ATI Targeted Medical-Surgical 2023:
Cardiovascular Exam Questions and Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a coronary artery bypass
graft in 2 hr. Which of the following client statements indicates a need for
further clarification by the nurse?
A. "My arthritis is really bothering me because I haven't taken my aspiring in
a week."
b. "My blood pressure shouldn't be high because I took my BP medication
this morning."
c. "I took my warfarin last night according to my usually schedule."
d. "I will check my BP because I took a reduced dose of insulin this morning."
- -C: "I took my warfarin last night according to my usually schedule."
Rationale: Clients who are scheduled for a CABG should not take
anticoagulants, such as warfarin, for several days prior to the surgery to
prevent excessive bleeding.
-A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who had an
anterior MI. The client's history reveals she is 1 week post-op open
cholecystectomy. The nurse should recognize that which of the following
interventions is contraindicated?
A. Administering IV morphine sulfate
B. Administering oxygen at 2:/min via nasal cannula
C. Helping the client to the bedside commode
D. Assisting with thrombolytic therapy - -D. Assisting with thrombolytic
therapy
Rationale: The nurse should recognize that major surgery within the previous
3 weeks is a contraindication for thrombolytic therapy.
-A nurse is preparing a client for coronary angiography. The nurse should
report which of the following findings to the provider prior to the procedure?
A. Hemoglobin 14.4 g/dl
b. History of peripheral arterial disease.
c. Urine output 200 ml/4 hr.
D. Previous allergic reaction to shellfish - -D. Previous allergic reaction to
shellfish
Rationale: The contrast medium used for coronary angiography is iodine-
based. Clients who have a history of allergic reaction to shellfish often react
to iodine and might need a steroid or antihistamine prior to the procedure.
-A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for a treatment of left-sided
heart failure with intravenous loop diuretics and digitalis therapy. The client
, is experiencing weakness and an irregular heart rate. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain clients current weight
B. Review serum electrolyte values
C. Determine the time of the last digoxin dose
D. Check the clients urine output) - -B. Review serum electrolyte values
Rationale: Weakness and irregular heart rate indicate that the client is at the
greatest risk for electrolyte imbalance, an adverse effect of loop diuretics.
The first action the nurse should take is to review the client's electrolyte
values, particularly the potassium level, because the client is at risk for
dysrhythmias from hypokalemia.
-A nurse is caring for a client following insertion of a permanent pacemaker.
Which of the following client statements indicates a potential complication of
the insertion procedure?
A. "I can't get rid of these hiccups."
b. "I feel dizzy when I stand."
c. "My incision site stings."
d. "I have a headache." - -A. "I can't get rid of these hiccups."
Rationale:
-A nurse is caring for a client who has endocarditis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse recognize as a potential complication?
A. Ventricular depolarization
B. Guillain-Barre syndrome
C. Myelodysplastic syndrome
D. Valvular disease - -D. Valvular disease
Rationale: Valvular disease or damage often occurs as a result of
inflammation or infection of the endocardium.
-A nurse is caring for a client who is being treated for HF and has
prescriptions for furosemide. The nurse should plan to monitor for which of
the following as an adverse effect of this medication?
A. SOB
b. Lightheadedness
c. Dry cough
d. Metallic taste - -b. Lightheadedness
Rationale: Furosemide can cause a substantial drop in blood pressure,
resulting in lightheadedness or dizziness.
-A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided HF. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
Cardiovascular Exam Questions and Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a coronary artery bypass
graft in 2 hr. Which of the following client statements indicates a need for
further clarification by the nurse?
A. "My arthritis is really bothering me because I haven't taken my aspiring in
a week."
b. "My blood pressure shouldn't be high because I took my BP medication
this morning."
c. "I took my warfarin last night according to my usually schedule."
d. "I will check my BP because I took a reduced dose of insulin this morning."
- -C: "I took my warfarin last night according to my usually schedule."
Rationale: Clients who are scheduled for a CABG should not take
anticoagulants, such as warfarin, for several days prior to the surgery to
prevent excessive bleeding.
-A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who had an
anterior MI. The client's history reveals she is 1 week post-op open
cholecystectomy. The nurse should recognize that which of the following
interventions is contraindicated?
A. Administering IV morphine sulfate
B. Administering oxygen at 2:/min via nasal cannula
C. Helping the client to the bedside commode
D. Assisting with thrombolytic therapy - -D. Assisting with thrombolytic
therapy
Rationale: The nurse should recognize that major surgery within the previous
3 weeks is a contraindication for thrombolytic therapy.
-A nurse is preparing a client for coronary angiography. The nurse should
report which of the following findings to the provider prior to the procedure?
A. Hemoglobin 14.4 g/dl
b. History of peripheral arterial disease.
c. Urine output 200 ml/4 hr.
D. Previous allergic reaction to shellfish - -D. Previous allergic reaction to
shellfish
Rationale: The contrast medium used for coronary angiography is iodine-
based. Clients who have a history of allergic reaction to shellfish often react
to iodine and might need a steroid or antihistamine prior to the procedure.
-A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for a treatment of left-sided
heart failure with intravenous loop diuretics and digitalis therapy. The client
, is experiencing weakness and an irregular heart rate. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain clients current weight
B. Review serum electrolyte values
C. Determine the time of the last digoxin dose
D. Check the clients urine output) - -B. Review serum electrolyte values
Rationale: Weakness and irregular heart rate indicate that the client is at the
greatest risk for electrolyte imbalance, an adverse effect of loop diuretics.
The first action the nurse should take is to review the client's electrolyte
values, particularly the potassium level, because the client is at risk for
dysrhythmias from hypokalemia.
-A nurse is caring for a client following insertion of a permanent pacemaker.
Which of the following client statements indicates a potential complication of
the insertion procedure?
A. "I can't get rid of these hiccups."
b. "I feel dizzy when I stand."
c. "My incision site stings."
d. "I have a headache." - -A. "I can't get rid of these hiccups."
Rationale:
-A nurse is caring for a client who has endocarditis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse recognize as a potential complication?
A. Ventricular depolarization
B. Guillain-Barre syndrome
C. Myelodysplastic syndrome
D. Valvular disease - -D. Valvular disease
Rationale: Valvular disease or damage often occurs as a result of
inflammation or infection of the endocardium.
-A nurse is caring for a client who is being treated for HF and has
prescriptions for furosemide. The nurse should plan to monitor for which of
the following as an adverse effect of this medication?
A. SOB
b. Lightheadedness
c. Dry cough
d. Metallic taste - -b. Lightheadedness
Rationale: Furosemide can cause a substantial drop in blood pressure,
resulting in lightheadedness or dizziness.
-A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided HF. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
