CMC AACN Cardiovascular Medicine Certification – American Association
of Critical-Care Nurses AACN 2026 Actual Exam Test Bank| Complete
Real Exam Questions And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
Graded A+| Aacn Cmc Exam Prep (Brand New!!)2026-2027
While reconciling the medications for a patient with type 2 diabetes who
is scheduled for PCI in the morning, the nurse should ensure that
metformin (Glucophage) is held to minimize
A. risk of hypoglycemia
B. injury to the kidneys
C. injury to the liver
D. risk of heart block
A. incorrect.
b. correct. the combination of contrast medium during PCI and
metformin should be avoided in patients with renal dysfunction, hepatic
dysfunction, alcohol abuse or severe CHF, because all these conditions
limit metformin excretion, possibly leading to fatal lactic acidosis.
C. incorrect. metformin does not directly affect the liver, but it should be
avoided in patients with known hepatic dysfunction.
D. incorrect. metformin has no effect on the risk of heart block.
A patient is questioning the reason for a scheduled TEE rather than a
standard ECHO. A TEE allows better visualization for patients with:
A. osteoporosis and valve problems.
B. smoking and pulmonary HTN.
C. obesity and emphysema.
D. CAD and a BMI of 18.
A. incorrect.
B. incorrect. a TEE may worsen ventilation perfusion mismatch and
hypoxia in the patient with pulmonary hypertension.
C. correct. visualization of cardiac structures is challenging in obese
patients due to a greater amount of tissue through which to transmit U/S
waves and receive signals. TEE use omits the need to penetrate a thick
chest wall to clearly visualize cardiac structures. Therefore a TEE would
provide better visualization.
D. incorrect.
,A nurse is reviewing orders for a patient experiencing unstable angina
who is scheduled for a stress test. the nurse should question the use of
which of the following medications?
A. dopamine (Intropin)
B. dipyridamole (Persantine)
C. adenosine (Adenocard)
D. lexiscan (Regadenoson)
A. correct. dopamine is not one of the recommended drugs for
a pharmacologic stress test. Dobutamine (Dobutrex) is one of
the recommended drugs for a pharmacologic stress test.
B, C, & D. incorrect. dipyridamole, adenosine, and lexiscan are
recommended drugs for pharmacologic stress testing.
A patient presents with peripheral edema, DOE, JVD, and
lightheadedness. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. pulmonic valve stenosis
B. aortic valve regurgitation
C. mitral valve regurgitation
D. aortic valve stenosis
A. correct. patients with pulmonic valve stenosis may have symptoms of
right heart failure due to right ventricular dysfunction.
B. incorrect.
C. incorrect. mitral regurgitation does not cause JVD or peripheral
edema.
D. incorrect.
,A patient with cardiomyopathy is receiving dobutamine (Dobutrex) at
10mcg/kg/min. VS: BP 108/66 ; PAOP 18mmHg ; CO 4.2 L/min ; CI 2.5
L/min/m ; SvO2 65%. the pump infusing the dobutamine fails and the
nurse quickly works to switch it out. which of the following clinical
effects should the nurse anticipate to occur first:
A. BP would increase
B. PAOP would increase
C. GFR would decrease
D. SvO2 would decrease
A. incorrect. the BP would decrease.
B. incorrect. the PAOP might increase depending on the type of
cardiomyopathy, however it would not be first.
C. incorrect. this is a later happening.
D. correct. when contractility falls d/t the dobutamine stopping, the
SvO2 will decrease as cardiac output is a component of SvO2.
A nurse is establishing alarm limits on a patient admitted to rule out MI.
Which of the following patient positions and ST segment alarm settings
should the nurse use?
A. supine position and 1 mm above and below baseline.
B. supine position and 2 mm above and below baseline.
C. upright position and 1 mm above and below baseline.
D. upright position and 2 mm above and below baseline.
A. correct. supine position allows for more accurate electrode
placement. ST segment limits are placed 1mm above or below for
monitoring patients at high risk for ischemia.
B. incorrect. ST segment may be set 2mm above or below for stable
patients without high risk for ischemia.
C. incorrect.
D. incorrect.
, Following the patient's emergency PCI with the sheath left in, the nurse
pulls back the covers and discovers the bandage over the procedure
site and the linens soaked with blood. the nurse should first:
A. assess the site and call the cath lab staff.
B. place the patient in trendelenburg and infuse fluids.
C. apply direct pressure and notify the MD.
D. reinforce the dressing and obtain a CBC.
A. incorrect. this is not the first thing you should do.
B. incorrect.
C. correct.
D. incorrect. reinforcing does not stop the bleeding. a CBC could be
obtained but isn't the first priority.
In reviewing the lab findings of a patient who has not been able to
afford medication, the nurse observed elevated T3 and T4 results. the
nurse recognizes the patient is at risk for developing
A. V-Tach
B. A-Fib
C. atrioventricular conduction defects
D. WPW syndrome
A. incorrect. V-Tach is not commonly associated with hyperthyroidism.
B. correct. hyperthyroidism can induce a-fib. thyroid hormones
contribute to arrhythmogenic activity by inducing catecholamine
release.1
C. incorrect.
D. incorrect. WPW syndrome is a complication of A-Fib.
of Critical-Care Nurses AACN 2026 Actual Exam Test Bank| Complete
Real Exam Questions And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
Graded A+| Aacn Cmc Exam Prep (Brand New!!)2026-2027
While reconciling the medications for a patient with type 2 diabetes who
is scheduled for PCI in the morning, the nurse should ensure that
metformin (Glucophage) is held to minimize
A. risk of hypoglycemia
B. injury to the kidneys
C. injury to the liver
D. risk of heart block
A. incorrect.
b. correct. the combination of contrast medium during PCI and
metformin should be avoided in patients with renal dysfunction, hepatic
dysfunction, alcohol abuse or severe CHF, because all these conditions
limit metformin excretion, possibly leading to fatal lactic acidosis.
C. incorrect. metformin does not directly affect the liver, but it should be
avoided in patients with known hepatic dysfunction.
D. incorrect. metformin has no effect on the risk of heart block.
A patient is questioning the reason for a scheduled TEE rather than a
standard ECHO. A TEE allows better visualization for patients with:
A. osteoporosis and valve problems.
B. smoking and pulmonary HTN.
C. obesity and emphysema.
D. CAD and a BMI of 18.
A. incorrect.
B. incorrect. a TEE may worsen ventilation perfusion mismatch and
hypoxia in the patient with pulmonary hypertension.
C. correct. visualization of cardiac structures is challenging in obese
patients due to a greater amount of tissue through which to transmit U/S
waves and receive signals. TEE use omits the need to penetrate a thick
chest wall to clearly visualize cardiac structures. Therefore a TEE would
provide better visualization.
D. incorrect.
,A nurse is reviewing orders for a patient experiencing unstable angina
who is scheduled for a stress test. the nurse should question the use of
which of the following medications?
A. dopamine (Intropin)
B. dipyridamole (Persantine)
C. adenosine (Adenocard)
D. lexiscan (Regadenoson)
A. correct. dopamine is not one of the recommended drugs for
a pharmacologic stress test. Dobutamine (Dobutrex) is one of
the recommended drugs for a pharmacologic stress test.
B, C, & D. incorrect. dipyridamole, adenosine, and lexiscan are
recommended drugs for pharmacologic stress testing.
A patient presents with peripheral edema, DOE, JVD, and
lightheadedness. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. pulmonic valve stenosis
B. aortic valve regurgitation
C. mitral valve regurgitation
D. aortic valve stenosis
A. correct. patients with pulmonic valve stenosis may have symptoms of
right heart failure due to right ventricular dysfunction.
B. incorrect.
C. incorrect. mitral regurgitation does not cause JVD or peripheral
edema.
D. incorrect.
,A patient with cardiomyopathy is receiving dobutamine (Dobutrex) at
10mcg/kg/min. VS: BP 108/66 ; PAOP 18mmHg ; CO 4.2 L/min ; CI 2.5
L/min/m ; SvO2 65%. the pump infusing the dobutamine fails and the
nurse quickly works to switch it out. which of the following clinical
effects should the nurse anticipate to occur first:
A. BP would increase
B. PAOP would increase
C. GFR would decrease
D. SvO2 would decrease
A. incorrect. the BP would decrease.
B. incorrect. the PAOP might increase depending on the type of
cardiomyopathy, however it would not be first.
C. incorrect. this is a later happening.
D. correct. when contractility falls d/t the dobutamine stopping, the
SvO2 will decrease as cardiac output is a component of SvO2.
A nurse is establishing alarm limits on a patient admitted to rule out MI.
Which of the following patient positions and ST segment alarm settings
should the nurse use?
A. supine position and 1 mm above and below baseline.
B. supine position and 2 mm above and below baseline.
C. upright position and 1 mm above and below baseline.
D. upright position and 2 mm above and below baseline.
A. correct. supine position allows for more accurate electrode
placement. ST segment limits are placed 1mm above or below for
monitoring patients at high risk for ischemia.
B. incorrect. ST segment may be set 2mm above or below for stable
patients without high risk for ischemia.
C. incorrect.
D. incorrect.
, Following the patient's emergency PCI with the sheath left in, the nurse
pulls back the covers and discovers the bandage over the procedure
site and the linens soaked with blood. the nurse should first:
A. assess the site and call the cath lab staff.
B. place the patient in trendelenburg and infuse fluids.
C. apply direct pressure and notify the MD.
D. reinforce the dressing and obtain a CBC.
A. incorrect. this is not the first thing you should do.
B. incorrect.
C. correct.
D. incorrect. reinforcing does not stop the bleeding. a CBC could be
obtained but isn't the first priority.
In reviewing the lab findings of a patient who has not been able to
afford medication, the nurse observed elevated T3 and T4 results. the
nurse recognizes the patient is at risk for developing
A. V-Tach
B. A-Fib
C. atrioventricular conduction defects
D. WPW syndrome
A. incorrect. V-Tach is not commonly associated with hyperthyroidism.
B. correct. hyperthyroidism can induce a-fib. thyroid hormones
contribute to arrhythmogenic activity by inducing catecholamine
release.1
C. incorrect.
D. incorrect. WPW syndrome is a complication of A-Fib.
