Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam –
Cardiovascular Practice Prep | Latest
2025/2026 Exam Questions & Study Guide
You examine a 38 year old woman who has presented for an initial examination and
Papanicolaou test. She has no complaint. Her BP is 154/98 mm Hg bilaterally and her
BMI is 31 kg/m2. The rest of her physical exam is unremarkable. Your next best action
is to:
A. initiate antihypertensive therapy
B. arrange for at least two additional BP measurements during the next 2 weeks.
C. order BUN, creatinine, and potassium ion measurements and UA
D. advise her to reduce her sodium intake - correct answerB. arrange for at least two
additional BP measurements during the next 2 weeks
You see a 68 year old woman as a pt who is transferring care into your practice. She
has a 10y history of HTN, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. Current medications
include HCTZ, glipizide, metformin, simvastatin, and daily low-dose aspirin. Today's BP
reading is 158/92mm Hg and the rest of her history and exam are unremarkable.
Documentation from her former healthcare provider indicates that her BP has been in
the range for the past 12 months. Your next best action is to:
A. prescribe an ACEI
B. have her return for a BP check in 1 week
C. advise that her current therapy is adequate
D. add therapy with an aldosterone antagonist - correct answerA. prescribe an ACEI
You examine a 78 y/o woman with long-standing poorly controlled hHTN. When
evaluating her for HTN target organ damage, you look for evidence of:
A. lipid abnormalities
B. insulin resistance
C. left ventricular hypertrophy
D. clotting disorders - correct answerC. left ventricular hypertrophy
Diagnostic testing for a pt with newly diagnosed primary hHTN should include all of the
following except:
A. hematocrit
B. uric acid
C. creatinine
D. potassium - correct answerB. uric acid
In the person w/HTN, the nurse practitioner recommends all of the following to
potentially reduce BP in a patient with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 except:
A. 10kg weight loss
B. dietary sodium restriction to 2.4g per day
, C. regular aerobic physical activity, such as 30-40 minutes of brisk walking most days of
the week
D. consuming at least 1-2 servings of alcohol - correct answerD. consuming at least 1-2
servings of alcohol
what class of antihypertension medication is amlodipine? - correct
answerdihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
what class of antihypertension medication is diltiazem? - correct
answernondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
what class of antihypertension medication is trandolapril? - correct answerACEI
what class of antihypertension medication is telmisartan? - correct answerangiotensin
receptor antagonist
what class of antihypertension medication is pindolol? - correct answerbeta-adrenergic
receptor antagonist
You see a 38-year old African American male with HTN who is currently being treated
with thiazide-type diuretic. His current BP reading is 156/94mm HG and he has no
history of DM or CKD. Following current best evidence, you consider adding which of
the following medications?
A. ACEI
B. ARBs
C. beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist
D. calcium channel blocker - correct answerD. calcium channel blocker
nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are contraindicated in pts with:
A. type 1 DM
B. a history of venous thromboembolism
C. severe left ventricular dysfunction
D. concomitant treatment with an ACEI - correct answerC. severe left ventricular
dysfunction
In obtaining an office BP measurement, which of the following is most reflective of the
best practice?
A. the patient should sit in a chair with feet flat on the floor for at least 5 minutes before
obtaining the reading
B. the BP cuff should not cover more than 50% of the upper arm
C. the pt should sit on the edge of the exam table w/o arm support to enhance reading
accuracy
D. obtaining the BP reading immediately after the pt walks into the exam room is
recommended - correct answerA. the patient should sit in a chair with feet flat on the
floor for at least 5 minutes before obtaining the reading
Cardiovascular Practice Prep | Latest
2025/2026 Exam Questions & Study Guide
You examine a 38 year old woman who has presented for an initial examination and
Papanicolaou test. She has no complaint. Her BP is 154/98 mm Hg bilaterally and her
BMI is 31 kg/m2. The rest of her physical exam is unremarkable. Your next best action
is to:
A. initiate antihypertensive therapy
B. arrange for at least two additional BP measurements during the next 2 weeks.
C. order BUN, creatinine, and potassium ion measurements and UA
D. advise her to reduce her sodium intake - correct answerB. arrange for at least two
additional BP measurements during the next 2 weeks
You see a 68 year old woman as a pt who is transferring care into your practice. She
has a 10y history of HTN, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. Current medications
include HCTZ, glipizide, metformin, simvastatin, and daily low-dose aspirin. Today's BP
reading is 158/92mm Hg and the rest of her history and exam are unremarkable.
Documentation from her former healthcare provider indicates that her BP has been in
the range for the past 12 months. Your next best action is to:
A. prescribe an ACEI
B. have her return for a BP check in 1 week
C. advise that her current therapy is adequate
D. add therapy with an aldosterone antagonist - correct answerA. prescribe an ACEI
You examine a 78 y/o woman with long-standing poorly controlled hHTN. When
evaluating her for HTN target organ damage, you look for evidence of:
A. lipid abnormalities
B. insulin resistance
C. left ventricular hypertrophy
D. clotting disorders - correct answerC. left ventricular hypertrophy
Diagnostic testing for a pt with newly diagnosed primary hHTN should include all of the
following except:
A. hematocrit
B. uric acid
C. creatinine
D. potassium - correct answerB. uric acid
In the person w/HTN, the nurse practitioner recommends all of the following to
potentially reduce BP in a patient with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 except:
A. 10kg weight loss
B. dietary sodium restriction to 2.4g per day
, C. regular aerobic physical activity, such as 30-40 minutes of brisk walking most days of
the week
D. consuming at least 1-2 servings of alcohol - correct answerD. consuming at least 1-2
servings of alcohol
what class of antihypertension medication is amlodipine? - correct
answerdihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
what class of antihypertension medication is diltiazem? - correct
answernondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
what class of antihypertension medication is trandolapril? - correct answerACEI
what class of antihypertension medication is telmisartan? - correct answerangiotensin
receptor antagonist
what class of antihypertension medication is pindolol? - correct answerbeta-adrenergic
receptor antagonist
You see a 38-year old African American male with HTN who is currently being treated
with thiazide-type diuretic. His current BP reading is 156/94mm HG and he has no
history of DM or CKD. Following current best evidence, you consider adding which of
the following medications?
A. ACEI
B. ARBs
C. beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist
D. calcium channel blocker - correct answerD. calcium channel blocker
nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are contraindicated in pts with:
A. type 1 DM
B. a history of venous thromboembolism
C. severe left ventricular dysfunction
D. concomitant treatment with an ACEI - correct answerC. severe left ventricular
dysfunction
In obtaining an office BP measurement, which of the following is most reflective of the
best practice?
A. the patient should sit in a chair with feet flat on the floor for at least 5 minutes before
obtaining the reading
B. the BP cuff should not cover more than 50% of the upper arm
C. the pt should sit on the edge of the exam table w/o arm support to enhance reading
accuracy
D. obtaining the BP reading immediately after the pt walks into the exam room is
recommended - correct answerA. the patient should sit in a chair with feet flat on the
floor for at least 5 minutes before obtaining the reading
