Assessment of the Cardiovascular
System Questions and Answers
1. Which description best defines the cardiovascular concept after load?
a. Degree of myocardial fiber stretch at end of distill and just before heart contracts
b. Amount of pressure or resistance that the ventricles must overcome to eject blood through
the semilunar valves into the peripheral blood vessels
c. Pressure that ventricle must overcome to open aortic valve
d. Force of contraction independent of preload - correct answer: b
2. Which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women? (select all that apply)
a. Waist and abdominal obesity
b. Excess fat in the buttocks, hips, and thighs
c. Postmenopausal
d. Diabetes mellitus
e. Asian ethnicity - correct answer: a, c, d
3. The nurse is assessing a patients nicotine dependency. Which question does the nurse ask for
an accurate assessment? (select all that apply.)
a. "How soon after you wake up in the morning do you smoke?"
b. "What kind of cigarettes do you smoke?"
c. "Do you inhale deeply when you smoke?"
d. "Do you find it difficult not to smoke in places where smoking is prohibited?"
e. "Do you smoke when you are ill?"
f. "What happened the last time you tried to quit smoking?" - correct answer: a, d, e, f
,4. The nurse is talking to a patient who has been trying to quit smoking. Which statement by the
patient indicates an understanding of cigarette usage as it relates to reducing cardiovascular
risks?
a. "I need to be completely cigarette- free for at least 3 years"
b. "I don't smoke as much as I used to; I'm down to one pack a day."
c. "I started smoking a while ago, but I'll quit in a couple of years."
d. "I only smoke to relax, when I drink, or when I go out with friends." - correct answer: a
5. The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient at risk for heart disease. Which factor is
the most modifiable, controllable risk factor?
a. Obesity
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Ethnic background
d. Family history of cardiovascular disease - correct answer: a
6. The nurse is giving a community presentation about heart disease in women. What
information does the nurse include in the presentations? (select all that apply)
a. Dyspnea on exertion may be the first and only symptom of heart failure
b. Symptoms are subtle or atypical
c. Pain is often relieved by rest
d. Having waist and abdominal obesity is a higher risk factor than having fat in the buttocks and
thighs
e. Pain always responds to nitroglycerin
f. Common symptoms include back pain, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia - correct
answer: a, b, d, f
7. Which blood pressure readings require further assessment? (select all that apply)
a. 90 mm Hg systolic
, b. 139 mm Hg systolic
c. 115 mm Hg systolic
d. 66 mm Hg diastolic
e. 100mg Hg diastolic - correct answer: a, b, e
8. The nurse is working in the public health department is reviewing data for populations at risk
for CVD. Which group has the greatest need for intervention to reduce CVD risk?
a. Government employees who make approximately $40,000 a year
b. Part-time fast-food workers who make up approximately $9,000 a year
c. Hospital-employed nurses who make approximately $52,000 a year
d. Chain retail employees who make up approximately $18,000 a year - correct answer: b
9. Which category of cardiovascular drugs increases heart rate and contractility?
a. Diuretics
b. Beta blockers
c. Catecholamines
d. Benzodiazepines - correct answer: c
10. Which category of cardiovascular drugs blocks the sympathetic stimulation to the heart and
decreases heart rate?
a. Beta blockers
b. Catecholamines
c. Steroids
d. Benzodiazepines - correct answer: a
11. What different pathophysiologic conditions can the healthy heart adapt to? (select all that
apply)
System Questions and Answers
1. Which description best defines the cardiovascular concept after load?
a. Degree of myocardial fiber stretch at end of distill and just before heart contracts
b. Amount of pressure or resistance that the ventricles must overcome to eject blood through
the semilunar valves into the peripheral blood vessels
c. Pressure that ventricle must overcome to open aortic valve
d. Force of contraction independent of preload - correct answer: b
2. Which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women? (select all that apply)
a. Waist and abdominal obesity
b. Excess fat in the buttocks, hips, and thighs
c. Postmenopausal
d. Diabetes mellitus
e. Asian ethnicity - correct answer: a, c, d
3. The nurse is assessing a patients nicotine dependency. Which question does the nurse ask for
an accurate assessment? (select all that apply.)
a. "How soon after you wake up in the morning do you smoke?"
b. "What kind of cigarettes do you smoke?"
c. "Do you inhale deeply when you smoke?"
d. "Do you find it difficult not to smoke in places where smoking is prohibited?"
e. "Do you smoke when you are ill?"
f. "What happened the last time you tried to quit smoking?" - correct answer: a, d, e, f
,4. The nurse is talking to a patient who has been trying to quit smoking. Which statement by the
patient indicates an understanding of cigarette usage as it relates to reducing cardiovascular
risks?
a. "I need to be completely cigarette- free for at least 3 years"
b. "I don't smoke as much as I used to; I'm down to one pack a day."
c. "I started smoking a while ago, but I'll quit in a couple of years."
d. "I only smoke to relax, when I drink, or when I go out with friends." - correct answer: a
5. The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient at risk for heart disease. Which factor is
the most modifiable, controllable risk factor?
a. Obesity
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Ethnic background
d. Family history of cardiovascular disease - correct answer: a
6. The nurse is giving a community presentation about heart disease in women. What
information does the nurse include in the presentations? (select all that apply)
a. Dyspnea on exertion may be the first and only symptom of heart failure
b. Symptoms are subtle or atypical
c. Pain is often relieved by rest
d. Having waist and abdominal obesity is a higher risk factor than having fat in the buttocks and
thighs
e. Pain always responds to nitroglycerin
f. Common symptoms include back pain, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia - correct
answer: a, b, d, f
7. Which blood pressure readings require further assessment? (select all that apply)
a. 90 mm Hg systolic
, b. 139 mm Hg systolic
c. 115 mm Hg systolic
d. 66 mm Hg diastolic
e. 100mg Hg diastolic - correct answer: a, b, e
8. The nurse is working in the public health department is reviewing data for populations at risk
for CVD. Which group has the greatest need for intervention to reduce CVD risk?
a. Government employees who make approximately $40,000 a year
b. Part-time fast-food workers who make up approximately $9,000 a year
c. Hospital-employed nurses who make approximately $52,000 a year
d. Chain retail employees who make up approximately $18,000 a year - correct answer: b
9. Which category of cardiovascular drugs increases heart rate and contractility?
a. Diuretics
b. Beta blockers
c. Catecholamines
d. Benzodiazepines - correct answer: c
10. Which category of cardiovascular drugs blocks the sympathetic stimulation to the heart and
decreases heart rate?
a. Beta blockers
b. Catecholamines
c. Steroids
d. Benzodiazepines - correct answer: a
11. What different pathophysiologic conditions can the healthy heart adapt to? (select all that
apply)
