NURS231 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MODULE 1
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION SCRIPT 2026
TESTED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ T or F:
1) ST segment elevation means that an Acute MI is in progress
2) ST segment depression and inverted T waves means that the pt is
experiencing myocardial ischemia
3) A prominent Q wave is an indicator that there is infarcted
myocardial tissue
4) A new heart murmur in a pt experiencing acute coronary
syndrome may mean that the muslce controlling the valves are
ischemic
5) A pt experiencing acute MI is at risk for developing acute HF
6) ST changes on bedside monitor is used to make diagnosis of ACS.
Answer: 1) True! Elevation means that AMI is actively occurring, so
we try to intervene quickly to save the muscle. If saw on bedside
monitor, need to confirm w 12-lead ECG
2) True
3) True! A Q wave may last forever bc of dead tissue can't conduct
electricity or pump blood
4) True
,5) True; will have symptoms of pulmonary edema like SOB,
wheezing, crackles, peripheral edema, decreased LOC, decreased
SpO2
6) False! If see ST segment elevation or depression, must report &
expect physician to confirm with a 12-lead ECG
◉ What are some symtpoms that would concern a nurse that the pt
developed acute HF after experiencing an acute MI?. Answer: S/s of
pulmonary edema & impaired gas exchange like:
-extra heart sound like S3
-crackles/wheezing
-SOB
-decreased SpO2
-decreased LOC
-JVD
-peripheral edema
◉ What are the 2 leading causes of death in pts who suffer acute
MI?. Answer: 1) Dysrhythmia
2) Acute HF
◉ Match the following with either a) chronic stable angina, b)
unstable angina, c) Myocardial infarction
,1) ___New onset chest pain, symptoms at rest, No ST segment
elevation, Troponin negative
2) Reoccuring chest pain with exertion that's relieved by nitro
3) New onset chest pain, may or may not have ST segment elevation,
Troponin positive. Answer: 1) __b__ unstable angina
2) __a__ chronic stable angina
3) __c__ myocardial infarction (elevated means active MI)
◉ What is the most serious type of acute coronary syndrome that
occurs with occlusion of blood flow starting with ischemia, then
injury, then necrosis if not treated quickly?. Answer: Myocardial
infarction
ex: STEMI (ST segment elevation) or NSTEMI (Non ST segment
elevation)
◉ Match the follow 12-lead ECG findings for a pt experiencing ACS
with the type of zone of ischemia
1) T wave inversion or ST segment depression
2) ST elevation
3) Abnormal Q wave. Answer: 1) zone of ischemia
2) zone of injury
3) zone of necrosis
, ◉ What is the nurse concered is happening if pt has ST segment
depression or T wave inversion on 12-lead ECG?. Answer:
Myocardial Ischemia
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has ST segment
elevation on 12-lead ECG?. Answer: Myocardial Injury from active
acute MI
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has an abnormal Q
wave on 12-lead ECG?. Answer: Myocardial necrosis
*will still see from past MI if it resulted in necrosis bc tissue will no
longer conduct electricity
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has widening of
the QRS complex >0.12 secs?
ex: deep S, broad S, double R "rabbit ears". Answer: Bundle branch
blocks
◉ The nurse performs a rapid assessment of chest pain, associated
symptoms, cardiac rate & rhythm, heart sounds for a pt presenting w
s/s of ACS. What are pertinent positives of ACS?. Answer: -chest
pain, crushing pressure, lasts longer than 30 mins, unrelieved by
rest or nitro
-N/V
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION SCRIPT 2026
TESTED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ T or F:
1) ST segment elevation means that an Acute MI is in progress
2) ST segment depression and inverted T waves means that the pt is
experiencing myocardial ischemia
3) A prominent Q wave is an indicator that there is infarcted
myocardial tissue
4) A new heart murmur in a pt experiencing acute coronary
syndrome may mean that the muslce controlling the valves are
ischemic
5) A pt experiencing acute MI is at risk for developing acute HF
6) ST changes on bedside monitor is used to make diagnosis of ACS.
Answer: 1) True! Elevation means that AMI is actively occurring, so
we try to intervene quickly to save the muscle. If saw on bedside
monitor, need to confirm w 12-lead ECG
2) True
3) True! A Q wave may last forever bc of dead tissue can't conduct
electricity or pump blood
4) True
,5) True; will have symptoms of pulmonary edema like SOB,
wheezing, crackles, peripheral edema, decreased LOC, decreased
SpO2
6) False! If see ST segment elevation or depression, must report &
expect physician to confirm with a 12-lead ECG
◉ What are some symtpoms that would concern a nurse that the pt
developed acute HF after experiencing an acute MI?. Answer: S/s of
pulmonary edema & impaired gas exchange like:
-extra heart sound like S3
-crackles/wheezing
-SOB
-decreased SpO2
-decreased LOC
-JVD
-peripheral edema
◉ What are the 2 leading causes of death in pts who suffer acute
MI?. Answer: 1) Dysrhythmia
2) Acute HF
◉ Match the following with either a) chronic stable angina, b)
unstable angina, c) Myocardial infarction
,1) ___New onset chest pain, symptoms at rest, No ST segment
elevation, Troponin negative
2) Reoccuring chest pain with exertion that's relieved by nitro
3) New onset chest pain, may or may not have ST segment elevation,
Troponin positive. Answer: 1) __b__ unstable angina
2) __a__ chronic stable angina
3) __c__ myocardial infarction (elevated means active MI)
◉ What is the most serious type of acute coronary syndrome that
occurs with occlusion of blood flow starting with ischemia, then
injury, then necrosis if not treated quickly?. Answer: Myocardial
infarction
ex: STEMI (ST segment elevation) or NSTEMI (Non ST segment
elevation)
◉ Match the follow 12-lead ECG findings for a pt experiencing ACS
with the type of zone of ischemia
1) T wave inversion or ST segment depression
2) ST elevation
3) Abnormal Q wave. Answer: 1) zone of ischemia
2) zone of injury
3) zone of necrosis
, ◉ What is the nurse concered is happening if pt has ST segment
depression or T wave inversion on 12-lead ECG?. Answer:
Myocardial Ischemia
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has ST segment
elevation on 12-lead ECG?. Answer: Myocardial Injury from active
acute MI
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has an abnormal Q
wave on 12-lead ECG?. Answer: Myocardial necrosis
*will still see from past MI if it resulted in necrosis bc tissue will no
longer conduct electricity
◉ What is the nurse concerned is happening if pt has widening of
the QRS complex >0.12 secs?
ex: deep S, broad S, double R "rabbit ears". Answer: Bundle branch
blocks
◉ The nurse performs a rapid assessment of chest pain, associated
symptoms, cardiac rate & rhythm, heart sounds for a pt presenting w
s/s of ACS. What are pertinent positives of ACS?. Answer: -chest
pain, crushing pressure, lasts longer than 30 mins, unrelieved by
rest or nitro
-N/V
