RN VATI Adult Medical Surgical Assessment Exam:
200 Practice Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales – Comprehensive Testbank for
2026/2027 Success
Cardiovascular System (Questions 1-17)
1. A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart
failure. Which finding is most indicative of this
condition?
• A) Jugular venous distention
• B) Peripheral edema
• C) Crackles in the lung bases
• D) Hepatomegaly
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C) Crackles in the lung bases
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to
back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion. This manifests as crackles
(rales), dyspnea, and orthopnea. Jugular venous
,distention, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly
are classic signs of right-sided heart failure.
2. A client with heart failure is prescribed digoxin.
Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
• A) Heart rate of 72 beats per minute
• B) Serum potassium level of 4.0 mEq/L
• C) Yellow-tinged vision
• D) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C) Yellow-tinged vision
Rationale: Visual disturbances, such as yellow-
tinged or halo vision, are classic signs of digoxin
toxicity. Bradycardia (not a rate of 72) and
hypokalemia (potassium below 3.5) are also
associated, but the potassium level here is normal.
3. A nurse is assessing a client with pericarditis.
Which finding is most consistent with this
diagnosis?
• A) Chest pain that worsens when lying flat
, • B) Chest pain that improves with deep
inspiration
• C) Substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm
• D) Chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A) Chest pain that worsens
when lying flat
Rationale: Pericarditis causes inflammation of the
pericardial sac. The pain is typically sharp, pleuritic,
and worsens when lying flat or with inspiration. It
improves when sitting up and leaning forward,
which relieves pressure on the pericardium.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with infective
endocarditis. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
• A) Splinter hemorrhages
• B) Petechiae on the trunk
• C) Osler's nodes on the fingertips
• D) All of the above
, ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: D) All of the above
Rationale: Infective endocarditis is associated with
systemic embolization and vasculitis, leading to a
variety of peripheral manifestations. These include
splinter hemorrhages (linear red/brown streaks
under the nails), petechiae, and Osler's nodes
(tender, red/purple nodules on the fingertips).
5. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed
warfarin. The nurse should monitor which
laboratory value to evaluate the effectiveness of
this medication?
• A) aPTT
• B) INR
• C) Platelet count
• D) Bleeding time
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B) INR
Rationale: Warfarin is a Vitamin K antagonist that
affects the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation
cascade. The therapeutic effect of warfarin is
200 Practice Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales – Comprehensive Testbank for
2026/2027 Success
Cardiovascular System (Questions 1-17)
1. A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart
failure. Which finding is most indicative of this
condition?
• A) Jugular venous distention
• B) Peripheral edema
• C) Crackles in the lung bases
• D) Hepatomegaly
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C) Crackles in the lung bases
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to
back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion. This manifests as crackles
(rales), dyspnea, and orthopnea. Jugular venous
,distention, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly
are classic signs of right-sided heart failure.
2. A client with heart failure is prescribed digoxin.
Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
• A) Heart rate of 72 beats per minute
• B) Serum potassium level of 4.0 mEq/L
• C) Yellow-tinged vision
• D) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C) Yellow-tinged vision
Rationale: Visual disturbances, such as yellow-
tinged or halo vision, are classic signs of digoxin
toxicity. Bradycardia (not a rate of 72) and
hypokalemia (potassium below 3.5) are also
associated, but the potassium level here is normal.
3. A nurse is assessing a client with pericarditis.
Which finding is most consistent with this
diagnosis?
• A) Chest pain that worsens when lying flat
, • B) Chest pain that improves with deep
inspiration
• C) Substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm
• D) Chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A) Chest pain that worsens
when lying flat
Rationale: Pericarditis causes inflammation of the
pericardial sac. The pain is typically sharp, pleuritic,
and worsens when lying flat or with inspiration. It
improves when sitting up and leaning forward,
which relieves pressure on the pericardium.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with infective
endocarditis. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
• A) Splinter hemorrhages
• B) Petechiae on the trunk
• C) Osler's nodes on the fingertips
• D) All of the above
, ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: D) All of the above
Rationale: Infective endocarditis is associated with
systemic embolization and vasculitis, leading to a
variety of peripheral manifestations. These include
splinter hemorrhages (linear red/brown streaks
under the nails), petechiae, and Osler's nodes
(tender, red/purple nodules on the fingertips).
5. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed
warfarin. The nurse should monitor which
laboratory value to evaluate the effectiveness of
this medication?
• A) aPTT
• B) INR
• C) Platelet count
• D) Bleeding time
☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B) INR
Rationale: Warfarin is a Vitamin K antagonist that
affects the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation
cascade. The therapeutic effect of warfarin is
