Cardiovascular NCLEX Exam |
questions & Correct Answers
A nurse is teaching a client who receives nitrates for the relief of chest pain. Which
instruction should the nurse emphasize? - ✔✔Lie down or sit in a chair for 5 to 10 minutes
after taking the drug.
During physical assessment, the nurse should further assess the client for signs of atrial
fibrillation when the nurse palpates the radial pulse and notices which signs? -
✔✔irregular rhythm with pulse rate greater than 100 bpm
Following diagnosis of angina pectoris, a client reports being unable to walk up two flights
of stairs without pain. What should the nurse instruct the client to do? - ✔✔Take a
nitroglycerin tablet before climbing the stairs.
The nurse is assessing a client who is at risk for cardiac tamponade from chest trauma
sustained in a motorcycle accident. What is the client's pulse pressure if the blood pressure is
108/82 mm Hg? Record your answer using a whole number. - ✔✔26
During surgery, a client develops sinus bradycardia. The physician orders atropine sulfate.
Which dose and route should the nurse use? - ✔✔1 mg I.V.
A nurse is caring for a client with end-stage heart failure who is awaiting a heart transplant.
The client tells the nurse that they think they are going to die before a donor heart is found.
The client also tells the nurse that they have not been attending a church but wants to talk
with a priest. What action should the nurse take? - ✔✔Contact the clergy member who is
assigned to the transplant team.
,A client with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been diagnosed with peripheral
arterial disease. The health care provider (HCP) started the client on pentoxifylline once daily.
Approximately 1 hour after receiving the initial dose of pentoxifylline, the client reports having
chest pain. The nurse should first: - ✔✔Inform the HCP.
After receiving the shift report, a registered nurse in the cardiac step-down unit must prioritize
the client care assignment. The nurse has an ancillary staff member available to help care for
the clients. Which of these clients should the registered nurse assess first? - ✔✔the client
with heart failure who is having some difficulty breathing
The nurse is obtaining the pulse of a client who has had a femoral-popliteal bypass surgery
6 hours ago. Which assessment provides the most accurate information about the client's
postoperative status? - ✔✔Pedal Pulse, dorsal foot
The rapid response team arrives in the room of a client who has had a cardiac arrest. The
nurse should first apply which piece of monitoring equipment? - ✔✔electrocardiogram
(ECG) electrodes
apply the ECG electrodes to the client's chest. If the client is found to be in ventricular
fibrillation, the immediate priority is to defibrillate the client.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute pulmonary edema. To immediately promote
oxygenation and relieve dyspnea, the nurse should - ✔✔place the client in high
Fowler's position.
While caring for a client who has sustained a myocardial infarction (MI), the nurse notes
eight premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in 1 minute on the cardiac monitor. The
client is receiving an IV infusion of 5% dextrose in water (D5W) at 125 mL/h and oxygen at 2
L/min. What should the nurse do first? - ✔✔Notify the health care provider (HCP).
What measure should the nurse take that will be most helpful in preventing wound
infection when changing a client's dressing after coronary artery bypass surgery? -
✔✔Wash hands before changing the dressing.
, A client with aortic stenosis tells the nurse, "I have been feeling so tired lately that I take a nap
in my recliner every afternoon." On assessment, the nurse notes apical heart sounds 2 cm left
of the midclavicular line, crackles in lower lung fields during respiration, blood pressure 110/90
mm Hg, and weight gain of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 24 hours. Which assessment requires
further action? - ✔✔weight gain of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 24 hours
Before discharge from the hospital after a myocardial infarction, a client is taught to exercise
by gradually increasing the distance walked. Which vital sign should the nurse teach the client
to monitor to determine whether to increase or decrease the exercise level? - ✔✔Pulse
Which client is at greatest risk for Buerger's disease? - ✔✔a 29-year-old male with a 14-
year history of cigarette smoking.
Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is a nonatherosclerotic, inflammatory vaso-
occlusive disorder. The disorder occurs predominantly in younger men less than 40 years of
age, and there is a very strong relationship with tobacco use.
The nurse observes that an older female has small to moderate, distended and tortuous
veins running along the inner aspect of her lower legs. The nurse should: - ✔✔encourage
the client to avoid standing in one position for long periods of time.
The client has varicose veins, which are evident by the tortuous, distended veins where
blood has pooled. To prevent pooling of the blood, the client should not stand in one place
for long periods of time.
A client with second-degree atrioventricular heart block is admitted to the coronary care unit.
The nurse closely monitors the client's heart rate and rhythm. When interpreting the client's
electrocardiogram (ECG) strip, the nurse knows that the QRS complex represents -
✔✔ventricular depolarization.
questions & Correct Answers
A nurse is teaching a client who receives nitrates for the relief of chest pain. Which
instruction should the nurse emphasize? - ✔✔Lie down or sit in a chair for 5 to 10 minutes
after taking the drug.
During physical assessment, the nurse should further assess the client for signs of atrial
fibrillation when the nurse palpates the radial pulse and notices which signs? -
✔✔irregular rhythm with pulse rate greater than 100 bpm
Following diagnosis of angina pectoris, a client reports being unable to walk up two flights
of stairs without pain. What should the nurse instruct the client to do? - ✔✔Take a
nitroglycerin tablet before climbing the stairs.
The nurse is assessing a client who is at risk for cardiac tamponade from chest trauma
sustained in a motorcycle accident. What is the client's pulse pressure if the blood pressure is
108/82 mm Hg? Record your answer using a whole number. - ✔✔26
During surgery, a client develops sinus bradycardia. The physician orders atropine sulfate.
Which dose and route should the nurse use? - ✔✔1 mg I.V.
A nurse is caring for a client with end-stage heart failure who is awaiting a heart transplant.
The client tells the nurse that they think they are going to die before a donor heart is found.
The client also tells the nurse that they have not been attending a church but wants to talk
with a priest. What action should the nurse take? - ✔✔Contact the clergy member who is
assigned to the transplant team.
,A client with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been diagnosed with peripheral
arterial disease. The health care provider (HCP) started the client on pentoxifylline once daily.
Approximately 1 hour after receiving the initial dose of pentoxifylline, the client reports having
chest pain. The nurse should first: - ✔✔Inform the HCP.
After receiving the shift report, a registered nurse in the cardiac step-down unit must prioritize
the client care assignment. The nurse has an ancillary staff member available to help care for
the clients. Which of these clients should the registered nurse assess first? - ✔✔the client
with heart failure who is having some difficulty breathing
The nurse is obtaining the pulse of a client who has had a femoral-popliteal bypass surgery
6 hours ago. Which assessment provides the most accurate information about the client's
postoperative status? - ✔✔Pedal Pulse, dorsal foot
The rapid response team arrives in the room of a client who has had a cardiac arrest. The
nurse should first apply which piece of monitoring equipment? - ✔✔electrocardiogram
(ECG) electrodes
apply the ECG electrodes to the client's chest. If the client is found to be in ventricular
fibrillation, the immediate priority is to defibrillate the client.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute pulmonary edema. To immediately promote
oxygenation and relieve dyspnea, the nurse should - ✔✔place the client in high
Fowler's position.
While caring for a client who has sustained a myocardial infarction (MI), the nurse notes
eight premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in 1 minute on the cardiac monitor. The
client is receiving an IV infusion of 5% dextrose in water (D5W) at 125 mL/h and oxygen at 2
L/min. What should the nurse do first? - ✔✔Notify the health care provider (HCP).
What measure should the nurse take that will be most helpful in preventing wound
infection when changing a client's dressing after coronary artery bypass surgery? -
✔✔Wash hands before changing the dressing.
, A client with aortic stenosis tells the nurse, "I have been feeling so tired lately that I take a nap
in my recliner every afternoon." On assessment, the nurse notes apical heart sounds 2 cm left
of the midclavicular line, crackles in lower lung fields during respiration, blood pressure 110/90
mm Hg, and weight gain of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 24 hours. Which assessment requires
further action? - ✔✔weight gain of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 24 hours
Before discharge from the hospital after a myocardial infarction, a client is taught to exercise
by gradually increasing the distance walked. Which vital sign should the nurse teach the client
to monitor to determine whether to increase or decrease the exercise level? - ✔✔Pulse
Which client is at greatest risk for Buerger's disease? - ✔✔a 29-year-old male with a 14-
year history of cigarette smoking.
Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is a nonatherosclerotic, inflammatory vaso-
occlusive disorder. The disorder occurs predominantly in younger men less than 40 years of
age, and there is a very strong relationship with tobacco use.
The nurse observes that an older female has small to moderate, distended and tortuous
veins running along the inner aspect of her lower legs. The nurse should: - ✔✔encourage
the client to avoid standing in one position for long periods of time.
The client has varicose veins, which are evident by the tortuous, distended veins where
blood has pooled. To prevent pooling of the blood, the client should not stand in one place
for long periods of time.
A client with second-degree atrioventricular heart block is admitted to the coronary care unit.
The nurse closely monitors the client's heart rate and rhythm. When interpreting the client's
electrocardiogram (ECG) strip, the nurse knows that the QRS complex represents -
✔✔ventricular depolarization.
