CARDIAC CATH LAB RN A – NEW 2026 RELIAS
RELEASE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, COMPETENCY
REVIEW & VERIFIED ANSWERS PDF
You have been tasked with administering moderate sedation to a patient
in the cardiac catheterization lab. What tasks are your priority?
Counting respirations, readying suction, observing chest rise and fall
Which statement made by the patient after a cardiac stent placement
indicates patient education was effective?
I will take Brilinta twice a day with food
While performing a PCI, you notice contrast staining the pericardium. The
patient experiences chest pain, acute hypotension, and tachycardia.
What emergent intervention should you prepare?
Pericardidocentesis
During transfer of care post-procedure, what should you do with the
receiving nurse to decrease the chance of missing a hematoma or
bleeding?
View the sheath insertion site
How is radiation exposure to staff monitored?
Wearing film badge dosimeters
The physician states he wishes to perform a FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve)
on a suspect lesion in the RCA. What medication would you anticipate
preparing for this procedure?
Adenosine
A hematoma is found when handing off patient care to recovery nurse.
What IMMEDIATE actions can be taken to ensure that the hematoma does
not progress?
, Apply pressure to access site
Your patient is newly prescribed Brilinta post PCI. What piece of
education is MOST important before discharge?
Take Brilinta twice a day and do not miss any doses
What does the dicrotic notch represent on the arterial waveform?
Closure of the aortic valve
Which medications should be ready for the physician to be given
intracoronary when experiencing slow flow phenomenon?
Diltiazem (Cardizem), Nipride (sodium nitroprusside), Cardene
(Nicardipine)
What finding would be MOST concerning post sheath removal?
Hematoma at insertion site
In order to calculate Fick cardiac output which of the following
saturations do you need?
AO and PA
What is the FIRST action you should take if a patient who is receiving
moderate sedation has the following vital signs: HR 82, SpO2 93%, RR 18,
elevated end tidal CO2 and begins snoring?
Open airway with head tilt/chin lift
What intervention do you expect would be ordered for a patient with a
blood pressure of 128/83, elevated right atrial, left ventricular, and
pulmonary artery pressures, along with SOB, adventitious lung sounds,
and SpO2 87%?
Lasix
What size wires are usually utilized in coronary balloon angioplasty?
0.014 x 180
Which cardiac pressure findings are consistent with aortic stenosis?
RELEASE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, COMPETENCY
REVIEW & VERIFIED ANSWERS PDF
You have been tasked with administering moderate sedation to a patient
in the cardiac catheterization lab. What tasks are your priority?
Counting respirations, readying suction, observing chest rise and fall
Which statement made by the patient after a cardiac stent placement
indicates patient education was effective?
I will take Brilinta twice a day with food
While performing a PCI, you notice contrast staining the pericardium. The
patient experiences chest pain, acute hypotension, and tachycardia.
What emergent intervention should you prepare?
Pericardidocentesis
During transfer of care post-procedure, what should you do with the
receiving nurse to decrease the chance of missing a hematoma or
bleeding?
View the sheath insertion site
How is radiation exposure to staff monitored?
Wearing film badge dosimeters
The physician states he wishes to perform a FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve)
on a suspect lesion in the RCA. What medication would you anticipate
preparing for this procedure?
Adenosine
A hematoma is found when handing off patient care to recovery nurse.
What IMMEDIATE actions can be taken to ensure that the hematoma does
not progress?
, Apply pressure to access site
Your patient is newly prescribed Brilinta post PCI. What piece of
education is MOST important before discharge?
Take Brilinta twice a day and do not miss any doses
What does the dicrotic notch represent on the arterial waveform?
Closure of the aortic valve
Which medications should be ready for the physician to be given
intracoronary when experiencing slow flow phenomenon?
Diltiazem (Cardizem), Nipride (sodium nitroprusside), Cardene
(Nicardipine)
What finding would be MOST concerning post sheath removal?
Hematoma at insertion site
In order to calculate Fick cardiac output which of the following
saturations do you need?
AO and PA
What is the FIRST action you should take if a patient who is receiving
moderate sedation has the following vital signs: HR 82, SpO2 93%, RR 18,
elevated end tidal CO2 and begins snoring?
Open airway with head tilt/chin lift
What intervention do you expect would be ordered for a patient with a
blood pressure of 128/83, elevated right atrial, left ventricular, and
pulmonary artery pressures, along with SOB, adventitious lung sounds,
and SpO2 87%?
Lasix
What size wires are usually utilized in coronary balloon angioplasty?
0.014 x 180
Which cardiac pressure findings are consistent with aortic stenosis?
