Medical Surgical Nursing Cardiovascular
Disorders Practice Exam Study Guide 2026/2027 |
Cardiac Nursing Questions and Answers PDF
Review
Medical Surgical Nursing: Cardiovascular Disorders
Practice Exam Study Guide 2026/2027
• This 200-question practice exam covers the full spectrum of cardiovascular
nursing, from anatomy and pharmacology to acute care and patient education —
designed to sharpen your clinical reasoning and exam readiness.
• Each question features five answer options (A–E), a clearly highlighted correct
answer with EXPERT RATIONALE, making this an ideal self-assessment and study
tool for nursing students and professionals.
SECTION 1: CARDIAC ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & ASSESSMENT
1. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the pumping action?
A. Pericardium
B. Epicardium
C. Endocardium
D. Myocardium
E. Fibrous pericardium
Correct Answer: D. Myocardium EXPERT RATIONALE: The myocardium is the
thick muscular middle layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle cells that
contract to pump blood through the circulatory system.
2. The sinoatrial (SA) node is located in which part of the heart?
A. Left ventricle
,B. Interventricular septum
C. Atrioventricular junction
D. Left atrium
E. Right atrium
Correct Answer: E. Right atrium EXPERT RATIONALE: The SA node, the
heart's primary pacemaker, is located in the upper wall of the right atrium near the
opening of the superior vena cava, initiating each normal heartbeat.
3. What is the normal resting heart rate for an adult?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 50–70 bpm
C. 90–110 bpm
D. 100–120 bpm
E. 60–100 bpm
Correct Answer: E. 60–100 bpm EXPERT RATIONALE: A normal adult resting
heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Values below 60 indicate
bradycardia; values above 100 indicate tachycardia.
4. Which heart valve prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left
ventricle?
A. Mitral valve
B. Tricuspid valve
C. Pulmonic valve
D. Aortic valve
E. Bicuspid valve
, Correct Answer: D. Aortic valve EXPERT RATIONALE: The aortic valve,
located between the left ventricle and the aorta, prevents regurgitation of blood back
into the left ventricle during diastole.
5. Cardiac output is best defined as:
A. The amount of blood ejected per heartbeat
B. The pressure exerted on arterial walls
C. The resistance against which the heart pumps
D. The volume of blood in the ventricles at end-diastole
E. The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute
Correct Answer: E. The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute
EXPERT RATIONALE: Cardiac output (CO) = Heart Rate × Stroke Volume. Normal CO
is 4–8 liters per minute and reflects the heart's overall pumping effectiveness.
6. Which assessment finding is MOST indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular vein distension
B. Peripheral edema
C. Hepatomegaly
D. Ascites
E. Crackles in the lungs
Correct Answer: E. Crackles in the lungs EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided
heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion and crackles (rales) upon auscultation.
7. What does the P wave on an ECG represent?
A. Ventricular depolarization
, B. Ventricular repolarization
C. AV node conduction
D. Bundle of His activation
E. Atrial depolarization
Correct Answer: E. Atrial depolarization EXPERT RATIONALE: The P wave
reflects the electrical activity of atrial depolarization, which triggers atrial contraction. It
precedes the QRS complex on a normal ECG.
8. What is the normal PR interval on an ECG?
A. 0.06–0.10 seconds
B. 0.10–0.16 seconds
C. 0.24–0.30 seconds
D. 0.32–0.40 seconds
E. 0.12–0.20 seconds
Correct Answer: E. 0.12–0.20 seconds EXPERT RATIONALE: The normal PR
interval is 0.12–0.20 seconds and represents conduction time from the SA node through
the AV node. A prolonged PR interval suggests first-degree heart block.
9. The QRS complex on an ECG represents:
A. Atrial repolarization
B. SA node firing
C. AV node delay
D. Atrial depolarization
E. Ventricular depolarization
Disorders Practice Exam Study Guide 2026/2027 |
Cardiac Nursing Questions and Answers PDF
Review
Medical Surgical Nursing: Cardiovascular Disorders
Practice Exam Study Guide 2026/2027
• This 200-question practice exam covers the full spectrum of cardiovascular
nursing, from anatomy and pharmacology to acute care and patient education —
designed to sharpen your clinical reasoning and exam readiness.
• Each question features five answer options (A–E), a clearly highlighted correct
answer with EXPERT RATIONALE, making this an ideal self-assessment and study
tool for nursing students and professionals.
SECTION 1: CARDIAC ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & ASSESSMENT
1. Which layer of the heart is responsible for the pumping action?
A. Pericardium
B. Epicardium
C. Endocardium
D. Myocardium
E. Fibrous pericardium
Correct Answer: D. Myocardium EXPERT RATIONALE: The myocardium is the
thick muscular middle layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle cells that
contract to pump blood through the circulatory system.
2. The sinoatrial (SA) node is located in which part of the heart?
A. Left ventricle
,B. Interventricular septum
C. Atrioventricular junction
D. Left atrium
E. Right atrium
Correct Answer: E. Right atrium EXPERT RATIONALE: The SA node, the
heart's primary pacemaker, is located in the upper wall of the right atrium near the
opening of the superior vena cava, initiating each normal heartbeat.
3. What is the normal resting heart rate for an adult?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 50–70 bpm
C. 90–110 bpm
D. 100–120 bpm
E. 60–100 bpm
Correct Answer: E. 60–100 bpm EXPERT RATIONALE: A normal adult resting
heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Values below 60 indicate
bradycardia; values above 100 indicate tachycardia.
4. Which heart valve prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the left
ventricle?
A. Mitral valve
B. Tricuspid valve
C. Pulmonic valve
D. Aortic valve
E. Bicuspid valve
, Correct Answer: D. Aortic valve EXPERT RATIONALE: The aortic valve,
located between the left ventricle and the aorta, prevents regurgitation of blood back
into the left ventricle during diastole.
5. Cardiac output is best defined as:
A. The amount of blood ejected per heartbeat
B. The pressure exerted on arterial walls
C. The resistance against which the heart pumps
D. The volume of blood in the ventricles at end-diastole
E. The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute
Correct Answer: E. The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute
EXPERT RATIONALE: Cardiac output (CO) = Heart Rate × Stroke Volume. Normal CO
is 4–8 liters per minute and reflects the heart's overall pumping effectiveness.
6. Which assessment finding is MOST indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular vein distension
B. Peripheral edema
C. Hepatomegaly
D. Ascites
E. Crackles in the lungs
Correct Answer: E. Crackles in the lungs EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided
heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion and crackles (rales) upon auscultation.
7. What does the P wave on an ECG represent?
A. Ventricular depolarization
, B. Ventricular repolarization
C. AV node conduction
D. Bundle of His activation
E. Atrial depolarization
Correct Answer: E. Atrial depolarization EXPERT RATIONALE: The P wave
reflects the electrical activity of atrial depolarization, which triggers atrial contraction. It
precedes the QRS complex on a normal ECG.
8. What is the normal PR interval on an ECG?
A. 0.06–0.10 seconds
B. 0.10–0.16 seconds
C. 0.24–0.30 seconds
D. 0.32–0.40 seconds
E. 0.12–0.20 seconds
Correct Answer: E. 0.12–0.20 seconds EXPERT RATIONALE: The normal PR
interval is 0.12–0.20 seconds and represents conduction time from the SA node through
the AV node. A prolonged PR interval suggests first-degree heart block.
9. The QRS complex on an ECG represents:
A. Atrial repolarization
B. SA node firing
C. AV node delay
D. Atrial depolarization
E. Ventricular depolarization
