Exam 2 Nurse labs Cardiovascular Questions 2026 answers
A client is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization using a radiopaque dye. Which of the
following assessments is most critical before the procedure?
A. Intake and output
B. Baseline peripheral pulse rates
C. Height and weight
D. Allergy to iodine or shellfish - correct answers D. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
This procedure requires an informed consent because it involves injection of a radiopaque dye
into the blood vessel. The risk of allergic reaction and possible anaphylaxis is serious and must
be assessed before the procedure. Allergic reactions can be related to the use of local
anesthetic, contrast agents, heparin or other medications used during the procedure. Reactions
to the contrast agents can occur in up to 1% of the patients, and people with prior reactions are
pretreated with corticosteroids and antihistamines.
A client with no history of cardiovascular disease comes into the ambulatory clinic with flu-like
symptoms. The client suddenly complains of chest pain. Which of the following questions would
best help a nurse to discriminate pain caused by a non-cardiac problem?
A. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
B. "Can you describe the pain to me?"
C. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
D. "Can you rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with ten (10) being the worst?" - correct answers C.
"Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
Chest pain is assessed by using the standard pain assessment parameters. It is very important to
find out what makes the pain worse. Is there an exertional component, is it associated with
,eating or breathing? Is there a positional component? Don't forget to ask about new workout
routines, sports, and lifting. Ask what medications they have tried.
A client with myocardial infarction has been transferred from a coronary care unit to a general
medical unit with cardiac monitoring via telemetry. A nurse plans to allow for which of the
following client activities?
A. Strict bed rest for 24 hours after transfer.
B. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
C. Unsupervised hallway ambulation with distances under 200 feet.
D. Ad lib activities because the client is monitored. - correct answers B. Bathroom privileges and
self-care activities
On transfer from the CCU, the client is allowed self-care activities and bathroom privileges.
Supervised ambulation for brief distances is encouraged, with distances gradually increased (50,
100, 200 feet). A patient on telemetry should be visualized hourly. With every ECG alarm, the
patient should be visualized and assessed (refer to Nursing Assessment Clinical Guideline). It is
the responsibility of nursing staff to know the whereabouts of their patient at all times - toilet
doors should not be locked - however, laminated signs may be used on doors instead
A nurse notes 2+ bilateral edema in the lower extremities of a client with myocardial infarction
who was admitted two (2) days ago. The nurse would plan to do which of the following next?
A. Review the intake and output records for the last two (2) days.
B. Change the time of diuretic administration from morning to evening.
C. Request a sodium restriction of one (1) g/day from the physician.
D. Order daily weight starting the following morning. - correct answers A. Review the intake and
output records for the last 2 days.
,Edema, the accumulation of excess fluid in the interstitial spaces, can be measured by intake
greater than output and by a sudden increase in weight. Monitor intake and output. Note
decreased urinary output and positive fluid balance on 24-hour calculations. Decreased renal
perfusion, cardiac insufficiency, and fluid shifts may cause decreased urinary output and edema
formation.
A nurse is assessing the blood pressure of a client diagnosed with primary hypertension. The
nurse ensures accurate measurement by avoiding which of the following?
A. Seating the client with arm bared, supported, and at heart level.
B. Measuring the blood pressure after the client has been seated quietly for 5 minutes.
C. Using a cuff with a rubber bladder that encircles at least 80% of the limb.
D. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine ingestion. - correct
answers D. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine ingestion.
BP should be taken with the client seated with the arm bared, positioned with support, and at
heart level. The client should sit with the legs on the floor, feet uncrossed, and not speak during
the recording. The client should not have smoked tobacco or taken in caffeine in the 30 minutes
preceding the measurement. First, the patient should be questioned regarding recent caffeine
consumption, exercise, or smoking. If any of these activities have occurred within the last 30
minutes, blood pressure measurement should be postponed until this period has passed.
IV heparin therapy is ordered for a client. While implementing this order, a nurse ensures that
which of the following medications is available in the nursing unit?
A. Vitamin K
B. Aminocaproic acid
C. Potassium chloride
D. Protamine sulfate - correct answers D. Protamine sulfate
, The antidote to heparin is protamine sulfate and should be readily available for use if excessive
bleeding or hemorrhage should occur. Protamine is a medication used to reverse and neutralize
the anticoagulant effects of heparin. Protamine is the specific antagonist that neutralizes
heparin-induced anticoagulation. Protamine is a strongly alkaline (nearly two-thirds of the
amino acid composition is arginine) polycationic low-molecular-weight protein found in salmon
sperm that is also currently available in a recombinant form.
A 60-year-old male client comes into the emergency department with complaints of crushing
chest pain that radiates to his shoulder and left arm. The admitting diagnosis is acute
myocardial infarction. Immediate admission orders include oxygen by NC at 4L/minute, blood
work, chest X-ray, an ECG, and two (2) mg of morphine given intravenously. The nurse should
first:
A. Administer the morphine.
B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
C. Obtain the lab work.
D. Order the chest x-ray. - correct answers A. Administer the morphine.
Although obtaining the ECG, chest x-ray, and blood work are all important, the nurse's priority
action would be to relieve the crushing chest pain. Opioids may be used for pain control in
addition to sublingual nitroglycerin if the blood pressure is adequate. All patients with STEMI
and NSTEMI require immediately chewed aspirin 160 mg to 325 mg. Furthermore, the patient
should have intravenous access and oxygen supplementation if oxygen saturation is less than
91%.
When administered a thrombolytic drug to the client experiencing an MI, the nurse explains to
him that the purpose of this drug is to:
A. Help keep him well hydrated.
B. Dissolve clots he may have.
C. Prevent kidney failure.
A client is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization using a radiopaque dye. Which of the
following assessments is most critical before the procedure?
A. Intake and output
B. Baseline peripheral pulse rates
C. Height and weight
D. Allergy to iodine or shellfish - correct answers D. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
This procedure requires an informed consent because it involves injection of a radiopaque dye
into the blood vessel. The risk of allergic reaction and possible anaphylaxis is serious and must
be assessed before the procedure. Allergic reactions can be related to the use of local
anesthetic, contrast agents, heparin or other medications used during the procedure. Reactions
to the contrast agents can occur in up to 1% of the patients, and people with prior reactions are
pretreated with corticosteroids and antihistamines.
A client with no history of cardiovascular disease comes into the ambulatory clinic with flu-like
symptoms. The client suddenly complains of chest pain. Which of the following questions would
best help a nurse to discriminate pain caused by a non-cardiac problem?
A. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
B. "Can you describe the pain to me?"
C. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
D. "Can you rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with ten (10) being the worst?" - correct answers C.
"Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
Chest pain is assessed by using the standard pain assessment parameters. It is very important to
find out what makes the pain worse. Is there an exertional component, is it associated with
,eating or breathing? Is there a positional component? Don't forget to ask about new workout
routines, sports, and lifting. Ask what medications they have tried.
A client with myocardial infarction has been transferred from a coronary care unit to a general
medical unit with cardiac monitoring via telemetry. A nurse plans to allow for which of the
following client activities?
A. Strict bed rest for 24 hours after transfer.
B. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
C. Unsupervised hallway ambulation with distances under 200 feet.
D. Ad lib activities because the client is monitored. - correct answers B. Bathroom privileges and
self-care activities
On transfer from the CCU, the client is allowed self-care activities and bathroom privileges.
Supervised ambulation for brief distances is encouraged, with distances gradually increased (50,
100, 200 feet). A patient on telemetry should be visualized hourly. With every ECG alarm, the
patient should be visualized and assessed (refer to Nursing Assessment Clinical Guideline). It is
the responsibility of nursing staff to know the whereabouts of their patient at all times - toilet
doors should not be locked - however, laminated signs may be used on doors instead
A nurse notes 2+ bilateral edema in the lower extremities of a client with myocardial infarction
who was admitted two (2) days ago. The nurse would plan to do which of the following next?
A. Review the intake and output records for the last two (2) days.
B. Change the time of diuretic administration from morning to evening.
C. Request a sodium restriction of one (1) g/day from the physician.
D. Order daily weight starting the following morning. - correct answers A. Review the intake and
output records for the last 2 days.
,Edema, the accumulation of excess fluid in the interstitial spaces, can be measured by intake
greater than output and by a sudden increase in weight. Monitor intake and output. Note
decreased urinary output and positive fluid balance on 24-hour calculations. Decreased renal
perfusion, cardiac insufficiency, and fluid shifts may cause decreased urinary output and edema
formation.
A nurse is assessing the blood pressure of a client diagnosed with primary hypertension. The
nurse ensures accurate measurement by avoiding which of the following?
A. Seating the client with arm bared, supported, and at heart level.
B. Measuring the blood pressure after the client has been seated quietly for 5 minutes.
C. Using a cuff with a rubber bladder that encircles at least 80% of the limb.
D. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine ingestion. - correct
answers D. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine ingestion.
BP should be taken with the client seated with the arm bared, positioned with support, and at
heart level. The client should sit with the legs on the floor, feet uncrossed, and not speak during
the recording. The client should not have smoked tobacco or taken in caffeine in the 30 minutes
preceding the measurement. First, the patient should be questioned regarding recent caffeine
consumption, exercise, or smoking. If any of these activities have occurred within the last 30
minutes, blood pressure measurement should be postponed until this period has passed.
IV heparin therapy is ordered for a client. While implementing this order, a nurse ensures that
which of the following medications is available in the nursing unit?
A. Vitamin K
B. Aminocaproic acid
C. Potassium chloride
D. Protamine sulfate - correct answers D. Protamine sulfate
, The antidote to heparin is protamine sulfate and should be readily available for use if excessive
bleeding or hemorrhage should occur. Protamine is a medication used to reverse and neutralize
the anticoagulant effects of heparin. Protamine is the specific antagonist that neutralizes
heparin-induced anticoagulation. Protamine is a strongly alkaline (nearly two-thirds of the
amino acid composition is arginine) polycationic low-molecular-weight protein found in salmon
sperm that is also currently available in a recombinant form.
A 60-year-old male client comes into the emergency department with complaints of crushing
chest pain that radiates to his shoulder and left arm. The admitting diagnosis is acute
myocardial infarction. Immediate admission orders include oxygen by NC at 4L/minute, blood
work, chest X-ray, an ECG, and two (2) mg of morphine given intravenously. The nurse should
first:
A. Administer the morphine.
B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
C. Obtain the lab work.
D. Order the chest x-ray. - correct answers A. Administer the morphine.
Although obtaining the ECG, chest x-ray, and blood work are all important, the nurse's priority
action would be to relieve the crushing chest pain. Opioids may be used for pain control in
addition to sublingual nitroglycerin if the blood pressure is adequate. All patients with STEMI
and NSTEMI require immediately chewed aspirin 160 mg to 325 mg. Furthermore, the patient
should have intravenous access and oxygen supplementation if oxygen saturation is less than
91%.
When administered a thrombolytic drug to the client experiencing an MI, the nurse explains to
him that the purpose of this drug is to:
A. Help keep him well hydrated.
B. Dissolve clots he may have.
C. Prevent kidney failure.
