ATI RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL CARDIOVASCULAR
ONLINE PRACTICE ACTUAL EXAM WITH LATEST QUESTION
AND ANSWERS LATEST VERION 2026-2027 RATED A GRADE.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of angina and is scheduled for an
exercise electrocardiography at 1100. Which of the following statements by the
client requires the nurse to contact the provider for possible rescheduling?
A) "I'm still hungry after the bowl of cereal I ate at 7 am."
B) "I didn't take my heart pills this morning because the doctor told me not to."
C) "I have had chest pain a couple of times since I saw my doctor in the office last
week."
D) "I smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about having this
procedure."
Correct Answer: D) "I smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about
having this procedure."
Rationale
Smoking prior to an exercise electrocardiography (stress test) can alter the test
results by affecting heart rate and oxygen delivery, and it places the client at
additional cardiovascular risk. The procedure should be rescheduled if the client
has smoked before the test. Eating a light meal (A) is generally acceptable, though
the client should avoid heavy meals. Withholding cardiovascular medications (B)
may be prescribed to accurately assess the heart's response to stress. Episodes of
chest pain (C) are not a contraindication to the test; in fact, they may be a reason
for the test. The nurse should also assess the client's chest pain and notify the
provider if it is unstable.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Diagnostic Procedures/Cardiac
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
,A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. The nurse
should instruct the client to report which of the following findings immediately to
the provider?
A) Weight gain of 0.8 kg (2 lb) in 24 hours
B) Increase of 10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure
C) Dyspnea with exertion
D) Dizziness when rising quickly
Correct Answer: A) Weight gain of 0.8 kg (2 lb) in 24 hours
Rationale
A weight gain of 0.5 to 0.9 kg (1 to 2 lb) in 1 day is a sign of fluid retention due to
worsening heart failure. This finding requires immediate reporting to the provider.
An increase of 10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (B) may be significant but is
not as urgent. Dyspnea with exertion (C) is an expected symptom of heart failure
and should be monitored but is not an emergency. Dizziness when rising quickly
(D) is often related to orthostatic hypotension and can be managed with position
changes. The nurse should also instruct the client to monitor daily weights and
notify the provider for rapid increases.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Heart Failure
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is assessing a client who has a history of deep-vein thrombosis and is
receiving warfarin. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse
that the medication is effective?
A) Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
B) Minimal bruising of extremities
C) Decreased blood pressure
D) INR 2.0
Correct Answer: D) INR 2.0
, Rationale
Warfarin is an anticoagulant used to prevent thrombus formation. The
therapeutic INR range for a client with a history of deep-vein thrombosis is
typically 2.0 to 3.0. An INR of 2.0 indicates that the medication is effective.
Hemoglobin 14 g/dL (A) is within normal limits but does not indicate
anticoagulation effectiveness. Minimal bruising (B) is a desired outcome but not a
specific measure of effectiveness. Decreased blood pressure (C) is not related to
warfarin therapy. The nurse should also monitor the client for signs of bleeding
and educate about dietary vitamin K consistency.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluate (Evaluation)
TOP: Pharmacology
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is reviewing the ECG rhythm strip of a client who is receiving telemetry.
Which of the following areas of the strip should the nurse examine to observe for
atrial depolarization?
A) P-wave
B) QRS complex
C) T-wave
D) U-wave
Correct Answer: A) P-wave
Rationale
The P-wave represents atrial depolarization (contraction). The QRS complex (B)
represents ventricular depolarization. The T-wave (C) represents ventricular
repolarization. The U-wave (D) is a small deflection sometimes seen after the T-
wave and is not consistently present. The nurse should also assess the P-R interval
and QRS duration to evaluate conduction.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Cardiac Monitoring
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
ONLINE PRACTICE ACTUAL EXAM WITH LATEST QUESTION
AND ANSWERS LATEST VERION 2026-2027 RATED A GRADE.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of angina and is scheduled for an
exercise electrocardiography at 1100. Which of the following statements by the
client requires the nurse to contact the provider for possible rescheduling?
A) "I'm still hungry after the bowl of cereal I ate at 7 am."
B) "I didn't take my heart pills this morning because the doctor told me not to."
C) "I have had chest pain a couple of times since I saw my doctor in the office last
week."
D) "I smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about having this
procedure."
Correct Answer: D) "I smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about
having this procedure."
Rationale
Smoking prior to an exercise electrocardiography (stress test) can alter the test
results by affecting heart rate and oxygen delivery, and it places the client at
additional cardiovascular risk. The procedure should be rescheduled if the client
has smoked before the test. Eating a light meal (A) is generally acceptable, though
the client should avoid heavy meals. Withholding cardiovascular medications (B)
may be prescribed to accurately assess the heart's response to stress. Episodes of
chest pain (C) are not a contraindication to the test; in fact, they may be a reason
for the test. The nurse should also assess the client's chest pain and notify the
provider if it is unstable.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Diagnostic Procedures/Cardiac
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
,A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. The nurse
should instruct the client to report which of the following findings immediately to
the provider?
A) Weight gain of 0.8 kg (2 lb) in 24 hours
B) Increase of 10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure
C) Dyspnea with exertion
D) Dizziness when rising quickly
Correct Answer: A) Weight gain of 0.8 kg (2 lb) in 24 hours
Rationale
A weight gain of 0.5 to 0.9 kg (1 to 2 lb) in 1 day is a sign of fluid retention due to
worsening heart failure. This finding requires immediate reporting to the provider.
An increase of 10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (B) may be significant but is
not as urgent. Dyspnea with exertion (C) is an expected symptom of heart failure
and should be monitored but is not an emergency. Dizziness when rising quickly
(D) is often related to orthostatic hypotension and can be managed with position
changes. The nurse should also instruct the client to monitor daily weights and
notify the provider for rapid increases.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Heart Failure
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is assessing a client who has a history of deep-vein thrombosis and is
receiving warfarin. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse
that the medication is effective?
A) Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
B) Minimal bruising of extremities
C) Decreased blood pressure
D) INR 2.0
Correct Answer: D) INR 2.0
, Rationale
Warfarin is an anticoagulant used to prevent thrombus formation. The
therapeutic INR range for a client with a history of deep-vein thrombosis is
typically 2.0 to 3.0. An INR of 2.0 indicates that the medication is effective.
Hemoglobin 14 g/dL (A) is within normal limits but does not indicate
anticoagulation effectiveness. Minimal bruising (B) is a desired outcome but not a
specific measure of effectiveness. Decreased blood pressure (C) is not related to
warfarin therapy. The nurse should also monitor the client for signs of bleeding
and educate about dietary vitamin K consistency.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluate (Evaluation)
TOP: Pharmacology
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is reviewing the ECG rhythm strip of a client who is receiving telemetry.
Which of the following areas of the strip should the nurse examine to observe for
atrial depolarization?
A) P-wave
B) QRS complex
C) T-wave
D) U-wave
Correct Answer: A) P-wave
Rationale
The P-wave represents atrial depolarization (contraction). The QRS complex (B)
represents ventricular depolarization. The T-wave (C) represents ventricular
repolarization. The U-wave (D) is a small deflection sometimes seen after the T-
wave and is not consistently present. The nurse should also assess the P-R interval
and QRS duration to evaluate conduction.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Cardiac Monitoring
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
