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NU 518 EXAM 2 STUDY QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
The nurse is reviewing the anatomy and physiologic functioning of the heart. Which
statement best describes what is meant by atrial kick?
A The atria contract during systole and attempt to push against closed valves.
B Contraction of the atria at the beginning of diastole can be felt as a palpitation.
C Atrial kick is the pressure exerted against the atria as the ventricles contract
during systole.
D The atria contract toward the end of diastole and push the remaining blood into
the ventricles.
D
When listening to heart sounds, the nurse knows the valve closures that can be
heard best at the base of the heart are:
a Mitral and tricuspid.
B Tricuspid and aortic.
C Aortic and pulmonic.
D Mitral and pulmonic.
C
Which of these statements describes the closure of the valves in a normal cardiac
cycle?
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A The aortic valve closes slightly before the tricuspid valve.
B The pulmonic valve closes slightly before the aortic valve.
C The tricuspid valve closes slightly later than the mitral valve.
D Both the tricuspid and pulmonic valves close at the same time.
C
The component of the conduction system referred to as the pacemaker of the heart
is the:
A Atrioventricular (AV) node.
B Sinoatrial (SA) node.
C Bundle of His.
D Bundle branches.
B
The electrical stimulus of the cardiac cycle follows which sequence?
A AV node SA node bundle of His
B Bundle of His AV node SA node
C SA node AV node bundle of His bundle branches
D AV node SA node bundle of His bundle branches
D
The findings from an assessment of a 70-year-old patient with swelling in his ankles
include jugular venous pulsations 5 cm above the sternal angle when the head of
his bed is elevated 45 degrees. The nurse knows that this finding indicates:
a Decreased fluid volume.
B Increased cardiac output.
C Narrowing of jugular veins.
D Elevated pressure related to heart failure.
D
When assessing a newborn infant who is 5 minutes old, the nurse knows which of
these statements to be true?
A The left ventricle is larger and weighs more than the right ventricle.
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B The circulation of a newborn is identical to that of an adult.
C Blood can flow into the left side of the heart through an opening in the atrial
septum.
D The foramen ovale closes just minutes before birth, and the ductus arteriosus
closes immediately after.
C
A 25-year-old woman in her fifth month of pregnancy has a blood pressure of
100/70 mm Hg. In reviewing her previous examination, the nurse notes that her
blood pressure in her second month was 124/80 mm Hg. In evaluating this change,
what does the nurse know to be true?
A This decline in blood pressure is the result of peripheral vasodilatation and is an
expected change.
B Because of increased cardiac output, the blood pressure should be higher at this
time.
C This change in blood pressure is not an expected finding because it means a
decrease in cardiac output.
D This decline in blood pressure means a decrease in circulating blood volume,
which is dangerous for the fetus.
A
In assessing a 70-year-old man, the nurse finds the following: blood pressure
140/100 mm Hg; heart rate 104 beats per minute and slightly irregular; and the split
S2 heart sound. Which of these findings can be explained by expected
hemodynamic changes related to age?
A Increase in resting heart rate
B Increase in systolic blood pressure
C Decrease in diastolic blood pressure
D Increase in diastolic blood pressure
B
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A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical examination. During the
recording of his health history, the patient states that he has been having difficulty
sleeping. Ill be sleeping great, and then I wake up and feel like I cant get my breath.
The nurses best response to this would be:
a When was your last electrocardiogram?
B Its probably because its been so hot at night.
C Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
D Have you had a recent sinus infection or upper respiratory infection?
C
In assessing a patients major risk factors for heart disease, which would the nurse
want to include when taking a history?
A Family history, hypertension, stress, and age
B Personality type, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking
C Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol
D Alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, stress, and high cholesterol
C
The mother of a 3-month-old infant states that her baby has not been gaining
weight. With further questioning, the nurse finds that the infant falls asleep after
nursing and wakes up after a short time, hungry again. What other information
would the nurse want to have?
A Infants sleeping position
B Sibling history of eating disorders
C Amount of background noise when eating
D Presence of dyspnea or diaphoresis when sucking
D
In assessing the carotid arteries of an older patient with cardiovascular disease,
the nurse would:
a Palpate the artery in the upper one third of the neck.
B Listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
NU 518 EXAM 2 STUDY QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
The nurse is reviewing the anatomy and physiologic functioning of the heart. Which
statement best describes what is meant by atrial kick?
A The atria contract during systole and attempt to push against closed valves.
B Contraction of the atria at the beginning of diastole can be felt as a palpitation.
C Atrial kick is the pressure exerted against the atria as the ventricles contract
during systole.
D The atria contract toward the end of diastole and push the remaining blood into
the ventricles.
D
When listening to heart sounds, the nurse knows the valve closures that can be
heard best at the base of the heart are:
a Mitral and tricuspid.
B Tricuspid and aortic.
C Aortic and pulmonic.
D Mitral and pulmonic.
C
Which of these statements describes the closure of the valves in a normal cardiac
cycle?
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A The aortic valve closes slightly before the tricuspid valve.
B The pulmonic valve closes slightly before the aortic valve.
C The tricuspid valve closes slightly later than the mitral valve.
D Both the tricuspid and pulmonic valves close at the same time.
C
The component of the conduction system referred to as the pacemaker of the heart
is the:
A Atrioventricular (AV) node.
B Sinoatrial (SA) node.
C Bundle of His.
D Bundle branches.
B
The electrical stimulus of the cardiac cycle follows which sequence?
A AV node SA node bundle of His
B Bundle of His AV node SA node
C SA node AV node bundle of His bundle branches
D AV node SA node bundle of His bundle branches
D
The findings from an assessment of a 70-year-old patient with swelling in his ankles
include jugular venous pulsations 5 cm above the sternal angle when the head of
his bed is elevated 45 degrees. The nurse knows that this finding indicates:
a Decreased fluid volume.
B Increased cardiac output.
C Narrowing of jugular veins.
D Elevated pressure related to heart failure.
D
When assessing a newborn infant who is 5 minutes old, the nurse knows which of
these statements to be true?
A The left ventricle is larger and weighs more than the right ventricle.
, Page 3 of 134
B The circulation of a newborn is identical to that of an adult.
C Blood can flow into the left side of the heart through an opening in the atrial
septum.
D The foramen ovale closes just minutes before birth, and the ductus arteriosus
closes immediately after.
C
A 25-year-old woman in her fifth month of pregnancy has a blood pressure of
100/70 mm Hg. In reviewing her previous examination, the nurse notes that her
blood pressure in her second month was 124/80 mm Hg. In evaluating this change,
what does the nurse know to be true?
A This decline in blood pressure is the result of peripheral vasodilatation and is an
expected change.
B Because of increased cardiac output, the blood pressure should be higher at this
time.
C This change in blood pressure is not an expected finding because it means a
decrease in cardiac output.
D This decline in blood pressure means a decrease in circulating blood volume,
which is dangerous for the fetus.
A
In assessing a 70-year-old man, the nurse finds the following: blood pressure
140/100 mm Hg; heart rate 104 beats per minute and slightly irregular; and the split
S2 heart sound. Which of these findings can be explained by expected
hemodynamic changes related to age?
A Increase in resting heart rate
B Increase in systolic blood pressure
C Decrease in diastolic blood pressure
D Increase in diastolic blood pressure
B
, Page 4 of 134
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical examination. During the
recording of his health history, the patient states that he has been having difficulty
sleeping. Ill be sleeping great, and then I wake up and feel like I cant get my breath.
The nurses best response to this would be:
a When was your last electrocardiogram?
B Its probably because its been so hot at night.
C Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
D Have you had a recent sinus infection or upper respiratory infection?
C
In assessing a patients major risk factors for heart disease, which would the nurse
want to include when taking a history?
A Family history, hypertension, stress, and age
B Personality type, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking
C Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol
D Alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, stress, and high cholesterol
C
The mother of a 3-month-old infant states that her baby has not been gaining
weight. With further questioning, the nurse finds that the infant falls asleep after
nursing and wakes up after a short time, hungry again. What other information
would the nurse want to have?
A Infants sleeping position
B Sibling history of eating disorders
C Amount of background noise when eating
D Presence of dyspnea or diaphoresis when sucking
D
In assessing the carotid arteries of an older patient with cardiovascular disease,
the nurse would:
a Palpate the artery in the upper one third of the neck.
B Listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
