,NURS 6560 Midterm Exam Advanced Practice Acute Care II
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 Walden University
Course: NURS 6560
University: Walden University
Assessment: Midterm Exam
Area: Advanced Practice Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings II
1.
A patient with chronic aortic regurgitation develops progressive exertional
dyspnea, fatigue, and peripheral edema. Which finding indicates worsening
disease requiring reassessment?
A) Increasing activity intolerance and signs of volume overload
B) Stable exercise tolerance
C) Normal cardiac examination
D) Occasional isolated cough
Answer: A) Increasing activity intolerance and signs of volume
overload
Rationale: Progressive symptoms and evidence of ventricular volume
overload suggest worsening aortic regurgitation and require reassessment of
ventricular function and management.
2.
Which physical examination finding is classically associated with aortic
regurgitation?
A) High-pitched early diastolic murmur
B) Continuous machinery murmur
C) Opening snap
D) Harsh systolic ejection murmur only
Answer: A) High-pitched early diastolic murmur
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation typically produces a blowing, high-frequency
early diastolic murmur along the left sternal border.
3.
A patient with chronic aortic regurgitation develops left-ventricular dilation
and worsening symptoms despite medical management. Which intervention
should be considered?
,A) Evaluation for aortic valve replacement
B) Reassurance only
C) Antibiotics indefinitely
D) Fluid restriction alone
Answer: A) Evaluation for aortic valve replacement
Rationale: Symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation or evidence of
significant ventricular dysfunction/dilation may warrant surgical valve
intervention.
4.
Which medication class may reduce afterload in selected patients with
chronic aortic regurgitation?
A) ACE inhibitors
B) Thiazide antibiotics
C) Anticoagulants alone
D) Proton-pump inhibitors
Answer: A) ACE inhibitors
Rationale: Afterload reduction may decrease regurgitant volume and
hemodynamic stress in selected patients.
5.
A patient is found to have an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Which
characteristic is most important when determining the need for surgical
evaluation?
A) Aneurysm size and rate of enlargement
B) Patient's eye color
C) Serum sodium alone
D) Presence of seasonal allergies
Answer: A) Aneurysm size and rate of enlargement
Rationale: Aneurysm diameter, growth rate, symptoms, genetic syndromes,
and other risk factors influence intervention decisions.
6.
Which condition increases the risk of thoracic aortic aneurysm?
A) Marfan syndrome
B) Allergic rhinitis
, C) Iron deficiency
D) Migraine
Answer: A) Marfan syndrome
Rationale: Marfan syndrome and other connective-tissue disorders increase
the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection.
7.
A patient with a thoracic aortic aneurysm develops sudden severe chest and
back pain. Which diagnosis must be considered?
A) Acute aortic dissection
B) Stable angina
C) GERD
D) Musculoskeletal strain only
Answer: A) Acute aortic dissection
Rationale: Abrupt severe chest or back pain in a patient with a known
aneurysm is highly concerning for dissection.
8.
Which finding is particularly concerning for acute aortic dissection?
A) New pulse or blood-pressure differential between extremities
B) Mild nasal congestion
C) Stable chronic cough
D) Mild constipation
Answer: A) New pulse or blood-pressure differential between
extremities
Rationale: Dissection can compromise branch vessels and produce
asymmetric pulses or blood pressures.
9.
A patient with acute chest pain has hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and
jugular venous distention. Which condition should be suspected?
A) Cardiac tamponade
B) Stable heart failure
C) Uncomplicated pneumonia
D) COPD exacerbation
Answer: A) Cardiac tamponade
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 Walden University
Course: NURS 6560
University: Walden University
Assessment: Midterm Exam
Area: Advanced Practice Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings II
1.
A patient with chronic aortic regurgitation develops progressive exertional
dyspnea, fatigue, and peripheral edema. Which finding indicates worsening
disease requiring reassessment?
A) Increasing activity intolerance and signs of volume overload
B) Stable exercise tolerance
C) Normal cardiac examination
D) Occasional isolated cough
Answer: A) Increasing activity intolerance and signs of volume
overload
Rationale: Progressive symptoms and evidence of ventricular volume
overload suggest worsening aortic regurgitation and require reassessment of
ventricular function and management.
2.
Which physical examination finding is classically associated with aortic
regurgitation?
A) High-pitched early diastolic murmur
B) Continuous machinery murmur
C) Opening snap
D) Harsh systolic ejection murmur only
Answer: A) High-pitched early diastolic murmur
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation typically produces a blowing, high-frequency
early diastolic murmur along the left sternal border.
3.
A patient with chronic aortic regurgitation develops left-ventricular dilation
and worsening symptoms despite medical management. Which intervention
should be considered?
,A) Evaluation for aortic valve replacement
B) Reassurance only
C) Antibiotics indefinitely
D) Fluid restriction alone
Answer: A) Evaluation for aortic valve replacement
Rationale: Symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation or evidence of
significant ventricular dysfunction/dilation may warrant surgical valve
intervention.
4.
Which medication class may reduce afterload in selected patients with
chronic aortic regurgitation?
A) ACE inhibitors
B) Thiazide antibiotics
C) Anticoagulants alone
D) Proton-pump inhibitors
Answer: A) ACE inhibitors
Rationale: Afterload reduction may decrease regurgitant volume and
hemodynamic stress in selected patients.
5.
A patient is found to have an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Which
characteristic is most important when determining the need for surgical
evaluation?
A) Aneurysm size and rate of enlargement
B) Patient's eye color
C) Serum sodium alone
D) Presence of seasonal allergies
Answer: A) Aneurysm size and rate of enlargement
Rationale: Aneurysm diameter, growth rate, symptoms, genetic syndromes,
and other risk factors influence intervention decisions.
6.
Which condition increases the risk of thoracic aortic aneurysm?
A) Marfan syndrome
B) Allergic rhinitis
, C) Iron deficiency
D) Migraine
Answer: A) Marfan syndrome
Rationale: Marfan syndrome and other connective-tissue disorders increase
the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection.
7.
A patient with a thoracic aortic aneurysm develops sudden severe chest and
back pain. Which diagnosis must be considered?
A) Acute aortic dissection
B) Stable angina
C) GERD
D) Musculoskeletal strain only
Answer: A) Acute aortic dissection
Rationale: Abrupt severe chest or back pain in a patient with a known
aneurysm is highly concerning for dissection.
8.
Which finding is particularly concerning for acute aortic dissection?
A) New pulse or blood-pressure differential between extremities
B) Mild nasal congestion
C) Stable chronic cough
D) Mild constipation
Answer: A) New pulse or blood-pressure differential between
extremities
Rationale: Dissection can compromise branch vessels and produce
asymmetric pulses or blood pressures.
9.
A patient with acute chest pain has hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and
jugular venous distention. Which condition should be suspected?
A) Cardiac tamponade
B) Stable heart failure
C) Uncomplicated pneumonia
D) COPD exacerbation
Answer: A) Cardiac tamponade
