Medsurg 2
Medsurg2 Final Heart Exam Questions
with Correct Answers 2025 Graded A
The nurse is caring for a client with right-sided heart failure who has ascites and
hepatomegaly. What interventions can the nurse first provide to ensure the client has
adequate nutritional intake? -Correct Answer ✔Offer small, frequent feedings.
A nurse is caring for a client with left-sided heart failure. To reduce fluid volume excess,
the nurse should anticipate using: -Correct Answer ✔Diuretics
A hospitalized client with heart failure puts on the call light and makes the following
statement: "I've become very short of breath, and I've been coughing up this pink frothy
sputum." The nurse immediately suspects which of the following complications? -
Correct Answer ✔Pulmonary edema
Medical management of cardiac failure, whether it is right-sided or left-sided,
demonstrates similar methodology. Measures such as dietary modifications, lifestyle
changes, medications to reduce dyspnea and relieve anxiety, etc. are all used with one
primary intention. What is the primary goal in the medical management of heart failure?
-Correct Answer ✔Reducing cardiac workload
The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. The nurse
obtains an apical pulse rate for 1 minute and determines a rate of 52 beats/minute.
What is the first action by the nurse? -Correct Answer ✔Withhold the medication and
notify the physician of the heart rate.
A nurse administers furosemide (Lasix) to treat a client with heart failure. Which adverse
effect must the nurse watch for most carefully? -Correct Answer ✔Low serum potassium
level.
Which of the following medications is categorized as a loop diuretic? -Correct Answer
✔Furosemide (Lasix)
A client with heart failure is having a decrease in cardiac output. What indication does
the nurse have that this is occurring? -Correct Answer ✔Blood pressure 80/46 mm Hg
The student nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. Diuretics have been ordered.
What method might be used with a debilitated patient to help the nurse evaluate the
client''s response to diuretics? -Correct Answer ✔Using a urinary catheter
The nurse is caring for a 68-year-old patient who the nurse suspects has digoxin
toxicity. What should the nurse assess for? -Correct Answer ✔Vision changes.
Medsurg 2
, Medsurg 2
A client with right-sided heart failure is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. What
information obtained from the client may indicate the presence of edema? -Correct
Answer ✔The client says his rings have become tight and are difficult to remove.
Which of the following describes difficulty breathing when a patient is lying flat? -Correct
Answer ✔Orthopnea
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client with acute heart failure.
Which laboratory value is most important for the nurse to check before administering
medications to treat heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Potassium
Which of the following is a key diagnostic indicator of heart failure? -Correct Answer
✔BNP
The nurse identifies which of the following symptoms as a characteristic of right-sided
heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Jugular vein distention (JVD)
Which of the following would be inconsistent as a lifestyle change directive for the
patient diagnosed with heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Push fluids
The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with heart failure preparing to
leave the following day. What type of diet should the nurse request the dietitian to
discuss with the client? -Correct Answer ✔Low-sodium diet
Which of the following describes the amount of blood presented to the ventricle just
before systole? -Correct Answer ✔Preload
A client is admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of heart failure. The client is exhibiting
symptoms of weakness, ascites, weight gain, and jugular vein distention. The nurse
would know that the client is exhibiting signs of what kind of heart failure? -Correct
Answer ✔Right-sided heart failure
Frequently, what is the earliest symptom of left-sided heart failure? -Correct Answer
✔Dyspnea on exertion
A client awaiting a heart transplant expresses concern about cyclosporine, the
medication he will be taking to prevent organ rejection. The client asks for more
information about cyclosporine. The nurse's correct response is which of the following? -
Correct Answer ✔"Cyclosporine greatly decreases the body's rejection of transplanted
organs, but it also decreases the body's ability to resist infections."
Jesse James has just undergone cardiothoracic surgery. You are his postop nurse and
must make sure you perform a neurologic assessment every 30 minutes. What should
you be checking? -Correct Answer ✔All options are correct
Medsurg 2
Medsurg2 Final Heart Exam Questions
with Correct Answers 2025 Graded A
The nurse is caring for a client with right-sided heart failure who has ascites and
hepatomegaly. What interventions can the nurse first provide to ensure the client has
adequate nutritional intake? -Correct Answer ✔Offer small, frequent feedings.
A nurse is caring for a client with left-sided heart failure. To reduce fluid volume excess,
the nurse should anticipate using: -Correct Answer ✔Diuretics
A hospitalized client with heart failure puts on the call light and makes the following
statement: "I've become very short of breath, and I've been coughing up this pink frothy
sputum." The nurse immediately suspects which of the following complications? -
Correct Answer ✔Pulmonary edema
Medical management of cardiac failure, whether it is right-sided or left-sided,
demonstrates similar methodology. Measures such as dietary modifications, lifestyle
changes, medications to reduce dyspnea and relieve anxiety, etc. are all used with one
primary intention. What is the primary goal in the medical management of heart failure?
-Correct Answer ✔Reducing cardiac workload
The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. The nurse
obtains an apical pulse rate for 1 minute and determines a rate of 52 beats/minute.
What is the first action by the nurse? -Correct Answer ✔Withhold the medication and
notify the physician of the heart rate.
A nurse administers furosemide (Lasix) to treat a client with heart failure. Which adverse
effect must the nurse watch for most carefully? -Correct Answer ✔Low serum potassium
level.
Which of the following medications is categorized as a loop diuretic? -Correct Answer
✔Furosemide (Lasix)
A client with heart failure is having a decrease in cardiac output. What indication does
the nurse have that this is occurring? -Correct Answer ✔Blood pressure 80/46 mm Hg
The student nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. Diuretics have been ordered.
What method might be used with a debilitated patient to help the nurse evaluate the
client''s response to diuretics? -Correct Answer ✔Using a urinary catheter
The nurse is caring for a 68-year-old patient who the nurse suspects has digoxin
toxicity. What should the nurse assess for? -Correct Answer ✔Vision changes.
Medsurg 2
, Medsurg 2
A client with right-sided heart failure is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. What
information obtained from the client may indicate the presence of edema? -Correct
Answer ✔The client says his rings have become tight and are difficult to remove.
Which of the following describes difficulty breathing when a patient is lying flat? -Correct
Answer ✔Orthopnea
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client with acute heart failure.
Which laboratory value is most important for the nurse to check before administering
medications to treat heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Potassium
Which of the following is a key diagnostic indicator of heart failure? -Correct Answer
✔BNP
The nurse identifies which of the following symptoms as a characteristic of right-sided
heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Jugular vein distention (JVD)
Which of the following would be inconsistent as a lifestyle change directive for the
patient diagnosed with heart failure? -Correct Answer ✔Push fluids
The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with heart failure preparing to
leave the following day. What type of diet should the nurse request the dietitian to
discuss with the client? -Correct Answer ✔Low-sodium diet
Which of the following describes the amount of blood presented to the ventricle just
before systole? -Correct Answer ✔Preload
A client is admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of heart failure. The client is exhibiting
symptoms of weakness, ascites, weight gain, and jugular vein distention. The nurse
would know that the client is exhibiting signs of what kind of heart failure? -Correct
Answer ✔Right-sided heart failure
Frequently, what is the earliest symptom of left-sided heart failure? -Correct Answer
✔Dyspnea on exertion
A client awaiting a heart transplant expresses concern about cyclosporine, the
medication he will be taking to prevent organ rejection. The client asks for more
information about cyclosporine. The nurse's correct response is which of the following? -
Correct Answer ✔"Cyclosporine greatly decreases the body's rejection of transplanted
organs, but it also decreases the body's ability to resist infections."
Jesse James has just undergone cardiothoracic surgery. You are his postop nurse and
must make sure you perform a neurologic assessment every 30 minutes. What should
you be checking? -Correct Answer ✔All options are correct
Medsurg 2
