NR 661 – CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM REVIEW (300 QUESTIONS) – MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED ANSWERS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS
A patient has had poorly controlled hypertension for more than 10 years. Indicate the most
likely position of his point of maximal impulse (PMI)
a. 5th intercostal space (ICS) midclavicular line (MCL)
b. 8th ICS MCL
c. 5th ICS, left of MCL
d. 6th ICS, right of MCL - ANSWER****c. 5th ICS, left of MCL
Valve most commonly involved in chronic rheumatic heart disease is the:
a. aortic
b. mitral
c. pulmonic
d. tricuspid - ANSWER****b. mitral
A 50 year old patient with Hypertension has taken hydrochlorozide 25 mg daily for the past 4
weeks. How should the nurse practitioner proceed? BP-155/95; 145/90
a. wait 4 weeks before making a dosage change
b. increase the hydrochlorothiazide to 50mg daily
c. add a drug from another class to the daily 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide
d. stop the hydrochlorothiazide and start a drug from a different class - ANSWER****c. add a
drug from another class to the daily 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide
Which choice below would be the best choice for an 80-year old patient whose blood pressure
is 172/72
a. chlorthalidone
b. amlodipine
,c. monopril
d. acebutolol - ANSWER****b. amlodipine
The diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse can be confirmed by:
a. physical examination
b. electrocardiography
c. echocardiography
d. chest xray - ANSWER****c. echocardiography
A patient taking candesartan for treatment for hypertension should avoid
a. strenuous exercise
b. potassium supplements
c. protein rich meals
d. grapefruit juice - ANSWER****b. potassium supplements
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute, which characteristic listed below is a
coronary disease (CHD) risk equivelant; that is, which risk factor places the patient at a CHD risk
similar to a history of CHD
a. Hypertension
b. cigarette smoking
c. male age >45 years
d. Diabetes Mellitus - ANSWER****d. Diabetes Mellitus
Classic symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include:
a. swelling, pain, redness
,b. calf complaints, pain with walking, history of exercise
c. swelling, pain, discoloration in lower extremity
d. warmth, edema and relief of pain with walking - ANSWER****c. swelling, pain,
discoloration in lower extremity
Which mitral valve disorder results from redundancy of the mitral valve's leaflets??
a. acute mitral regurgitation
b. chronic mitral regurgitation
c. mitral valve prolapse
d. mitral stenosis - ANSWER****c. mitral valve prolapse
Tables are used for determination of maximum blood pressure values for adolescents. How are
blood pressure values established for adolescents?
a. height percentile, body mass index and gender
b. gender and age
c. height percentile, gender and age
d. body mass index and gender - ANSWER****c. height percentile, gender and age
The correlation between blood pressure and age greater than 60 years is that as age increases:
a. diastolic blood pressure increases
b. systolic blood pressure decreases
c. blood pressure remains about the same
d. diastolic blood pressure decreases - ANSWER****d. diastolic blood pressure decreases
An 80 year old female who is otherwise well has the following blood pressure readings. How
should she be managed? 160/70; 175/68; 171/71; 163/63
, a. thiazide diruetic
b. ace inhibitor
c. calcium channel blocker
d. angiotensin receptor blocker - ANSWER****c. calcium channel blocker
Which choice below characterizes a patient who has aortic regurgitation?
a. long asymptomatic period followed by exercise intolerance then dyspnea at rest
b. an acute onset of shortness of breath in the fifth or sixth decade
c. dyspnea on exertion for a long period of time before sudden cardiac death
d. a long asymptomatic period with sudden death usually during exercise - ANSWER****a.
long asymptomatic period followed by exercise intolerance then dyspnea at rest
How often should lipids be screened in patients who are 65 years and older if they have lipid
disorders or cardiovascular risk factors
a. annually
b. every other year
c. every 3 years
d. every 5 years - ANSWER****a. annually
Risk assessment for dyslipidemia should begin at
a. 2 years
b. 6 years
c. 18 years
d. 21 years - ANSWER****a. 2 years
WITH DETAILED ANSWERS FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS
A patient has had poorly controlled hypertension for more than 10 years. Indicate the most
likely position of his point of maximal impulse (PMI)
a. 5th intercostal space (ICS) midclavicular line (MCL)
b. 8th ICS MCL
c. 5th ICS, left of MCL
d. 6th ICS, right of MCL - ANSWER****c. 5th ICS, left of MCL
Valve most commonly involved in chronic rheumatic heart disease is the:
a. aortic
b. mitral
c. pulmonic
d. tricuspid - ANSWER****b. mitral
A 50 year old patient with Hypertension has taken hydrochlorozide 25 mg daily for the past 4
weeks. How should the nurse practitioner proceed? BP-155/95; 145/90
a. wait 4 weeks before making a dosage change
b. increase the hydrochlorothiazide to 50mg daily
c. add a drug from another class to the daily 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide
d. stop the hydrochlorothiazide and start a drug from a different class - ANSWER****c. add a
drug from another class to the daily 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide
Which choice below would be the best choice for an 80-year old patient whose blood pressure
is 172/72
a. chlorthalidone
b. amlodipine
,c. monopril
d. acebutolol - ANSWER****b. amlodipine
The diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse can be confirmed by:
a. physical examination
b. electrocardiography
c. echocardiography
d. chest xray - ANSWER****c. echocardiography
A patient taking candesartan for treatment for hypertension should avoid
a. strenuous exercise
b. potassium supplements
c. protein rich meals
d. grapefruit juice - ANSWER****b. potassium supplements
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute, which characteristic listed below is a
coronary disease (CHD) risk equivelant; that is, which risk factor places the patient at a CHD risk
similar to a history of CHD
a. Hypertension
b. cigarette smoking
c. male age >45 years
d. Diabetes Mellitus - ANSWER****d. Diabetes Mellitus
Classic symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include:
a. swelling, pain, redness
,b. calf complaints, pain with walking, history of exercise
c. swelling, pain, discoloration in lower extremity
d. warmth, edema and relief of pain with walking - ANSWER****c. swelling, pain,
discoloration in lower extremity
Which mitral valve disorder results from redundancy of the mitral valve's leaflets??
a. acute mitral regurgitation
b. chronic mitral regurgitation
c. mitral valve prolapse
d. mitral stenosis - ANSWER****c. mitral valve prolapse
Tables are used for determination of maximum blood pressure values for adolescents. How are
blood pressure values established for adolescents?
a. height percentile, body mass index and gender
b. gender and age
c. height percentile, gender and age
d. body mass index and gender - ANSWER****c. height percentile, gender and age
The correlation between blood pressure and age greater than 60 years is that as age increases:
a. diastolic blood pressure increases
b. systolic blood pressure decreases
c. blood pressure remains about the same
d. diastolic blood pressure decreases - ANSWER****d. diastolic blood pressure decreases
An 80 year old female who is otherwise well has the following blood pressure readings. How
should she be managed? 160/70; 175/68; 171/71; 163/63
, a. thiazide diruetic
b. ace inhibitor
c. calcium channel blocker
d. angiotensin receptor blocker - ANSWER****c. calcium channel blocker
Which choice below characterizes a patient who has aortic regurgitation?
a. long asymptomatic period followed by exercise intolerance then dyspnea at rest
b. an acute onset of shortness of breath in the fifth or sixth decade
c. dyspnea on exertion for a long period of time before sudden cardiac death
d. a long asymptomatic period with sudden death usually during exercise - ANSWER****a.
long asymptomatic period followed by exercise intolerance then dyspnea at rest
How often should lipids be screened in patients who are 65 years and older if they have lipid
disorders or cardiovascular risk factors
a. annually
b. every other year
c. every 3 years
d. every 5 years - ANSWER****a. annually
Risk assessment for dyslipidemia should begin at
a. 2 years
b. 6 years
c. 18 years
d. 21 years - ANSWER****a. 2 years
