Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
SHADOW HEALTH TINA JONES CARDIOVASCULAR ASSESSMENT |
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS - UPDATED VERSION
2026/2027
SHADOW HEALTH - TINA JONES - CARDIOVASCULAR
Page 1 of 69
, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Case-Based
1. A 28-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and asthma arrives for a
health assessment. Which opening question best invites her to
describe her cardiovascular concerns in her own words?
A. You are not having any chest pain, are you?
B. What brings you in today, and what have you been noticing with
your heart or breathing?
C. Has anyone told you that your blood pressure is high?
D. Do you have heart disease?
B. What brings you in today, and what have you been noticing with
your heart or breathing?
Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe symptoms in
her own words, while closed or leading questions limit the information
gathered.
2. Which mnemonic is most useful for fully characterizing a symptom
such as chest discomfort during the interview?
A. MONA (morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin, aspirin)
B. OLDCARTS (onset, location, duration, character, aggravating factors,
relieving factors, timing, severity)
C. RACE (rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish)
D. FAST (face, arms, speech, time)
B. OLDCARTS (onset, location, duration, character, aggravating
factors, relieving factors, timing, severity)
OLDCARTS organizes the symptom analysis; the other options are
emergency treatment or safety mnemonics, not history-taking tools.
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, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
3. The patient says, "Sometimes my heart flutters." Which follow-up
question is most appropriate?
A. Can you describe what the fluttering feels like, how long it lasts, and
what you are doing when it starts?
B. Have you ever had a heart attack?
C. Most people your age get that, so it is nothing to worry about,
correct?
D. That is probably just nerves, right?
A. Can you describe what the fluttering feels like, how long it lasts,
and what you are doing when it starts?
The nurse should explore onset, duration, and triggers before drawing
conclusions; premature reassurance blocks assessment.
4. Which of the following is considered a cardinal symptom of
cardiovascular disease?
A. Photophobia
B. Dyspnea on exertion
C. Dysuria
D. Pruritus
B. Dyspnea on exertion
Chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, syncope, fatigue, and edema are the
cardinal symptoms; the others are not cardiac in origin.
5. A patient reports difficulty breathing when lying flat that is relieved
by sitting upright. This symptom is best documented as:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Dyspnea at rest
C. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Orthopnea
D. Orthopnea
Orthopnea is breathlessness in the recumbent position relieved by
elevating the head or sitting up, often from increased venous return in
left-sided heart failure.
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, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
6. Which statement best describes paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
(PND)?
A. Difficulty breathing while lying flat that begins immediately
B. Shortness of breath that occurs only during exertion
C. Sudden awakening from sleep with shortness of breath, usually
relieved by sitting up or standing
D. Breathlessness accompanied by fever and productive cough
C. Sudden awakening from sleep with shortness of breath, usually
relieved by sitting up or standing
PND occurs a few hours after lying down as fluid is reabsorbed into the
circulation, and it awakens the patient suddenly.
7. Asking the patient how many pillows she uses to sleep is intended to
quantify which symptom?
A. Orthopnea
B. Syncope
C. Claudication
D. Palpitations
A. Orthopnea
The number of pillows needed to breathe comfortably at night is a
practical measure of orthopnea severity.
8. Which question best screens for intermittent claudication?
A. Do you get cramping pain in your calves when you walk that goes
away when you rest?
B. Do you become short of breath when you lie flat?
C. Have you noticed swelling around your eyes in the morning?
D. Do you feel your heart racing at night?
A. Do you get cramping pain in your calves when you walk that
goes away when you rest?
Claudication is exertional limb pain from inadequate arterial blood flow
that is relieved by rest.
Page 4 of 69
SHADOW HEALTH TINA JONES CARDIOVASCULAR ASSESSMENT |
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS - UPDATED VERSION
2026/2027
SHADOW HEALTH - TINA JONES - CARDIOVASCULAR
Page 1 of 69
, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Case-Based
1. A 28-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and asthma arrives for a
health assessment. Which opening question best invites her to
describe her cardiovascular concerns in her own words?
A. You are not having any chest pain, are you?
B. What brings you in today, and what have you been noticing with
your heart or breathing?
C. Has anyone told you that your blood pressure is high?
D. Do you have heart disease?
B. What brings you in today, and what have you been noticing with
your heart or breathing?
Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe symptoms in
her own words, while closed or leading questions limit the information
gathered.
2. Which mnemonic is most useful for fully characterizing a symptom
such as chest discomfort during the interview?
A. MONA (morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin, aspirin)
B. OLDCARTS (onset, location, duration, character, aggravating factors,
relieving factors, timing, severity)
C. RACE (rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish)
D. FAST (face, arms, speech, time)
B. OLDCARTS (onset, location, duration, character, aggravating
factors, relieving factors, timing, severity)
OLDCARTS organizes the symptom analysis; the other options are
emergency treatment or safety mnemonics, not history-taking tools.
Page 2 of 69
, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
3. The patient says, "Sometimes my heart flutters." Which follow-up
question is most appropriate?
A. Can you describe what the fluttering feels like, how long it lasts, and
what you are doing when it starts?
B. Have you ever had a heart attack?
C. Most people your age get that, so it is nothing to worry about,
correct?
D. That is probably just nerves, right?
A. Can you describe what the fluttering feels like, how long it lasts,
and what you are doing when it starts?
The nurse should explore onset, duration, and triggers before drawing
conclusions; premature reassurance blocks assessment.
4. Which of the following is considered a cardinal symptom of
cardiovascular disease?
A. Photophobia
B. Dyspnea on exertion
C. Dysuria
D. Pruritus
B. Dyspnea on exertion
Chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, syncope, fatigue, and edema are the
cardinal symptoms; the others are not cardiac in origin.
5. A patient reports difficulty breathing when lying flat that is relieved
by sitting upright. This symptom is best documented as:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Dyspnea at rest
C. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Orthopnea
D. Orthopnea
Orthopnea is breathlessness in the recumbent position relieved by
elevating the head or sitting up, often from increased venous return in
left-sided heart failure.
Page 3 of 69
, Cardiovascular Health Assessment: Case-Based
6. Which statement best describes paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
(PND)?
A. Difficulty breathing while lying flat that begins immediately
B. Shortness of breath that occurs only during exertion
C. Sudden awakening from sleep with shortness of breath, usually
relieved by sitting up or standing
D. Breathlessness accompanied by fever and productive cough
C. Sudden awakening from sleep with shortness of breath, usually
relieved by sitting up or standing
PND occurs a few hours after lying down as fluid is reabsorbed into the
circulation, and it awakens the patient suddenly.
7. Asking the patient how many pillows she uses to sleep is intended to
quantify which symptom?
A. Orthopnea
B. Syncope
C. Claudication
D. Palpitations
A. Orthopnea
The number of pillows needed to breathe comfortably at night is a
practical measure of orthopnea severity.
8. Which question best screens for intermittent claudication?
A. Do you get cramping pain in your calves when you walk that goes
away when you rest?
B. Do you become short of breath when you lie flat?
C. Have you noticed swelling around your eyes in the morning?
D. Do you feel your heart racing at night?
A. Do you get cramping pain in your calves when you walk that
goes away when you rest?
Claudication is exertional limb pain from inadequate arterial blood flow
that is relieved by rest.
Page 4 of 69
