Nursing 354 Coronary Artery Disease
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
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Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
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1. Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for coronary artery
disease (CAD)?
A. Inflammation of the pericardium
B. Atherosclerotic plaque formation in the coronary arteries
C. Infection of the myocardium
D. Enlargement of the cardiac valves
Answer: Atherosclerotic plaque formation in the coronary arteries
Rationale: Coronary artery disease most commonly results from atherosclerosis,
in which lipid-containing plaques accumulate within coronary arterial walls and
progressively restrict blood flow.
2. Which patient has the greatest modifiable risk factor for developing CAD?
A. Age 25 years
B. Family history of CAD
,C. Cigarette smoking
D. Male sex
Answer: Cigarette smoking
Rationale: Tobacco use is a major modifiable CAD risk factor because it promotes
endothelial injury, inflammation, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis.
3. A patient with CAD reports substernal chest pressure while walking that
resolves after resting. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. Unstable angina
B. Acute pericarditis
C. Stable angina
D. Myocardial infarction
Answer: Stable angina
Rationale: Stable angina typically occurs predictably with exertion or increased
myocardial oxygen demand and improves with rest or prescribed antianginal
therapy.
4. What causes angina during myocardial ischemia?
A. Increased oxygen delivery to the myocardium
B. An imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand
C. Increased coronary artery diameter
D. Decreased myocardial workload
Answer: An imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand
Rationale: Angina develops when myocardial oxygen demand exceeds the
oxygen supplied through coronary blood flow.
5. Which symptom is most characteristic of myocardial ischemia?
,A. Sharp pain that worsens with inspiration
B. Localized abdominal pain
C. Pressure or squeezing discomfort in the chest
D. Burning pain limited to the lower abdomen
Answer: Pressure or squeezing discomfort in the chest
Rationale: Myocardial ischemia commonly produces pressure, heaviness,
squeezing, or tightness in the chest.
6. A patient with CAD develops chest discomfort during exercise. Which
intervention should the nurse recommend first if the patient has prescribed
sublingual nitroglycerin?
A. Continue exercising until the pain resolves
B. Drink a large glass of water
C. Stop the activity and use nitroglycerin as prescribed
D. Lie flat and elevate the legs
Answer: Stop the activity and use nitroglycerin as prescribed
Rationale: The patient should stop activity and follow the prescribed
nitroglycerin plan because reducing myocardial oxygen demand and improving
coronary blood flow can relieve angina.
7. Which medication is commonly prescribed to reduce platelet aggregation in
patients with CAD?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
C. Aspirin
D. Albuterol
Answer: Aspirin
, Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces the risk of
thrombotic cardiovascular events in appropriate patients with CAD.
8. What is the primary therapeutic effect of nitroglycerin in angina?
A. Increases heart rate
B. Increases blood volume
C. Reduces myocardial oxygen demand through vasodilation
D. Increases platelet aggregation
Answer: Reduces myocardial oxygen demand through vasodilation
Rationale: Nitroglycerin causes vasodilation, particularly venodilation, which
decreases preload and myocardial oxygen demand and can improve anginal
symptoms.
9. Which instruction is most important when teaching a patient about sublingual
nitroglycerin?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take it only after eating
C. Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve
D. Crush the tablet and mix it with water
Answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin is absorbed rapidly through the oral mucosa
and should not be swallowed like a conventional tablet.
10. Which medication should a patient taking nitroglycerin avoid unless
specifically cleared by the healthcare provider?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Calcium supplements
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
1. Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for coronary artery
disease (CAD)?
A. Inflammation of the pericardium
B. Atherosclerotic plaque formation in the coronary arteries
C. Infection of the myocardium
D. Enlargement of the cardiac valves
Answer: Atherosclerotic plaque formation in the coronary arteries
Rationale: Coronary artery disease most commonly results from atherosclerosis,
in which lipid-containing plaques accumulate within coronary arterial walls and
progressively restrict blood flow.
2. Which patient has the greatest modifiable risk factor for developing CAD?
A. Age 25 years
B. Family history of CAD
,C. Cigarette smoking
D. Male sex
Answer: Cigarette smoking
Rationale: Tobacco use is a major modifiable CAD risk factor because it promotes
endothelial injury, inflammation, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis.
3. A patient with CAD reports substernal chest pressure while walking that
resolves after resting. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. Unstable angina
B. Acute pericarditis
C. Stable angina
D. Myocardial infarction
Answer: Stable angina
Rationale: Stable angina typically occurs predictably with exertion or increased
myocardial oxygen demand and improves with rest or prescribed antianginal
therapy.
4. What causes angina during myocardial ischemia?
A. Increased oxygen delivery to the myocardium
B. An imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand
C. Increased coronary artery diameter
D. Decreased myocardial workload
Answer: An imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand
Rationale: Angina develops when myocardial oxygen demand exceeds the
oxygen supplied through coronary blood flow.
5. Which symptom is most characteristic of myocardial ischemia?
,A. Sharp pain that worsens with inspiration
B. Localized abdominal pain
C. Pressure or squeezing discomfort in the chest
D. Burning pain limited to the lower abdomen
Answer: Pressure or squeezing discomfort in the chest
Rationale: Myocardial ischemia commonly produces pressure, heaviness,
squeezing, or tightness in the chest.
6. A patient with CAD develops chest discomfort during exercise. Which
intervention should the nurse recommend first if the patient has prescribed
sublingual nitroglycerin?
A. Continue exercising until the pain resolves
B. Drink a large glass of water
C. Stop the activity and use nitroglycerin as prescribed
D. Lie flat and elevate the legs
Answer: Stop the activity and use nitroglycerin as prescribed
Rationale: The patient should stop activity and follow the prescribed
nitroglycerin plan because reducing myocardial oxygen demand and improving
coronary blood flow can relieve angina.
7. Which medication is commonly prescribed to reduce platelet aggregation in
patients with CAD?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
C. Aspirin
D. Albuterol
Answer: Aspirin
, Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces the risk of
thrombotic cardiovascular events in appropriate patients with CAD.
8. What is the primary therapeutic effect of nitroglycerin in angina?
A. Increases heart rate
B. Increases blood volume
C. Reduces myocardial oxygen demand through vasodilation
D. Increases platelet aggregation
Answer: Reduces myocardial oxygen demand through vasodilation
Rationale: Nitroglycerin causes vasodilation, particularly venodilation, which
decreases preload and myocardial oxygen demand and can improve anginal
symptoms.
9. Which instruction is most important when teaching a patient about sublingual
nitroglycerin?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take it only after eating
C. Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve
D. Crush the tablet and mix it with water
Answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin is absorbed rapidly through the oral mucosa
and should not be swallowed like a conventional tablet.
10. Which medication should a patient taking nitroglycerin avoid unless
specifically cleared by the healthcare provider?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Calcium supplements
