West Coast University NURS 480 Exam 1 -
Spring II 2025, Section 1M
Comprehensive ATI Nursing Practice Exam
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation and is taking warfarin. Which of the following
laboratory results should the nurse report to the provider?
A) PT 45 seconds
B) Hgb 16 g/dL
C) Hct 44%
D) Platelets 190,000/mm³
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A PT of 45 seconds is significantly elevated and indicates that the client is at increased risk for
bleeding. The therapeutic PT for a client on warfarin is typically 1.5 to 2 times the normal control
(approximately 18-24 seconds). The other values are within normal limits.
Question 2
,A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for verapamil for angina.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A) Limit your fluid intake to meal times
B) Do not take this medication on an empty stomach
C) Increase your daily intake of dietary fiber
D) You can expect swelling of the ankles while taking this medication
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, commonly causes constipation as a side effect. The
nurse should instruct the client to increase dietary fiber and fluid intake to prevent constipation. Ankle
swelling (peripheral edema) is a side effect that should be reported.
Question 3
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has hypertension and a new prescription for
metoprolol. Which of the following findings should the nurse investigate further?
A) Diet-controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus
B) A history of left-sided heart failure
C) A concurrent prescription for tadalafil
D) Recently treated bilateral pneumonia
ANSWER: B
,Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that can worsen heart failure symptoms. A history of left-sided
heart failure is a contraindication or requires careful monitoring. Beta-blockers should be used
cautiously in clients with heart failure and may exacerbate the condition.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has heart failure. Which of the following
actions is appropriate?
A) Withhold the medication if the heart rate is above 100/min
B) Instruct the client to eat foods that are low in potassium
C) Measure apical pulse rate for 30 seconds before administration
D) Evaluate the client for nausea, vomiting, and anorexia
ANSWER: D
Rationale: Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia are early signs of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should assess for
these symptoms before administration. The apical pulse should be counted for a full 60 seconds before
administration, and the medication should be withheld if the pulse is below 60/min (not above
100/min).
Question 5
A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for an older adult client who takes several medications. Which
of the following prescribed medications places the client at risk for orthostatic hypotension? (Select all
that apply)
A) Furosemide
B) Telmisartan
C) Duloxetine
, D) Clopidogrel
E) Atorvastatin
ANSWER: A, B, C
Rationale: Furosemide (diuretic) can cause volume depletion leading to orthostatic hypotension.
Telmisartan (ARB) causes vasodilation and can lead to orthostatic hypotension. Duloxetine (SNRI) can
cause orthostatic hypotension. Clopidogrel (antiplatelet) and atorvastatin (statin) do not typically cause
orthostatic hypotension.
Question 6
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor
most closely?
A) Sodium
B) Potassium
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. Hypokalemia is a significant side
effect that can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias, especially in clients taking digoxin.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep vein thrombosis and is prescribed heparin by continuous IV
infusion at 1,200 units/hr. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV
pump to deliver how many mL/hr?
Spring II 2025, Section 1M
Comprehensive ATI Nursing Practice Exam
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation and is taking warfarin. Which of the following
laboratory results should the nurse report to the provider?
A) PT 45 seconds
B) Hgb 16 g/dL
C) Hct 44%
D) Platelets 190,000/mm³
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A PT of 45 seconds is significantly elevated and indicates that the client is at increased risk for
bleeding. The therapeutic PT for a client on warfarin is typically 1.5 to 2 times the normal control
(approximately 18-24 seconds). The other values are within normal limits.
Question 2
,A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for verapamil for angina.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A) Limit your fluid intake to meal times
B) Do not take this medication on an empty stomach
C) Increase your daily intake of dietary fiber
D) You can expect swelling of the ankles while taking this medication
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, commonly causes constipation as a side effect. The
nurse should instruct the client to increase dietary fiber and fluid intake to prevent constipation. Ankle
swelling (peripheral edema) is a side effect that should be reported.
Question 3
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has hypertension and a new prescription for
metoprolol. Which of the following findings should the nurse investigate further?
A) Diet-controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus
B) A history of left-sided heart failure
C) A concurrent prescription for tadalafil
D) Recently treated bilateral pneumonia
ANSWER: B
,Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that can worsen heart failure symptoms. A history of left-sided
heart failure is a contraindication or requires careful monitoring. Beta-blockers should be used
cautiously in clients with heart failure and may exacerbate the condition.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has heart failure. Which of the following
actions is appropriate?
A) Withhold the medication if the heart rate is above 100/min
B) Instruct the client to eat foods that are low in potassium
C) Measure apical pulse rate for 30 seconds before administration
D) Evaluate the client for nausea, vomiting, and anorexia
ANSWER: D
Rationale: Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia are early signs of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should assess for
these symptoms before administration. The apical pulse should be counted for a full 60 seconds before
administration, and the medication should be withheld if the pulse is below 60/min (not above
100/min).
Question 5
A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for an older adult client who takes several medications. Which
of the following prescribed medications places the client at risk for orthostatic hypotension? (Select all
that apply)
A) Furosemide
B) Telmisartan
C) Duloxetine
, D) Clopidogrel
E) Atorvastatin
ANSWER: A, B, C
Rationale: Furosemide (diuretic) can cause volume depletion leading to orthostatic hypotension.
Telmisartan (ARB) causes vasodilation and can lead to orthostatic hypotension. Duloxetine (SNRI) can
cause orthostatic hypotension. Clopidogrel (antiplatelet) and atorvastatin (statin) do not typically cause
orthostatic hypotension.
Question 6
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor
most closely?
A) Sodium
B) Potassium
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. Hypokalemia is a significant side
effect that can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias, especially in clients taking digoxin.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep vein thrombosis and is prescribed heparin by continuous IV
infusion at 1,200 units/hr. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. The nurse should set the IV
pump to deliver how many mL/hr?
