• MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
MCAT EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT | GRADE A
1. Which question would a nurse ask when taking a history for a patient in acute distress from chest pain?
“Do you have a family history of diabetes mellitus?”
“Do you take any medications?”
“What type of diet do you typically eat?”
“Have you had cardiac studies completed in the past?”
“Do you take any medications?”
2. The nurse reviews a 12-lead electrocardiogram from a patient with crushing chest pain and identifies that
which element is, most important to assess?
PR interval
QRS complex
ST segment
P 1
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
P wave
ST segment
Myocardial infarction causes changes to the ST segment; therefore, the nurse would closely assess for any ST
segment changes.
3. Which question would the nurse use to assess the chronology of chest pain?
“Where is the pain?”
“How has the pain progressed?”
“How long does the pain last?”
“What does the pain feel like?”
“How has the pain progressed?”
4. Which area of the body would the nurse observe to assess for central cyanosis?
Nail beds
Wrists
Legs
Tongue
Tongue
5. Which patient statement about clubbing indicates understanding of the education?
“I have clubbing because of the peripheral cyanosis.”
“My nails are wide and bulging due to the clubbing.”
“Clubbing is what causes my leg edema.”
“I have an angle between the root of the nail bed and my finger.”
“My nails are wide and bulging due to the clubbing.”
6. Which finding would indicate right-sided heart failure?
Ascites
Abdominal adiposity
Lower extremity wounds
Loss of hair on legs
Ascites
7. Which finding would the nurse expect to find in a patient with peripheral arterial disease?
P 2
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Hard and fibrotic skin texture
Varicose veins
Nail thinning
Cold extremities
Cold extremities
A patient with peripheral arterial disease would have extremities that are cold when compared to the rest of
their body.
8. Which position would relieve pain for a patient who has pericarditis?
Supine
Prone
Leaning forward
Standing
Leaning forward
9. Which skin change would the nurse expect to see in the lower extremities of a patient with peripheral arterial
disease?
Fibrotic skin
Dermatitis
Brown patches
Shiny appearance
Shiny appearance
10. Which location would the nurse use to assess for jugular vein distention?
Right side of the neck
Left groin
Right groin
Left side of the neck
Right side of the neck
11. In which position would the nurse place a patient when assessing for jugular vein distension?
Supine and flat
Seated at a 15-degree angle
P 3
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Seated at a 30-degree angle
High-Fowler’s position
Seated at a 30-degree angle
12. During an abdominojugular reflex assessment, how many times would the nurse assess for jugular vein
distention?
One
Two
Three
Four
Three
When assessing the abdominojugular reflex, the nurse assesses the jugular vein distention three times: prior to
compression, during compression, and after compression is released.
13. Which landmark would the nurse use when assessing the point of maximal impulse?
Left midclavicular line
Posterior axillary line
Midsternal line
Right anterior axillary line
Left midclavicular line
14. In which way would the nurse label the intercostal space between the third and fourth rib?
Third intercostal space
Fourth intercostal space
Fifth intercostal space
Sixth intercostal space
Third intercostal space
The intercostal space is named for the rib that lies above it. Therefore, the space between the third and fourth
rib would be called the third intercostal space.
15. At which point of the cardiac cycle would the apical impulse be visible?
Systole
Diastole
Refractory period
P 4
MCAT EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT | GRADE A
1. Which question would a nurse ask when taking a history for a patient in acute distress from chest pain?
“Do you have a family history of diabetes mellitus?”
“Do you take any medications?”
“What type of diet do you typically eat?”
“Have you had cardiac studies completed in the past?”
“Do you take any medications?”
2. The nurse reviews a 12-lead electrocardiogram from a patient with crushing chest pain and identifies that
which element is, most important to assess?
PR interval
QRS complex
ST segment
P 1
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
P wave
ST segment
Myocardial infarction causes changes to the ST segment; therefore, the nurse would closely assess for any ST
segment changes.
3. Which question would the nurse use to assess the chronology of chest pain?
“Where is the pain?”
“How has the pain progressed?”
“How long does the pain last?”
“What does the pain feel like?”
“How has the pain progressed?”
4. Which area of the body would the nurse observe to assess for central cyanosis?
Nail beds
Wrists
Legs
Tongue
Tongue
5. Which patient statement about clubbing indicates understanding of the education?
“I have clubbing because of the peripheral cyanosis.”
“My nails are wide and bulging due to the clubbing.”
“Clubbing is what causes my leg edema.”
“I have an angle between the root of the nail bed and my finger.”
“My nails are wide and bulging due to the clubbing.”
6. Which finding would indicate right-sided heart failure?
Ascites
Abdominal adiposity
Lower extremity wounds
Loss of hair on legs
Ascites
7. Which finding would the nurse expect to find in a patient with peripheral arterial disease?
P 2
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Hard and fibrotic skin texture
Varicose veins
Nail thinning
Cold extremities
Cold extremities
A patient with peripheral arterial disease would have extremities that are cold when compared to the rest of
their body.
8. Which position would relieve pain for a patient who has pericarditis?
Supine
Prone
Leaning forward
Standing
Leaning forward
9. Which skin change would the nurse expect to see in the lower extremities of a patient with peripheral arterial
disease?
Fibrotic skin
Dermatitis
Brown patches
Shiny appearance
Shiny appearance
10. Which location would the nurse use to assess for jugular vein distention?
Right side of the neck
Left groin
Right groin
Left side of the neck
Right side of the neck
11. In which position would the nurse place a patient when assessing for jugular vein distension?
Supine and flat
Seated at a 15-degree angle
P 3
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Seated at a 30-degree angle
High-Fowler’s position
Seated at a 30-degree angle
12. During an abdominojugular reflex assessment, how many times would the nurse assess for jugular vein
distention?
One
Two
Three
Four
Three
When assessing the abdominojugular reflex, the nurse assesses the jugular vein distention three times: prior to
compression, during compression, and after compression is released.
13. Which landmark would the nurse use when assessing the point of maximal impulse?
Left midclavicular line
Posterior axillary line
Midsternal line
Right anterior axillary line
Left midclavicular line
14. In which way would the nurse label the intercostal space between the third and fourth rib?
Third intercostal space
Fourth intercostal space
Fifth intercostal space
Sixth intercostal space
Third intercostal space
The intercostal space is named for the rib that lies above it. Therefore, the space between the third and fourth
rib would be called the third intercostal space.
15. At which point of the cardiac cycle would the apical impulse be visible?
Systole
Diastole
Refractory period
P 4
