Cardiovascular System Test — Anatomy &
Physiology — Exam Questions and Practice
Material
1. A patient who is hemorrhaging has decreased preload. What
physiological effects should the nurse expect to occur with this
patient?
a. Increased afterload
b. Decreased cardiac output
c. Decreased action potential
d. Increased ejection fraction - Correct answer- b. Decreased
cardiac output
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient who is experiencing
chest pain. Which question should the nurse asked to learn more
information about the intensity of the pain?
a. "Did the pain move into your left arm?"
b. "Was the pain a pressure, burning, or tightness?"
c. "Was your pain relieved by resting or worse when you were
busy?"
d. "On a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain) what number is
your pain?" - Correct answer-
d. "On a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain) what number is
your pain?"
1|Page
,2|Page
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's apical impulse. Which
anatomical location should the nurse use to make this
assessment?
a. Right nipple line, any intercostal space
b. Left substernal line, sixth intercostal space
c. Left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space
d. Right midaxillary line, second intercostal space - Correct
answer- c. Left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space
The nurse assess a patient's heart rate as being 50 beats per
minute. How should the nurse document this finding?
a. Bradycardia
b. Tachycardia
c. Hypotension
d. Hypertension - Correct answer- a. Bradycardia
A patient's laboratory value indicates a low red blood cell count.
What subjective data should the nurse expect to assess that is
consistent with this data?
a. Fatigue
b. Nausea
c. Chest pain
d. Sore throat - Correct answer- a. Fatigue
A patient is being admitted for a low platelet count. Which finding
should the nurse expect when conducting a physical assessment
of this patient?
a. Varicose veins
2|Page
, 3|Page
b. Excessive bruising
c. Enlarged lymph nodes
d. Changes in pulse pressure - Correct answer- b. Excessive
bruising
The nurse determines that an older patient would benefit from
interventions to address peripheral vascular resistance. What
manifestations did the nurse assess in this patient? SATA a. Joint
pain
b. Sunken eyeballs
c. Distant bowel sounds
d. Elevated blood pressure
e. Lower extremity fatigue - Correct answer- b. Sunken eyeballs
d. Elevated blood pressure
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's carotid arteries.
Which techniques should the nurse use for this assessment?
(Select all that apply)
a. Palpate for pulse rate
b. Inspect for pulsations
c. Auscultate for rhythm
d. Percuss for arterial wall density
e. Palpate deeply for arterial wall integrity - Correct answer- a.
Palpate for pulse rate b. Inspect for pulsations
c. Auscultate for rhythm
3|Page