CARDIO & DYSRHYTHMIAS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2025/2026.
The nurse will suspect that the patient with stable angina is
experiencing a side effect of the prescribed metoprolol
(Lopressor) if the
a. patient is restless and agitated.
b. blood pressure is 90/54 mm Hg.
c. patient complains about feeling anxious.
d. cardiac monitor shows a heart rate of 61 beats/minute. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>b.
blood pressure is 90/54 mm Hg.
Nadolol (Corgard) is prescribed for a patient with chronic stable
angina and left ventricular dysfunction. To determine whether
the drug is effective, the nurse will monitor for
a. decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
b. fewer complaints of having cold hands and feet.
c. improvement in the strength of the distal pulses.
,d. the ability to do daily activities without chest pain. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>d. the ability to do daily activities without chest
pain. Heparin is ordered for a patient with a non-ST-
segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). What is
the purpose of the heparin?
a. Heparin enhances platelet aggregation.
b. Heparin decreases coronary artery plaque size.
c. Heparin prevents the development of new clots in the coronary
arteries.
d. Heparin dissolves clots that are blocking blood flow in the coronary
arteries. - CORRECT ANSWER>>c. Heparin prevents the
development of new clots in the coronary arteries.
When titrating IV nitroglycerin (Tridil) for a patient with a
myocardial infarction (MI), which action will the nurse take to
evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?
a. Monitor heart rate.
b. Ask about chest pain.
c. Check blood pressure.
d. Observe for dysrhythmias. - CORRECT ANSWER>>b. Ask about chest
pain.
, A patient with ST-segment elevation in three contiguous
electrocardiographic (ECG) leads is admitted to the
emergency department (ED) and diagnosed as having an ST-
segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which
question should the nurse ask to determine whether the
patient is a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?
a. "Do you have any allergies?"
b. "Do you take aspirin on a daily basis?"
c. "What time did your chest pain begin?"
d. "Can you rate your chest pain using a 0 to 10 scale?" - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c.
"What time did your chest pain begin?"
Following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a patient
ambulates in the hospital hallway. When the nurse is
evaluating the patient's response to the activity, which
assessment data would indicate that the exercise level should
be decreased?
a. Blood pressure (BP) changes from 118/60 to 126/68 mm Hg.
b. Oxygen saturation drops from 99% to 95%.
c. Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.
, d. Respiratory rate goes from 14 to 20 breaths/minute. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c.
Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.
During the administration of the thrombolytic agent to a
patient with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the nurse
should stop the drug infusion if the patient experiences
a. bleeding from the gums.
b. increase in blood pressure.
c. a decrease in level of consciousness.
d. a no sustained episode of ventricular tachycardia. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c. a decrease in level of consciousness.
A patient is recovering from a myocardial infarction (MI) and
develops chest pain on day 3 that increases when taking a deep
breath and is relieved by leaning forward. Which action should
the nurse take next?
a. Assess the feet for pedal edema.
b. Palpate the radial pulses bilaterally.
c. Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub.
d. Check the heart monitor for dysrhythmias. - CORRECT ANSWER>>c.
Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub.
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2025/2026.
The nurse will suspect that the patient with stable angina is
experiencing a side effect of the prescribed metoprolol
(Lopressor) if the
a. patient is restless and agitated.
b. blood pressure is 90/54 mm Hg.
c. patient complains about feeling anxious.
d. cardiac monitor shows a heart rate of 61 beats/minute. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>b.
blood pressure is 90/54 mm Hg.
Nadolol (Corgard) is prescribed for a patient with chronic stable
angina and left ventricular dysfunction. To determine whether
the drug is effective, the nurse will monitor for
a. decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
b. fewer complaints of having cold hands and feet.
c. improvement in the strength of the distal pulses.
,d. the ability to do daily activities without chest pain. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>d. the ability to do daily activities without chest
pain. Heparin is ordered for a patient with a non-ST-
segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). What is
the purpose of the heparin?
a. Heparin enhances platelet aggregation.
b. Heparin decreases coronary artery plaque size.
c. Heparin prevents the development of new clots in the coronary
arteries.
d. Heparin dissolves clots that are blocking blood flow in the coronary
arteries. - CORRECT ANSWER>>c. Heparin prevents the
development of new clots in the coronary arteries.
When titrating IV nitroglycerin (Tridil) for a patient with a
myocardial infarction (MI), which action will the nurse take to
evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?
a. Monitor heart rate.
b. Ask about chest pain.
c. Check blood pressure.
d. Observe for dysrhythmias. - CORRECT ANSWER>>b. Ask about chest
pain.
, A patient with ST-segment elevation in three contiguous
electrocardiographic (ECG) leads is admitted to the
emergency department (ED) and diagnosed as having an ST-
segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which
question should the nurse ask to determine whether the
patient is a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?
a. "Do you have any allergies?"
b. "Do you take aspirin on a daily basis?"
c. "What time did your chest pain begin?"
d. "Can you rate your chest pain using a 0 to 10 scale?" - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c.
"What time did your chest pain begin?"
Following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a patient
ambulates in the hospital hallway. When the nurse is
evaluating the patient's response to the activity, which
assessment data would indicate that the exercise level should
be decreased?
a. Blood pressure (BP) changes from 118/60 to 126/68 mm Hg.
b. Oxygen saturation drops from 99% to 95%.
c. Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.
, d. Respiratory rate goes from 14 to 20 breaths/minute. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c.
Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.
During the administration of the thrombolytic agent to a
patient with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the nurse
should stop the drug infusion if the patient experiences
a. bleeding from the gums.
b. increase in blood pressure.
c. a decrease in level of consciousness.
d. a no sustained episode of ventricular tachycardia. - CORRECT
ANSWER>>c. a decrease in level of consciousness.
A patient is recovering from a myocardial infarction (MI) and
develops chest pain on day 3 that increases when taking a deep
breath and is relieved by leaning forward. Which action should
the nurse take next?
a. Assess the feet for pedal edema.
b. Palpate the radial pulses bilaterally.
c. Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub.
d. Check the heart monitor for dysrhythmias. - CORRECT ANSWER>>c.
Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub.
