CARDIOVASCULAR DOCUMENTATION
ACTUAL TEST PAPER WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is a blowing vascular sound caused by turbulent blood flow
called?
Answer: Bruit
●● What is cramping leg pain with activity that is relieved by rest
called?
Answer: Claudication/peripheral arterial disease
●● What term describes visible distention of the jugular veins indicating
increased right atrial pressure?
Answer: JVD
●● What is shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat called?
Answer: Orthopnea
●● What is sudden nighttime shortness of breath concerning for heart
failure called?
Answer: Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
,●● Where is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) normally located?
Answer: 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
●● What is a difference between the apical and radial pulse counts
called?
Answer: Pulse deficit
●● What is a palpable vibration over the heart or a vessel called?
Answer: Thrill
●● What does the S1 heart sound represent?
Answer: Closure of the mitral/tricuspid valves
●● What does the S2 heart sound represent?
Answer: Closure of the aortic/pulmonic valves
●● What does an S3 heart sound in an older adult most often suggest?
Answer: Volume overload or heart failure
●● What may an S4 heart sound in an adult indicate?
Answer: A stiff ventricle from hypertension, ischemia, or hypertrophy
,●● How is a murmur described as loud with a palpable thrill graded?
Answer: IV/VI
●● Which conditions are most associated with JVD, peripheral edema,
and weight gain?
Answer: Dysfunction of the right atrium/right ventricle
●● Which symptoms are most associated with dysfunction of the left
atrium/left ventricle?
Answer: Dyspnea, crackles, orthopnea, fatigue, and weak pulses
●● What results from impaired flow through the coronary arteries?
Answer: Chest discomfort, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, fatigue, or
radiating pain
●● What may orthostatic changes in blood pressure with dizziness
indicate?
Answer: Volume depletion, autonomic dysfunction, or medication
effects
●● Which cue is most concerning when using OPQRST for
cardiovascular symptoms?
Answer: Chest pressure that is new, severe, occurs at rest, and lasts more
than a few minutes with dyspnea/diaphoresis
, ●● What is the most therapeutic nursing response to a patient forgetting
their heart pills?
Answer: Tell me what usually gets in the way of taking them.
●● How is a blood pressure of 135/88 mm Hg classified?
Answer: Stage 1 hypertension
●● How is a blood pressure of 124/76 mm Hg classified?
Answer: Normal
●● When assessing carotid arteries, what should the nurse do?
Answer: Palpate one carotid at a time and avoid excessive pressure
●● What does a PMI that is displaced left and down on palpation most
suggest?
Answer: Cardiomegaly or left ventricular enlargement
●● What is the normal capillary refill time in a warm environment?
Answer: <=2 seconds
●● Which statement about Homan sign is correct?
Answer: It is not a reliable or recommended screening test for DVT
ACTUAL TEST PAPER WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is a blowing vascular sound caused by turbulent blood flow
called?
Answer: Bruit
●● What is cramping leg pain with activity that is relieved by rest
called?
Answer: Claudication/peripheral arterial disease
●● What term describes visible distention of the jugular veins indicating
increased right atrial pressure?
Answer: JVD
●● What is shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat called?
Answer: Orthopnea
●● What is sudden nighttime shortness of breath concerning for heart
failure called?
Answer: Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
,●● Where is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) normally located?
Answer: 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
●● What is a difference between the apical and radial pulse counts
called?
Answer: Pulse deficit
●● What is a palpable vibration over the heart or a vessel called?
Answer: Thrill
●● What does the S1 heart sound represent?
Answer: Closure of the mitral/tricuspid valves
●● What does the S2 heart sound represent?
Answer: Closure of the aortic/pulmonic valves
●● What does an S3 heart sound in an older adult most often suggest?
Answer: Volume overload or heart failure
●● What may an S4 heart sound in an adult indicate?
Answer: A stiff ventricle from hypertension, ischemia, or hypertrophy
,●● How is a murmur described as loud with a palpable thrill graded?
Answer: IV/VI
●● Which conditions are most associated with JVD, peripheral edema,
and weight gain?
Answer: Dysfunction of the right atrium/right ventricle
●● Which symptoms are most associated with dysfunction of the left
atrium/left ventricle?
Answer: Dyspnea, crackles, orthopnea, fatigue, and weak pulses
●● What results from impaired flow through the coronary arteries?
Answer: Chest discomfort, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, fatigue, or
radiating pain
●● What may orthostatic changes in blood pressure with dizziness
indicate?
Answer: Volume depletion, autonomic dysfunction, or medication
effects
●● Which cue is most concerning when using OPQRST for
cardiovascular symptoms?
Answer: Chest pressure that is new, severe, occurs at rest, and lasts more
than a few minutes with dyspnea/diaphoresis
, ●● What is the most therapeutic nursing response to a patient forgetting
their heart pills?
Answer: Tell me what usually gets in the way of taking them.
●● How is a blood pressure of 135/88 mm Hg classified?
Answer: Stage 1 hypertension
●● How is a blood pressure of 124/76 mm Hg classified?
Answer: Normal
●● When assessing carotid arteries, what should the nurse do?
Answer: Palpate one carotid at a time and avoid excessive pressure
●● What does a PMI that is displaced left and down on palpation most
suggest?
Answer: Cardiomegaly or left ventricular enlargement
●● What is the normal capillary refill time in a warm environment?
Answer: <=2 seconds
●● Which statement about Homan sign is correct?
Answer: It is not a reliable or recommended screening test for DVT
