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?"
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
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
During the physical examination of the patient's abdomen, the nurse auscultates a blowing sound over
the aorta. How should the nurse document this finding? a. Bruit b. Dysrhythmia c. Bigeminal pulse d.
Hypokinetic pulse
Correct answer — a. Bruit
1
, A patient has been admitted with severe leg pain. The limb is cyanotic, cool to the touch, and peripheral
pulses are absent. What should the nurse do first after this assessment. a. Document the findings b.
Teach relaxation techniques c. Notify the physician immediately d. Ask how long the limb has been
hurting
Correct answer — c. Notify the physician immediately
The nurse instructs a patient about modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. Which statements
indicate that teaching has been effective? (Select all that apply) a. "I should stop smoking to reduce my
risk of heart disease." b. "Restricting my activity reduces the onset of heart disease." c. "I should drink
alcohol because this prevents heart disease." d. "There is not much that can be done to prevent heart
disease." e. "Obesity is a risk factor that I can change to reduce the onset of heart disease."
Correct answer — a. "I should stop smoking to reduce my risk of heart disease."
e. "Obesity is a risk factor that I can change to reduce the onset of heart disease."
A patient is prescribed lovastatin (Mevacor) for hyperlipidemia. What should the nurse instruct the
patient about this medication? a. Abstain from alcohol use while taking this drug b. Take the drug with
meals to minimize gastric distress c. Promptly report muscle pain or tenderness to the physician d.
Consume a diet that includes no more than 20& of calories from standard saturated fat
Correct answer — c. Promptly report muscle pain or tenderness to the physician
The nurse is caring for a patient with stable angina. Which assessment finding would be consistent with
this medical diagnosis? a. Persistent ECG changes b. Increasing nocturnal pain c. Correlation between
activity level and pain d. Evidence of impaired cardiac output such as weak peripheral pulses
Correct answer — c. Correlation between activity level and pain
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute coronary syndrome. Which nursing diagnosis should be the priority for this
patient? a. Anxiety related to unknown outcome of disorder b. Decreased Cardiac Output related to myocardial ischemia c.
Ineffective Health Maintenance related to lack of knowledge about coronary heart disease
d. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion: Cardiopulmonary related to underlying coronary heart disease
Correct answer — d. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion: Cardiopulmonary related to underlying coronary heart disease
The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a coronary angioplasty with stent placement. Which
intervention is a priority for the patient at this time? a. Securing chest tubes to bedding b. Maintaining leg
extension on the affected side c. Discontinue intravenous lines when taking oral fluids d. Treating chest
pain with intravenous morphine as needed
Correct answer — b. Maintaining leg extension on the affected side
The nurse is planning care for a patient with acute myocardial infarction. What goals should the nurse
use to guide this patient's care? (Select all that apply) a. Relieve chest pain b. Prevent complications c.
Reduce blood viscosity d. Decrease cardiac workload e. Reduce myocardial damage
Correct answer — a. Relieve chest pain b. Prevent complications d. Decrease cardiac workload e. Reduce myocardial damage
The nurse is determining nursing diagnoses appropriate for a patient scheduled for fibrinolytic therapy.
Which nursing diagnosis would be a priority for this patient? a. Anxiety b. Ineffective Protection c. Risk
for Powerlessness d. Ineffective Health Maintenance
Correct answer — b. Ineffective Protection
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient admitted with acute chest pain. Which laboratory
value should cause the nurse the most concern? a. AST 65 units/L b. Ck 320 UNITS/L c. Hematocrit 36%
d. APTT 35 seconds
Correct answer — b. Ck 320 UNITS/L
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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?"
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
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
During the physical examination of the patient's abdomen, the nurse auscultates a blowing sound over
the aorta. How should the nurse document this finding? a. Bruit b. Dysrhythmia c. Bigeminal pulse d.
Hypokinetic pulse
Correct answer — a. Bruit
1
, A patient has been admitted with severe leg pain. The limb is cyanotic, cool to the touch, and peripheral
pulses are absent. What should the nurse do first after this assessment. a. Document the findings b.
Teach relaxation techniques c. Notify the physician immediately d. Ask how long the limb has been
hurting
Correct answer — c. Notify the physician immediately
The nurse instructs a patient about modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. Which statements
indicate that teaching has been effective? (Select all that apply) a. "I should stop smoking to reduce my
risk of heart disease." b. "Restricting my activity reduces the onset of heart disease." c. "I should drink
alcohol because this prevents heart disease." d. "There is not much that can be done to prevent heart
disease." e. "Obesity is a risk factor that I can change to reduce the onset of heart disease."
Correct answer — a. "I should stop smoking to reduce my risk of heart disease."
e. "Obesity is a risk factor that I can change to reduce the onset of heart disease."
A patient is prescribed lovastatin (Mevacor) for hyperlipidemia. What should the nurse instruct the
patient about this medication? a. Abstain from alcohol use while taking this drug b. Take the drug with
meals to minimize gastric distress c. Promptly report muscle pain or tenderness to the physician d.
Consume a diet that includes no more than 20& of calories from standard saturated fat
Correct answer — c. Promptly report muscle pain or tenderness to the physician
The nurse is caring for a patient with stable angina. Which assessment finding would be consistent with
this medical diagnosis? a. Persistent ECG changes b. Increasing nocturnal pain c. Correlation between
activity level and pain d. Evidence of impaired cardiac output such as weak peripheral pulses
Correct answer — c. Correlation between activity level and pain
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute coronary syndrome. Which nursing diagnosis should be the priority for this
patient? a. Anxiety related to unknown outcome of disorder b. Decreased Cardiac Output related to myocardial ischemia c.
Ineffective Health Maintenance related to lack of knowledge about coronary heart disease
d. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion: Cardiopulmonary related to underlying coronary heart disease
Correct answer — d. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion: Cardiopulmonary related to underlying coronary heart disease
The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a coronary angioplasty with stent placement. Which
intervention is a priority for the patient at this time? a. Securing chest tubes to bedding b. Maintaining leg
extension on the affected side c. Discontinue intravenous lines when taking oral fluids d. Treating chest
pain with intravenous morphine as needed
Correct answer — b. Maintaining leg extension on the affected side
The nurse is planning care for a patient with acute myocardial infarction. What goals should the nurse
use to guide this patient's care? (Select all that apply) a. Relieve chest pain b. Prevent complications c.
Reduce blood viscosity d. Decrease cardiac workload e. Reduce myocardial damage
Correct answer — a. Relieve chest pain b. Prevent complications d. Decrease cardiac workload e. Reduce myocardial damage
The nurse is determining nursing diagnoses appropriate for a patient scheduled for fibrinolytic therapy.
Which nursing diagnosis would be a priority for this patient? a. Anxiety b. Ineffective Protection c. Risk
for Powerlessness d. Ineffective Health Maintenance
Correct answer — b. Ineffective Protection
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient admitted with acute chest pain. Which laboratory
value should cause the nurse the most concern? a. AST 65 units/L b. Ck 320 UNITS/L c. Hematocrit 36%
d. APTT 35 seconds
Correct answer — b. Ck 320 UNITS/L
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