Med-Surg Cardiovascular Prep Exam –
Comprehensive Practice Questions
2026/2027/ Latest Update
Which of the EKG findings is most likely indicative of Acute Myocardial Infarction
(AMI) in a patient presenting with acute chest pain?
A. Wide and bizarre QRS complexes in the EKG
B. ST segment changes (STEMI or NSTEMI) in the EKG
C. A saw-toothed pattern in the EKG saw-toothed pattern in the EKG
D. Flat line in the EKG - correct answer-B. ST segment changes (STEMI or NSTEMI)
in the EKG
To determine whether there is a delay in impulse conduction through the atria,
the nurse will measure the length of the patient's:
A. P wave
B. PR interval
C. QT interval
D. QRS complex - correct answer-A. P wave
The P wave represents the depolarization of the atria. The P-R interval represents
depolarization of the atria, atrioventricular (AV) node, bundle of His, bundle
,branches, and the Purkinje fibers. The QRS represents ventricular depolarization.
The Q-T interval represents depolarization and repolarization of the entire
conduction system.
The nurse needs to estimate quickly the heart rate for a patient with a regular
heart rhythm. Which method will be best to use?
A. Print a 1-minute electrocardiogram (ECG) strip and count the number of QRS
complexes.
B. Count the number of large squares in the R-R interval and divide by 300.
C. Use the 3-second markers to count the number of QRS complexes in 6seconds
and multiply by 10.
D. Calculate the number of small squares between one QRS complex and the next
and divide into 1500. - correct answer-C. Use the 3-second markers to count the
number of QRS complexes in 6seconds and multiply by 10.
This is the quickest way to determine the ventricular rate for a patient with a
regular rhythm. All the other methods are accurate, but take longer.
The nurse obtains a monitor strip on a patient who has had a myocardial
infarction and makes the following analysis: P wave not apparent, ventricular rate
162, R-R interval regular, P-R interval not measurable, and QRS complex wide and
distorted, QRS duration 0.18 second. The nurse interprets the patient's cardiac
rhythm as:
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Sinus tachycardia
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. Ventricular tachycardia - correct answer-D. Ventricular tachycardia
,The absence of P waves, wide QRS, rate >150, and the regularity of the rhythm
indicate ventricular tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation is grossly irregular, has a narrow
QRS configuration, and has fibrillatory atrial activity. Sinus tachycardia has P
waves. Ventricular fibrillation is irregular and does not have a consistent QRS
duration. The absence of P waves, wide QRS, rate >150, and the regularity of
the rhythm indicate ventricular tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation is grossly irregular,
has a narrow QRS configuration, and has fibrillatory atrial activity. Sinus
tachycardia has P waves. Ventricular fibrillation is irregular and does not have a
consistent QRS duration.
The nurse is admitting a patient who has chest pain. Which assessment data
suggest that the pain is caused by an Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)?
A. The pain is relieved after the patient takes nitroglycerin
B. The pain is reproducible when the patient raises the left arm
C. The pain increases with deep breathing
D. The pain lasted longer than 30 minutes - correct answer-D. The pain lasted
longer than 30 minutes
Which of the following is the most common diagnostic tool used in patients with
HF?
A. Serum Troponin level
B. ABG
C. Echocardiogram
D. Coronary Angiography - correct answer-C. Echocardiogram
Question 70..07 pts
, After reviewing a patient's history, vital signs, physical assessment, and laboratory
data, which of the following information is most important for the nurse to
communicate to the healthcare provider?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Elevated troponin
C. T wave on EKG
D. HR 110 bpm - correct answer-B. Elevated troponin
Which of the following is the worst complication of Acute Coronary Syndrome
(ACS)?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Sudden cardiac death
D. Angina - correct answer-C. Sudden cardiac death
A patient who has chronic heart failure tells the nurse, "I was fine when I went to
bed, but I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was suffocating! The
nurse will document this assessment finding as:
A. Orthopnea
B. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
C. Asthma attack
D. Acute bilateral pleural effusion - correct answer-B. Paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea
A 19-year-old has a mandatory electrocardiogram (ECG) before participating on a
college swim team and is found to have sinus bradycardia, rate 52. BP is 114/54,
Comprehensive Practice Questions
2026/2027/ Latest Update
Which of the EKG findings is most likely indicative of Acute Myocardial Infarction
(AMI) in a patient presenting with acute chest pain?
A. Wide and bizarre QRS complexes in the EKG
B. ST segment changes (STEMI or NSTEMI) in the EKG
C. A saw-toothed pattern in the EKG saw-toothed pattern in the EKG
D. Flat line in the EKG - correct answer-B. ST segment changes (STEMI or NSTEMI)
in the EKG
To determine whether there is a delay in impulse conduction through the atria,
the nurse will measure the length of the patient's:
A. P wave
B. PR interval
C. QT interval
D. QRS complex - correct answer-A. P wave
The P wave represents the depolarization of the atria. The P-R interval represents
depolarization of the atria, atrioventricular (AV) node, bundle of His, bundle
,branches, and the Purkinje fibers. The QRS represents ventricular depolarization.
The Q-T interval represents depolarization and repolarization of the entire
conduction system.
The nurse needs to estimate quickly the heart rate for a patient with a regular
heart rhythm. Which method will be best to use?
A. Print a 1-minute electrocardiogram (ECG) strip and count the number of QRS
complexes.
B. Count the number of large squares in the R-R interval and divide by 300.
C. Use the 3-second markers to count the number of QRS complexes in 6seconds
and multiply by 10.
D. Calculate the number of small squares between one QRS complex and the next
and divide into 1500. - correct answer-C. Use the 3-second markers to count the
number of QRS complexes in 6seconds and multiply by 10.
This is the quickest way to determine the ventricular rate for a patient with a
regular rhythm. All the other methods are accurate, but take longer.
The nurse obtains a monitor strip on a patient who has had a myocardial
infarction and makes the following analysis: P wave not apparent, ventricular rate
162, R-R interval regular, P-R interval not measurable, and QRS complex wide and
distorted, QRS duration 0.18 second. The nurse interprets the patient's cardiac
rhythm as:
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Sinus tachycardia
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. Ventricular tachycardia - correct answer-D. Ventricular tachycardia
,The absence of P waves, wide QRS, rate >150, and the regularity of the rhythm
indicate ventricular tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation is grossly irregular, has a narrow
QRS configuration, and has fibrillatory atrial activity. Sinus tachycardia has P
waves. Ventricular fibrillation is irregular and does not have a consistent QRS
duration. The absence of P waves, wide QRS, rate >150, and the regularity of
the rhythm indicate ventricular tachycardia. Atrial fibrillation is grossly irregular,
has a narrow QRS configuration, and has fibrillatory atrial activity. Sinus
tachycardia has P waves. Ventricular fibrillation is irregular and does not have a
consistent QRS duration.
The nurse is admitting a patient who has chest pain. Which assessment data
suggest that the pain is caused by an Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)?
A. The pain is relieved after the patient takes nitroglycerin
B. The pain is reproducible when the patient raises the left arm
C. The pain increases with deep breathing
D. The pain lasted longer than 30 minutes - correct answer-D. The pain lasted
longer than 30 minutes
Which of the following is the most common diagnostic tool used in patients with
HF?
A. Serum Troponin level
B. ABG
C. Echocardiogram
D. Coronary Angiography - correct answer-C. Echocardiogram
Question 70..07 pts
, After reviewing a patient's history, vital signs, physical assessment, and laboratory
data, which of the following information is most important for the nurse to
communicate to the healthcare provider?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Elevated troponin
C. T wave on EKG
D. HR 110 bpm - correct answer-B. Elevated troponin
Which of the following is the worst complication of Acute Coronary Syndrome
(ACS)?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Sudden cardiac death
D. Angina - correct answer-C. Sudden cardiac death
A patient who has chronic heart failure tells the nurse, "I was fine when I went to
bed, but I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was suffocating! The
nurse will document this assessment finding as:
A. Orthopnea
B. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
C. Asthma attack
D. Acute bilateral pleural effusion - correct answer-B. Paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea
A 19-year-old has a mandatory electrocardiogram (ECG) before participating on a
college swim team and is found to have sinus bradycardia, rate 52. BP is 114/54,
