• NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
NURS 5220 Exam : NURS 5220 Exam Practice
Exam: 150 Questions & Answers:Latest Updated
A+ Guide Solution | Verified Q&A with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
When listening to heart sounds, the nurse knows that the valve closures that can be heard for S2 is:
A) pulmonic
B) aortic
C) tricuspid
D) mitral –
Correct Answer :B) aortic
P 1
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
The second heart sound (S2) occurs with the closure of the aortic valve and signals the end of systole. Although
it is heard over all the precordium, S2 is loudest at the base of the heart. (Bates, p347)
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical. During history the patient states he has been having
difficulty sleeping. "I'll be sleeping great and then I wake up and feel like I can't catch my breath." His symptoms
indicates sleep related symptoms of a certain type of disease, so which question would the NP want to ask?
A) Have you had a recent sinus infection or URI?
B) Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
C) Do you think it is because it's been so hot at night?
D) When was your last electroencephalogram? –
Correct Answer :B) Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea occurs with heart failure. Lying down increases volume of intrathoracic blood,
and the weakened heart cannot accommodate the increased load. Classically, the person awakens after 2 hours
of sleep, arises, and flings open a window with the perception of needing fresh air. (Bates, p357)
In assessing a patient's major risk factors for heart disease, which would the nurse want to include when taking a
history?
A) Personality type, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking
B) Family history, hypertension, stress, age
C) Alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, stress, high cholesterol
D) Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, activity level, family history
- Correct Answer :D) Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, activity level, family history
For major risk factors for coronary artery disease, collect data regarding elevated serum cholesterol, elevated
blood pressure, blood glucose levels above 130 mg/dL or known diabetes mellitus, obesity, cigarette smoking,
low activity level (Bates, p358)
In assessing the carotid arteries of an older patient with cardiovascular disease, the nurse would:
A) palpate the artery in the upper one third of the neck.
P 2
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
B) listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
C) palpate both arteries simultaneously to compare amplitude.
D) instruct the patient to take slow deep breaths during inspiration.
- Correct Answer :B) listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
If cardiovascular disease is suspected, the nurse should auscultate each carotid artery for the presence of a bruit.
The NP should avoid compressing the artery because this could create an artificial bruit, and it could compromise
circulation if the carotid artery is already narrowed by atherosclerosis. Avoid excessive pressure on the carotid
sinus area higher in the neck; excessive vagal stimulation here could slow down the heart rate, especially in older
adults. Palpate only one carotid artery at a time to avoid compromising arterial blood to the brain. The bell of the
stethoscope is best for picking up bruits. The diaphragm is more attuned to relatively high-pitched sounds; the
bell is more sensitive to low-pitched sounds like bruits. (Bates, 381)
All of the following are true about assessing the jugular venous pressure EXCEPT:
A) The jugular venous pressure is affected by changes in the right atrial filling.
B) The pulsation from the internal jugular vein reflects the left ventricle pressure.
C) The jugular venous pressure is determined by the highest point of oscillation in the internal jugular vein.
D) The jugular venous pressure is considered abnormal if it is greater than 4 cm above the sternal angle or
greater than 9 cm above the right atrium.
- Correct Answer :B) The pulsation from the internal jugular vein reflects the left ventricle pressure.
The jugular venous pressure is affected by changes in R atrial filling. The JVP is abnormal at a height greater than
4 cm and is determined by the highest point of oscillation. The pulsation from the internal jugular vein is not
palpable. (Bates, p354-355)
During an assessment of a healthy adult, where would the nurse expect to palpate the apical impulse?
A) fourth left intercostal space at the anterior axillary line
B) fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
C) third left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
D) fourth left intercostal space at the sternal border
P 3
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
- Correct Answer :B) fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
The apical pulse should occupy only one intercostal space, the fourth or fifth, and it should be at or medial to the
midclavicular line (Bates, p385-387).
The nurse is preparing to auscultate for heart sounds. Which technique is correct?
A) Listen in the 6 auscultation areas.
B) Listen for only murmurs and low pitched sounds.
C) Listen to the sounds at the aortic, tricuspid, pulmonic, and mitral areas.
D) Listen to the sounds only at the site where the apical pulse is felt to be the strongest. –
Correct Answer :A) Listen in the 6 auscultation areas.
Bates p390-391
While counting the apical pulse on a 16-year-old patient, the nurse notices an irregular rhythm. His rate speeds up
on inspiration and slows on expiration. What would be the nurse's response?
A) Talk with the patient about his intake of caffeine.
B) Refer the patient to a cardiologist for further testing.
C) No further response is needed because this is a normal variation.
D) Perform an echocardiogram after the examination.
- Correct Answer :C) No further response is needed because this is a normal variation.
The rhythm should be regular, although sinus arrhythmia occurs normally in young adults and children. With sinus
arrhythmia, the rhythm varies with the person's breathing. Increasing at the peak of inspiration and slowing with
expiration (Bates, p401).
Which of following is not found in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen?
P 4
NURS 5220 Exam : NURS 5220 Exam Practice
Exam: 150 Questions & Answers:Latest Updated
A+ Guide Solution | Verified Q&A with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
When listening to heart sounds, the nurse knows that the valve closures that can be heard for S2 is:
A) pulmonic
B) aortic
C) tricuspid
D) mitral –
Correct Answer :B) aortic
P 1
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
The second heart sound (S2) occurs with the closure of the aortic valve and signals the end of systole. Although
it is heard over all the precordium, S2 is loudest at the base of the heart. (Bates, p347)
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical. During history the patient states he has been having
difficulty sleeping. "I'll be sleeping great and then I wake up and feel like I can't catch my breath." His symptoms
indicates sleep related symptoms of a certain type of disease, so which question would the NP want to ask?
A) Have you had a recent sinus infection or URI?
B) Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
C) Do you think it is because it's been so hot at night?
D) When was your last electroencephalogram? –
Correct Answer :B) Do you have any history of problems with your heart?
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea occurs with heart failure. Lying down increases volume of intrathoracic blood,
and the weakened heart cannot accommodate the increased load. Classically, the person awakens after 2 hours
of sleep, arises, and flings open a window with the perception of needing fresh air. (Bates, p357)
In assessing a patient's major risk factors for heart disease, which would the nurse want to include when taking a
history?
A) Personality type, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking
B) Family history, hypertension, stress, age
C) Alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, stress, high cholesterol
D) Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, activity level, family history
- Correct Answer :D) Smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, activity level, family history
For major risk factors for coronary artery disease, collect data regarding elevated serum cholesterol, elevated
blood pressure, blood glucose levels above 130 mg/dL or known diabetes mellitus, obesity, cigarette smoking,
low activity level (Bates, p358)
In assessing the carotid arteries of an older patient with cardiovascular disease, the nurse would:
A) palpate the artery in the upper one third of the neck.
P 2
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
B) listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
C) palpate both arteries simultaneously to compare amplitude.
D) instruct the patient to take slow deep breaths during inspiration.
- Correct Answer :B) listen with the bell of the stethoscope to assess for bruits.
If cardiovascular disease is suspected, the nurse should auscultate each carotid artery for the presence of a bruit.
The NP should avoid compressing the artery because this could create an artificial bruit, and it could compromise
circulation if the carotid artery is already narrowed by atherosclerosis. Avoid excessive pressure on the carotid
sinus area higher in the neck; excessive vagal stimulation here could slow down the heart rate, especially in older
adults. Palpate only one carotid artery at a time to avoid compromising arterial blood to the brain. The bell of the
stethoscope is best for picking up bruits. The diaphragm is more attuned to relatively high-pitched sounds; the
bell is more sensitive to low-pitched sounds like bruits. (Bates, 381)
All of the following are true about assessing the jugular venous pressure EXCEPT:
A) The jugular venous pressure is affected by changes in the right atrial filling.
B) The pulsation from the internal jugular vein reflects the left ventricle pressure.
C) The jugular venous pressure is determined by the highest point of oscillation in the internal jugular vein.
D) The jugular venous pressure is considered abnormal if it is greater than 4 cm above the sternal angle or
greater than 9 cm above the right atrium.
- Correct Answer :B) The pulsation from the internal jugular vein reflects the left ventricle pressure.
The jugular venous pressure is affected by changes in R atrial filling. The JVP is abnormal at a height greater than
4 cm and is determined by the highest point of oscillation. The pulsation from the internal jugular vein is not
palpable. (Bates, p354-355)
During an assessment of a healthy adult, where would the nurse expect to palpate the apical impulse?
A) fourth left intercostal space at the anterior axillary line
B) fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
C) third left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
D) fourth left intercostal space at the sternal border
P 3
, • NURS 5220 Exam 09/16/2026
- Correct Answer :B) fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line
The apical pulse should occupy only one intercostal space, the fourth or fifth, and it should be at or medial to the
midclavicular line (Bates, p385-387).
The nurse is preparing to auscultate for heart sounds. Which technique is correct?
A) Listen in the 6 auscultation areas.
B) Listen for only murmurs and low pitched sounds.
C) Listen to the sounds at the aortic, tricuspid, pulmonic, and mitral areas.
D) Listen to the sounds only at the site where the apical pulse is felt to be the strongest. –
Correct Answer :A) Listen in the 6 auscultation areas.
Bates p390-391
While counting the apical pulse on a 16-year-old patient, the nurse notices an irregular rhythm. His rate speeds up
on inspiration and slows on expiration. What would be the nurse's response?
A) Talk with the patient about his intake of caffeine.
B) Refer the patient to a cardiologist for further testing.
C) No further response is needed because this is a normal variation.
D) Perform an echocardiogram after the examination.
- Correct Answer :C) No further response is needed because this is a normal variation.
The rhythm should be regular, although sinus arrhythmia occurs normally in young adults and children. With sinus
arrhythmia, the rhythm varies with the person's breathing. Increasing at the peak of inspiration and slowing with
expiration (Bates, p401).
Which of following is not found in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen?
P 4
