BNKN602 CORE EXAM SET 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔What is a common cause of autonomic dysreflexia? - ✔✔Spinal cord injury above
T6
✔✔What are the signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia? - ✔✔Hypertension,
bradycardia, sweating, flushing, pupil constriction, nasal congestion, pale/cool skin,
goosebumps
✔✔What is Coronary Heart Disease (Ischaemic Heart Disease) - ✔✔CAD is the most
common type of heart disease.
The narrowing of the coronary arteries can be due to the buildup of cholesterol and
other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. This buildup is called atherosclerosis.
As it grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't
get the blood or O2 it needs. This can lead to angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.
✔✔Signs and Symptoms of CAD - ✔✔↑ myocardial oxygen demand and ↓ myocardial
oxygen delivery results in ineffective myocardial oxygen perfusion.
✔✔Pathophysiology of CAD - ✔✔1) Atherosclerosis leads to heart damage and
necrosis of the myocardium.
2) Heart damage leads to cardiac arrest/arrhythmias.
✔✔Atherosclerosis - ✔✔The build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and
on the artery walls.
✔✔Signs and symptoms of Atherosclerosis - ✔✔Atherosclerosis often has no
symptoms until a plaque ruptures or the build-up is severe enough to block blood flow.
Chest pain.
-SOB.
-Fatigue.
-Tightness of chest.
✔✔1) What is the initial irritant present in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Lipids (LDL,
cholesterol), high blood pressure (HTN), toxins (cigarette smoke), diabetes
✔✔2) What happens to the endothelium in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Damage occurs,
forming a crack or fissure
✔✔3) What is the initial deposit in the artery wall in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔LDL
cholesterol deposits known as fatty streaks
,✔✔4) What do monocytes do in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Convert to macrophages,
consume cholesterol, and form foam cells
✔✔5) What is the role of smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Migrate into the
plaque, form a lipid cap, and deposit calcium
✔✔6) What leads to plaque rupture in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Ongoing inflammation
leading to thrombus formation
✔✔7) What is the consequence of a thrombus in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Artery occlusion
causing ischaemia or infarction
✔✔Aetiology of Atherosclerosis - ✔✔- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood
- Smoking and other sources of tobacco
- Insulin resistance, obesity or diabetes
Inflammation from diseases, such as arthritis, lupus or infections, or inflammation of
unknown cause.
✔✔Angina - ✔✔chest pain that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of your
heart are restricted. This can be due to narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart.
✔✔Sign and symptoms of angina - ✔✔Chest pain and tightness of chest.
-Dull ache of chest which spreads to back, shoulders and jaw.
-Discomfort of arms, back and jaw without chest pain.
✔✔Pathophysiology of angina - ✔✔1) Coronary artery disease (IHD) causes coronary
arteries to narrow due to build up of plaque.
2) Narrowing of the coronary arteries makes it difficult for blood to flow through the
artery causing symptoms of angina.
✔✔Aetiology of angina - ✔✔Caused by atherosclerosis.
Risk factors:
HTN
smoking
diabetes
fatty high cholesterol diet.
✔✔Nursing diagnoses of Angina - ✔✔1) Acute chest pain related to decreased
myocardial blood flow and increased cardiac workload.
2) Anxiety related to increasing pain and concern over symptoms worsening.
, 3) Risk of decreased cardiac output related to inadequate blood flow from the heart to
meet metabolic demands.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Administer GTN spray as prescribed (one spray). If not relieved in five mins, take
another spray. - ✔✔Rationale:
To dilate blood vessels and keep them opento maintain adequate blood flow and reduce
pain.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Rest and avoid overexertion or stimulating activities. - ✔✔Rationale:
Enables heart to decrease its workload and recover from overworking itself.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Advise patient to stop smoking, refer to Quitline. - ✔✔Rationale:
Prevents further risk of MI or heart problems in future.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Encourage healthy diet to reduce risk of further blockage. Refer to dietician if
necessary. - ✔✔Rationale:
Reduces risk of atherosclerosis, a main cause of the condition. Puts less strain on the
heart in the long term.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Consider use of anticoagulants if prescribed for long term thrombus prevention. -
✔✔Rationale:
If arteries are very blocked up by plaque, reduced long term risk of developing and
embolism.
✔✔Myocardial Infarction - ✔✔An MI usually occurs when blood flow to a section of
heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't quickly returned, the section of
heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of O2 and starts to die.
✔✔What are the common locations for chest pain during a heart attack? - ✔✔One or
both arms (more commonly the left), neck, back, jaw, stomach, and abdomen
✔✔How might chest pain feel during a heart attack? - ✔✔Squeezing, pressing,
tightness, fullness, pain
✔✔What are some additional symptoms of a heart attack? - ✔✔Sweating, feeling faint,
feeling sick, vomiting, shortness of breath
✔✔1) What happens in a heart attack? - ✔✔There is a sudden blockage of a coronary
artery by a blood clot, leading to deprivation of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔What is a common cause of autonomic dysreflexia? - ✔✔Spinal cord injury above
T6
✔✔What are the signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia? - ✔✔Hypertension,
bradycardia, sweating, flushing, pupil constriction, nasal congestion, pale/cool skin,
goosebumps
✔✔What is Coronary Heart Disease (Ischaemic Heart Disease) - ✔✔CAD is the most
common type of heart disease.
The narrowing of the coronary arteries can be due to the buildup of cholesterol and
other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. This buildup is called atherosclerosis.
As it grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't
get the blood or O2 it needs. This can lead to angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.
✔✔Signs and Symptoms of CAD - ✔✔↑ myocardial oxygen demand and ↓ myocardial
oxygen delivery results in ineffective myocardial oxygen perfusion.
✔✔Pathophysiology of CAD - ✔✔1) Atherosclerosis leads to heart damage and
necrosis of the myocardium.
2) Heart damage leads to cardiac arrest/arrhythmias.
✔✔Atherosclerosis - ✔✔The build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and
on the artery walls.
✔✔Signs and symptoms of Atherosclerosis - ✔✔Atherosclerosis often has no
symptoms until a plaque ruptures or the build-up is severe enough to block blood flow.
Chest pain.
-SOB.
-Fatigue.
-Tightness of chest.
✔✔1) What is the initial irritant present in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Lipids (LDL,
cholesterol), high blood pressure (HTN), toxins (cigarette smoke), diabetes
✔✔2) What happens to the endothelium in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Damage occurs,
forming a crack or fissure
✔✔3) What is the initial deposit in the artery wall in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔LDL
cholesterol deposits known as fatty streaks
,✔✔4) What do monocytes do in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Convert to macrophages,
consume cholesterol, and form foam cells
✔✔5) What is the role of smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Migrate into the
plaque, form a lipid cap, and deposit calcium
✔✔6) What leads to plaque rupture in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Ongoing inflammation
leading to thrombus formation
✔✔7) What is the consequence of a thrombus in atherosclerosis? - ✔✔Artery occlusion
causing ischaemia or infarction
✔✔Aetiology of Atherosclerosis - ✔✔- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid) in your blood
- Smoking and other sources of tobacco
- Insulin resistance, obesity or diabetes
Inflammation from diseases, such as arthritis, lupus or infections, or inflammation of
unknown cause.
✔✔Angina - ✔✔chest pain that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of your
heart are restricted. This can be due to narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart.
✔✔Sign and symptoms of angina - ✔✔Chest pain and tightness of chest.
-Dull ache of chest which spreads to back, shoulders and jaw.
-Discomfort of arms, back and jaw without chest pain.
✔✔Pathophysiology of angina - ✔✔1) Coronary artery disease (IHD) causes coronary
arteries to narrow due to build up of plaque.
2) Narrowing of the coronary arteries makes it difficult for blood to flow through the
artery causing symptoms of angina.
✔✔Aetiology of angina - ✔✔Caused by atherosclerosis.
Risk factors:
HTN
smoking
diabetes
fatty high cholesterol diet.
✔✔Nursing diagnoses of Angina - ✔✔1) Acute chest pain related to decreased
myocardial blood flow and increased cardiac workload.
2) Anxiety related to increasing pain and concern over symptoms worsening.
, 3) Risk of decreased cardiac output related to inadequate blood flow from the heart to
meet metabolic demands.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Administer GTN spray as prescribed (one spray). If not relieved in five mins, take
another spray. - ✔✔Rationale:
To dilate blood vessels and keep them opento maintain adequate blood flow and reduce
pain.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Rest and avoid overexertion or stimulating activities. - ✔✔Rationale:
Enables heart to decrease its workload and recover from overworking itself.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Advise patient to stop smoking, refer to Quitline. - ✔✔Rationale:
Prevents further risk of MI or heart problems in future.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Encourage healthy diet to reduce risk of further blockage. Refer to dietician if
necessary. - ✔✔Rationale:
Reduces risk of atherosclerosis, a main cause of the condition. Puts less strain on the
heart in the long term.
✔✔Nursing Interventions of Angina:
Consider use of anticoagulants if prescribed for long term thrombus prevention. -
✔✔Rationale:
If arteries are very blocked up by plaque, reduced long term risk of developing and
embolism.
✔✔Myocardial Infarction - ✔✔An MI usually occurs when blood flow to a section of
heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't quickly returned, the section of
heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of O2 and starts to die.
✔✔What are the common locations for chest pain during a heart attack? - ✔✔One or
both arms (more commonly the left), neck, back, jaw, stomach, and abdomen
✔✔How might chest pain feel during a heart attack? - ✔✔Squeezing, pressing,
tightness, fullness, pain
✔✔What are some additional symptoms of a heart attack? - ✔✔Sweating, feeling faint,
feeling sick, vomiting, shortness of breath
✔✔1) What happens in a heart attack? - ✔✔There is a sudden blockage of a coronary
artery by a blood clot, leading to deprivation of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.
