
4. A patient has cardiomyopathy and is unstable. The nurse understands that
the treatment goal is to improve contractility, reduce preload and reduce
afterload. The nurse anticipates that medication management will include:
• A. Dobutamine and nitroprusside infusions
• B. Dopamine and epinephrine
• C. Norepinephrine and nitroglycerin
• D. Milrinone and amiodarone
• Rationale: Dobutamine improves contractility, while nitroprusside reduces
preload and afterload, achieving the treatment goals for unstable
cardiomyopathy .
5. The actions of nitroglycerin in the management of angina include:
• A. Coronary artery dilation and peripheral venous dilation
• B. Increased heart rate and contractility
• C. Platelet aggregation inhibition
• D. Beta-receptor blockade
• Rationale: Nitroglycerin dilates coronary arteries to improve blood flow
and dilates peripheral veins to reduce preload, decreasing myocardial
oxygen demand .
6. Which physiologic effect is produced by alpha-1 receptors?
• A. Vasoconstriction
, • B. Bronchodilation
• C. Increased heart rate
• D. Decreased GI motility
• Rationale: Alpha-1 receptor stimulation causes vasoconstriction, which
increases systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure .
7. A patient has an elevated central venous pressure (CVP) measurement. The
most likely reason is:
• A. Left heart failure
• B. Right heart failure
• C. Hypovolemia
• D. Pulmonary embolism
• Rationale: CVP reflects right ventricular function. Elevated CVP indicates
right heart failure or fluid overload .
8. The most common cause of right heart failure is:
• A. Pulmonary hypertension
• B. Left heart failure
• C. Myocardial infarction
• D. Valvular disease
• Rationale: Left heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, eventually increasing pressure on the right side of the heart .
9. What is the priority assessment the nurse should make prior to administering
digoxin?
• A. Blood pressure
• B. Respiratory rate
• C. Heart rate
• D. Potassium level
, • Rationale: Digoxin slows the heart rate. The nurse should check the apical
pulse for 1 full minute. Hold if <60 bpm in adults .
10. The most common cardiac valve dysfunction in the United States, often
considered a disease of "wear and tear," is:
• A. Mitral stenosis
• B. Mitral regurgitation
• C. Aortic stenosis
• D. Aortic regurgitation
• Rationale: Aortic stenosis is a common degenerative valve disease
associated with aging and calcification .
11. The patient is newly intubated. He has normal breath sounds on the right
side of his chest, but diminished, distant breath sounds on the left side of his
chest. These findings likely indicate:
• A. Left pneumothorax
• B. Right mainstem bronchus intubation
• C. Esophageal intubation
• D. Left pleural effusion
• Rationale: The right mainstem bronchus is wider and more vertical, making
it the most common site of inadvertent intubation. Only the right lung is
ventilated .
12. Which responses might mechanically ventilated patients on elevated levels
of PEEP experience?
• A. Hypotension
• B. Hypertension
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Increased cardiac output
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT SOLUTIONS | 100%
GUARANTEED PASS (NEW UPDATED VERSION)
Section 1: Cardiovascular & Respiratory
1. A patient assessment reveals distended neck veins, pulsus paradoxus, and
decreased systolic pressure. This assessment is most consistent with:
• A. Pericarditis
• B. Cardiac tamponade
• C. Congestive heart failure
• D. Myocardial infarction
• Rationale: This is Beck's triad, a classic presentation of cardiac tamponade.
Pulsus paradoxus is a drop in systolic BP >10 mmHg during inspiration .
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with severe sepsis and third-degree heart
block. The patient is hypotensive. The treatment for this life-threatening rhythm
change includes:
• A. Atropine 1 mg IV push
• B. Amiodarone bolus
• C. Transcutaneous pacing
• D. Epinephrine infusion
• Rationale: Third-degree heart block with hemodynamic instability
(hypotension) is an emergency. Transcutaneous pacing provides temporary
electrical capture of the ventricles to maintain cardiac output .
3. The patient experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) arrived on the
unit an hour ago with TPA infusing. Initially, the patient's neurologic exam was
normal. The nurse assesses the patient and finds him now disoriented. The next
nursing action should be to:
• A. Notify the physician
, • B. Continue the TPA infusion
• C. Discontinue the TPA
• D. Administer IV heparin
• Rationale: A change in neurologic status in a patient receiving thrombolytic
therapy is the hallmark sign of intracranial hemorrhage, a life-threatening
complication. The infusion must be stopped immediately .
4. A patient has cardiomyopathy and is unstable. The nurse understands that
the treatment goal is to improve contractility, reduce preload and reduce
afterload. The nurse anticipates that medication management will include:
• A. Dobutamine and nitroprusside infusions
• B. Dopamine and epinephrine
• C. Norepinephrine and nitroglycerin
• D. Milrinone and amiodarone
• Rationale: Dobutamine improves contractility, while nitroprusside reduces
preload and afterload, achieving the treatment goals for unstable
cardiomyopathy .
5. The actions of nitroglycerin in the management of angina include:
• A. Coronary artery dilation and peripheral venous dilation
• B. Increased heart rate and contractility
• C. Platelet aggregation inhibition
• D. Beta-receptor blockade
• Rationale: Nitroglycerin dilates coronary arteries to improve blood flow
and dilates peripheral veins to reduce preload, decreasing myocardial
oxygen demand .
6. Which physiologic effect is produced by alpha-1 receptors?
• A. Vasoconstriction
, • B. Bronchodilation
• C. Increased heart rate
• D. Decreased GI motility
• Rationale: Alpha-1 receptor stimulation causes vasoconstriction, which
increases systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure .
7. A patient has an elevated central venous pressure (CVP) measurement. The
most likely reason is:
• A. Left heart failure
• B. Right heart failure
• C. Hypovolemia
• D. Pulmonary embolism
• Rationale: CVP reflects right ventricular function. Elevated CVP indicates
right heart failure or fluid overload .
8. The most common cause of right heart failure is:
• A. Pulmonary hypertension
• B. Left heart failure
• C. Myocardial infarction
• D. Valvular disease
• Rationale: Left heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, eventually increasing pressure on the right side of the heart .
9. What is the priority assessment the nurse should make prior to administering
digoxin?
• A. Blood pressure
• B. Respiratory rate
• C. Heart rate
• D. Potassium level
, • Rationale: Digoxin slows the heart rate. The nurse should check the apical
pulse for 1 full minute. Hold if <60 bpm in adults .
10. The most common cardiac valve dysfunction in the United States, often
considered a disease of "wear and tear," is:
• A. Mitral stenosis
• B. Mitral regurgitation
• C. Aortic stenosis
• D. Aortic regurgitation
• Rationale: Aortic stenosis is a common degenerative valve disease
associated with aging and calcification .
11. The patient is newly intubated. He has normal breath sounds on the right
side of his chest, but diminished, distant breath sounds on the left side of his
chest. These findings likely indicate:
• A. Left pneumothorax
• B. Right mainstem bronchus intubation
• C. Esophageal intubation
• D. Left pleural effusion
• Rationale: The right mainstem bronchus is wider and more vertical, making
it the most common site of inadvertent intubation. Only the right lung is
ventilated .
12. Which responses might mechanically ventilated patients on elevated levels
of PEEP experience?
• A. Hypotension
• B. Hypertension
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Increased cardiac output
