Ch. 36 - Vascular Problems - Questions with Correct
Answers (Verified Update)
21 questions with answers
Topic: Ch. 36 - Vascular Problems
1. A student nurse is assessing the peripheral vascular system of an older adult.
What action by the student would cause the faculty member to intervene?
a. Assessing blood pressure in both upper extremities
b. Auscultating the carotid arteries for any bruits
c. Classifying capillary refill of 4 seconds as normal
d. Palpating both carotid arteries at the same time
Answer: Palpating both carotid arteries at the same time The student should not compress
both carotid arteries at the same time to avoid brain ischemia. Blood pressure should be
taken and compared in both arms. Prolonged capillary refill is considered to be greater than 5
seconds in an older adult, so classifying refill of 4 seconds as normal would not require
intervention. Bruits should be auscultated.
2. The nurse is evaluating a 3-day diet history with a client who has an elevated lipid
panel. What meal selection indicates the client is managing this condition well with
diet?
a. A 4-ounce steak, French fries, iceberg lettuce
b. Baked chicken breast, broccoli, tomatoes
c. Fried catfish, cornbread, peas
d. Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread
Answer: Baked chicken breast, broccoli, tomatoes The diet recommended for this client
would be low in saturated fats and red meat, high in vegetables and whole grains (fiber), low
in salt, and low in trans fat. The best choice is the chicken with broccoli and tomatoes. The
French fries have too much fat and the iceberg lettuce has little fiber. The catfish is fried. The
spaghetti dinner has too much red meat and no vegetables.
3. A client has been diagnosed with hypertension but does not take the
antihypertensive medications because of a lack of symptoms. What response by the
nurse is best?
a. Do you have trouble affording your medications?
b. Most people with hypertension do not have symptoms.
c. You are lucky; most people get severe morning headaches.
d. You need to take your medicine or you will get kidney failure.
Answer: Most people with hypertension do not have symptoms. Most people with
hypertension are asymptomatic, although a small percentage do have symptoms such as
headache. The nurse should explain this to the client. Asking about paying for medications is
not related because the client has already admitted nonadherence. Threatening the client
with possible complications will not increase compliance.
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, 4. A student nurse asks what essential hypertension is. What response by the
registered nurse is best?
a. It means it is caused by another disease.
b. It means it is essential that it be treated.
c. It is hypertension with no specific cause.
d. It refers to severe and lifethreatening hypertension.
Answer: It is hypertension with no specific cause. Essential hypertension is the most
common type of hypertension and has no specific cause such as an underlying disease
process. Hypertension that is due to another disease process is called secondary
hypertension. A severe, life-threatening form of hypertension is malignant hypertension.
5. The nurse is caring for four hypertensive clients. Which druglaboratory value
combination should the nurse report immediately to the health care provider?
a. Furosemide (Lasix)/potassium: 2.1 mEq/L
b. Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril)/potassium: 4.2 mEq/L
c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)/potassium: 5.1 mEq/L
d. Torsemide (Demadex)/sodium: 142 mEq/L
Answer: Furosemide (Lasix)/potassium: 2.1 mEq/L Lasix is a loop diuretic and can cause
hypokalemia. A potassium level of 2.1 mEq/L is quite low and should be reported
immediately. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia. A
potassium level of 5.1 mEq/L is on the high side, but it is not as critical as the low potassium
with furosemide. The other two laboratory values are normal.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The client
states walking five blocks is possible without pain. What question asked next by the
nurse will give the best information?
a. Could you walk further than that a few months ago?
b. Do you walk mostly uphill, downhill, or on flat surfaces?
c. Have you ever considered swimming instead of walking?
d. How much pain medication do you take each day?
Answer: Could you walk further than that a few months ago? As PAD progresses, it takes
less oxygen demand to cause pain. Needing to cut down on activity to be pain free indicates
the clients disease is worsening. The other questions are useful, but not as important.
7. A client is taking warfarin (Coumadin) and asks the nurse if taking St. Johns wort
is acceptable. What response by the nurse is best?
a. No, it may interfere with the warfarin.
b. There isnt any information about that.
c. Why would you want to take that?
d. Yes, it is a good supplement for you.
Answer: No, it may interfere with the warfarin. Many foods and drugs interfere with warfarin,
St. Johns wort being one of them. The nurse should advise the client against taking it. The
other answers are not accurate.
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Answers (Verified Update)
21 questions with answers
Topic: Ch. 36 - Vascular Problems
1. A student nurse is assessing the peripheral vascular system of an older adult.
What action by the student would cause the faculty member to intervene?
a. Assessing blood pressure in both upper extremities
b. Auscultating the carotid arteries for any bruits
c. Classifying capillary refill of 4 seconds as normal
d. Palpating both carotid arteries at the same time
Answer: Palpating both carotid arteries at the same time The student should not compress
both carotid arteries at the same time to avoid brain ischemia. Blood pressure should be
taken and compared in both arms. Prolonged capillary refill is considered to be greater than 5
seconds in an older adult, so classifying refill of 4 seconds as normal would not require
intervention. Bruits should be auscultated.
2. The nurse is evaluating a 3-day diet history with a client who has an elevated lipid
panel. What meal selection indicates the client is managing this condition well with
diet?
a. A 4-ounce steak, French fries, iceberg lettuce
b. Baked chicken breast, broccoli, tomatoes
c. Fried catfish, cornbread, peas
d. Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread
Answer: Baked chicken breast, broccoli, tomatoes The diet recommended for this client
would be low in saturated fats and red meat, high in vegetables and whole grains (fiber), low
in salt, and low in trans fat. The best choice is the chicken with broccoli and tomatoes. The
French fries have too much fat and the iceberg lettuce has little fiber. The catfish is fried. The
spaghetti dinner has too much red meat and no vegetables.
3. A client has been diagnosed with hypertension but does not take the
antihypertensive medications because of a lack of symptoms. What response by the
nurse is best?
a. Do you have trouble affording your medications?
b. Most people with hypertension do not have symptoms.
c. You are lucky; most people get severe morning headaches.
d. You need to take your medicine or you will get kidney failure.
Answer: Most people with hypertension do not have symptoms. Most people with
hypertension are asymptomatic, although a small percentage do have symptoms such as
headache. The nurse should explain this to the client. Asking about paying for medications is
not related because the client has already admitted nonadherence. Threatening the client
with possible complications will not increase compliance.
Page 1
, 4. A student nurse asks what essential hypertension is. What response by the
registered nurse is best?
a. It means it is caused by another disease.
b. It means it is essential that it be treated.
c. It is hypertension with no specific cause.
d. It refers to severe and lifethreatening hypertension.
Answer: It is hypertension with no specific cause. Essential hypertension is the most
common type of hypertension and has no specific cause such as an underlying disease
process. Hypertension that is due to another disease process is called secondary
hypertension. A severe, life-threatening form of hypertension is malignant hypertension.
5. The nurse is caring for four hypertensive clients. Which druglaboratory value
combination should the nurse report immediately to the health care provider?
a. Furosemide (Lasix)/potassium: 2.1 mEq/L
b. Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril)/potassium: 4.2 mEq/L
c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)/potassium: 5.1 mEq/L
d. Torsemide (Demadex)/sodium: 142 mEq/L
Answer: Furosemide (Lasix)/potassium: 2.1 mEq/L Lasix is a loop diuretic and can cause
hypokalemia. A potassium level of 2.1 mEq/L is quite low and should be reported
immediately. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia. A
potassium level of 5.1 mEq/L is on the high side, but it is not as critical as the low potassium
with furosemide. The other two laboratory values are normal.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The client
states walking five blocks is possible without pain. What question asked next by the
nurse will give the best information?
a. Could you walk further than that a few months ago?
b. Do you walk mostly uphill, downhill, or on flat surfaces?
c. Have you ever considered swimming instead of walking?
d. How much pain medication do you take each day?
Answer: Could you walk further than that a few months ago? As PAD progresses, it takes
less oxygen demand to cause pain. Needing to cut down on activity to be pain free indicates
the clients disease is worsening. The other questions are useful, but not as important.
7. A client is taking warfarin (Coumadin) and asks the nurse if taking St. Johns wort
is acceptable. What response by the nurse is best?
a. No, it may interfere with the warfarin.
b. There isnt any information about that.
c. Why would you want to take that?
d. Yes, it is a good supplement for you.
Answer: No, it may interfere with the warfarin. Many foods and drugs interfere with warfarin,
St. Johns wort being one of them. The nurse should advise the client against taking it. The
other answers are not accurate.
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