Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing LATEST REVISION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED
A+/
The nurse obtains a health history from a 65-year-old patient with a prosthetic
mitral valve who has symptoms of infective endocarditis (IE). Which question by
the nurse is most appropriate?
a. "Do you have a history of a heart attack?"
b. "Is there a family history of endocarditis?"
c. "Have you had any recent immunizations?"
d. "Have you had dental work done recently?"
Ans: ANS: d.
Dental procedures place the patient with a prosthetic mitral valve at risk for
infective endocarditis (IE). Myocardial infarction (MI), immunizations, and a family
history of endocarditis are not risk factors for IE.
,Quiz During the assessment of a 25-year-old patient with infective endocarditis
(IE), the nurse would expect to find
a. substernal chest pressure.
b. a new regurgitant murmur.
c. a pruritic rash on the chest.
d. involuntary muscle movement.
Ans: ANS: B
New regurgitant murmurs occur in IE because vegetations on the valves prevent
valve closure. Substernal chest discomfort, rashes, and involuntary muscle
movement are clinical manifestations of other cardiac disorders such as angina
and rheumatic fever.
Quiz The nurse identifies the nursing diagnosis of decreased cardiac output
related to valvular insufficiency for the patient with infective endocarditis (IE)
based on which assessment finding(s)?
a. Fever, chills, and diaphoresis
b. Urine output less than 30 mL/hr
c. Petechiae on the inside of the mouth and conjunctiva
d. Increase in heart rate of 15 beats/minute with walking
Ans: ANS: B
Decreased renal perfusion caused by inadequate cardiac output will lead to
decreased urine output. Petechiae, fever, chills, and diaphoresis are symptoms of
,IE, but are not caused by decreased cardiac output. An increase in pulse rate of 15
beats/minute is normal with exercise.
Quiz When planning care for a patient hospitalized with a streptococcal infective
endocarditis (IE), which intervention is a priority for the nurse to include?
a. Monitor labs for streptococcal antibodies.
b. Arrange for placement of a long-term IV catheter.
c. Teach the importance of completing all oral antibiotics.
d. Encourage the patient to begin regular aerobic exercise.
Ans: ANS: B
Treatment for IE involves 4 to 6 weeks of IV antibiotic therapy in order to
eradicate the bacteria, which will require a long-term IV catheter such as a
peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line. Rest periods and limiting
physical activity to a moderate level are recommended during the treatment for
IE. Oral antibiotics are not effective in eradicating the infective bacteria that cause
IE. Blood cultures, rather than antibody levels, are used to monitor the
effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
Quiz A patient is admitted to the hospital with possible acute pericarditis. The
nurse should plan to teach the patient about the purpose of
a. echocardiography.
b. daily blood cultures.
c. cardiac catheterization.
d. 24-hour Holter monitor.
, Ans: ANS: A
Echocardiograms are useful in detecting the presence of the pericardial effusions
associated with pericarditis. Blood cultures are not indicated unless the patient
has evidence of sepsis. Cardiac catheterization and 24-hour Holter monitor is not
a diagnostic procedure for pericarditis.
Quiz To assess the patient with pericarditis for evidence of a pericardial friction
rub, the nurse should
a. listen for a rumbling, low-pitched, systolic murmur over the left anterior chest.
b. auscultate by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the lower left
sternal border.
c. ask the patient to cough during auscultation to distinguish the sound from a
pleural friction rub.
d. feel the precordial area with the palm of the hand to detect vibrations with
cardiac contraction.
Ans: ANS: B
Pericardial friction rubs are heard best with the diaphragm at the lower left
sternal border. The nurse should ask the patient to hold his or her breath during
auscultation to distinguish the sounds from a pleural friction rub. Friction rubs are
not typically low pitched or rumbling and are not confined to systole. Rubs are not
assessed by palpation.
Quiz The nurse suspects cardiac tamponade in a patient who has acute
pericarditis. To assess for the presence of pulsus paradoxus, the nurse should
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED
A+/
The nurse obtains a health history from a 65-year-old patient with a prosthetic
mitral valve who has symptoms of infective endocarditis (IE). Which question by
the nurse is most appropriate?
a. "Do you have a history of a heart attack?"
b. "Is there a family history of endocarditis?"
c. "Have you had any recent immunizations?"
d. "Have you had dental work done recently?"
Ans: ANS: d.
Dental procedures place the patient with a prosthetic mitral valve at risk for
infective endocarditis (IE). Myocardial infarction (MI), immunizations, and a family
history of endocarditis are not risk factors for IE.
,Quiz During the assessment of a 25-year-old patient with infective endocarditis
(IE), the nurse would expect to find
a. substernal chest pressure.
b. a new regurgitant murmur.
c. a pruritic rash on the chest.
d. involuntary muscle movement.
Ans: ANS: B
New regurgitant murmurs occur in IE because vegetations on the valves prevent
valve closure. Substernal chest discomfort, rashes, and involuntary muscle
movement are clinical manifestations of other cardiac disorders such as angina
and rheumatic fever.
Quiz The nurse identifies the nursing diagnosis of decreased cardiac output
related to valvular insufficiency for the patient with infective endocarditis (IE)
based on which assessment finding(s)?
a. Fever, chills, and diaphoresis
b. Urine output less than 30 mL/hr
c. Petechiae on the inside of the mouth and conjunctiva
d. Increase in heart rate of 15 beats/minute with walking
Ans: ANS: B
Decreased renal perfusion caused by inadequate cardiac output will lead to
decreased urine output. Petechiae, fever, chills, and diaphoresis are symptoms of
,IE, but are not caused by decreased cardiac output. An increase in pulse rate of 15
beats/minute is normal with exercise.
Quiz When planning care for a patient hospitalized with a streptococcal infective
endocarditis (IE), which intervention is a priority for the nurse to include?
a. Monitor labs for streptococcal antibodies.
b. Arrange for placement of a long-term IV catheter.
c. Teach the importance of completing all oral antibiotics.
d. Encourage the patient to begin regular aerobic exercise.
Ans: ANS: B
Treatment for IE involves 4 to 6 weeks of IV antibiotic therapy in order to
eradicate the bacteria, which will require a long-term IV catheter such as a
peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line. Rest periods and limiting
physical activity to a moderate level are recommended during the treatment for
IE. Oral antibiotics are not effective in eradicating the infective bacteria that cause
IE. Blood cultures, rather than antibody levels, are used to monitor the
effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
Quiz A patient is admitted to the hospital with possible acute pericarditis. The
nurse should plan to teach the patient about the purpose of
a. echocardiography.
b. daily blood cultures.
c. cardiac catheterization.
d. 24-hour Holter monitor.
, Ans: ANS: A
Echocardiograms are useful in detecting the presence of the pericardial effusions
associated with pericarditis. Blood cultures are not indicated unless the patient
has evidence of sepsis. Cardiac catheterization and 24-hour Holter monitor is not
a diagnostic procedure for pericarditis.
Quiz To assess the patient with pericarditis for evidence of a pericardial friction
rub, the nurse should
a. listen for a rumbling, low-pitched, systolic murmur over the left anterior chest.
b. auscultate by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the lower left
sternal border.
c. ask the patient to cough during auscultation to distinguish the sound from a
pleural friction rub.
d. feel the precordial area with the palm of the hand to detect vibrations with
cardiac contraction.
Ans: ANS: B
Pericardial friction rubs are heard best with the diaphragm at the lower left
sternal border. The nurse should ask the patient to hold his or her breath during
auscultation to distinguish the sounds from a pleural friction rub. Friction rubs are
not typically low pitched or rumbling and are not confined to systole. Rubs are not
assessed by palpation.
Quiz The nurse suspects cardiac tamponade in a patient who has acute
pericarditis. To assess for the presence of pulsus paradoxus, the nurse should
