Cardiovascular NCLEX questions &
Correct Answers -
Which information given by a patient admitted with chronic stable angina will help the
nurse confirm this diagnosis?
a. The patient rates the pain at a level 3 to 5 (0 to 10 scale).
b. The patient states that the pain "wakes me up at night."
c. The patient says that the frequency of the pain has increased over the last few weeks.
d. The patient states that the pain is resolved after taking one sublingual nitroglycerin tablet. -
✔✔ANS: D
Chronic stable angina is typically relieved by rest or nitroglycerin administration. The level of
pain is not a consistent indicator of the type of angina. Pain occurring at rest or with increased
frequency is typical of unstable angina.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 771-776
After the nurse has finished teaching a patient about use of sublingual nitroglycerin (Nitrostat),
which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a. "I can expect indigestion as a side effect of nitroglycerin."
b. "I can only take the nitroglycerin if I start to have chest pain."
c. "I will call an ambulance if I still have pain 5 minutes after taking the nitroglycerin."
d. "I will help slow down the progress of the plaque formation by taking nitroglycerin." -
✔✔ANS: C
,The emergency medical services (EMS) system should be activated when chest pain or other
symptoms are not completely relieved 5 minutes after taking one nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin
can be taken to prevent chest pain or other symptoms from developing (e.g., before
intercourse). Gastric upset is not an expected side effect of nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin does not
impact the underlying pathophysiology of coronary artery atherosclerosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 775-776
Which of these statements made by a patient with coronary artery disease after the nurse has
completed teaching about the therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) diet indicates that further
teaching is needed?
a. "I will switch from whole milk to 1% or nonfat milk."
b. "I like fresh salmon and I will plan to eat it more often."
c. "I will miss being able to eat peanut butter sandwiches."
d. "I can have a cup of coffee with breakfast if I want one." - ✔✔ANS: C
Although only 30% of the daily calories should come from fats, most of the fat in the TLC diet
should come from monosaturated fats such as are found in nuts, olive oil, and canola oil. The
patient can include peanut butter sandwiches as part of the TLC diet. The other patient
comments indicate a good understanding of the TLC diet.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 768
After the nurse teaches the patient about the use of atenolol (Tenormin) in preventing anginal
episodes, which statement by a patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a. "It is important not to suddenly stop taking the atenolol."
b. "Atenolol will increase the strength of my heart muscle."
c. "I can expect to feel short of breath when taking atenolol."
d. "Atenolol will improve the blood flow to my coronary arteries." - ✔✔ANS: A
Patients who have been taking -blockers can develop intense and frequent angina if the
medication is suddenly discontinued. Atenolol (Tenormin) decreases myocardial contractility.
Shortness of breath that occurs when taking -blockers for angina may be due to bronchospasm
, and should be reported to the health care provider. Atenolol works by decreasing myocardial
oxygen demand, not by increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 775 | 776
A patient who has had severe chest pain for several hours is admitted with a diagnosis of
possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Which of these ordered laboratory tests should the
nurse monitor to help determine whether the patient has had an AMI?
a. Homocysteine
b. C-reactive protein
c. Cardiac-specific troponin I and troponin T
d. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - ✔✔ANS: C
Troponin levels increase about 4 to 6 hours after the onset of myocardial infarction (MI). The
other laboratory data are useful in determining the patient's risk for developing coronary
artery disease (CAD) but are not helpful in determining whether an acute MI is in progress.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 780-781
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is ordered for a patient with newly diagnosed Prinzmetal's (variant) angina.
When teaching the patient, the nurse will include the information that amlodipine will
a. reduce the "fight or flight" response.
b. decrease spasm of the coronary arteries.
c. increase the force of myocardial contraction.
d. help prevent clotting in the coronary arteries. - ✔✔ANS: B
Prinzmetal's angina is caused by coronary artery spasm. Calcium channel blockers (e.g.,
amlodipine, nifedipine [Procardia]) are a first-line therapy for this type of angina. Platelet
inhibitors, such as aspirin, help prevent coronary artery thrombosis, and -blockers
decrease sympathetic stimulation of the heart. Medications or activities that increase
myocardial contractility will increase the incidence of angina by increasing oxygen demand.
Correct Answers -
Which information given by a patient admitted with chronic stable angina will help the
nurse confirm this diagnosis?
a. The patient rates the pain at a level 3 to 5 (0 to 10 scale).
b. The patient states that the pain "wakes me up at night."
c. The patient says that the frequency of the pain has increased over the last few weeks.
d. The patient states that the pain is resolved after taking one sublingual nitroglycerin tablet. -
✔✔ANS: D
Chronic stable angina is typically relieved by rest or nitroglycerin administration. The level of
pain is not a consistent indicator of the type of angina. Pain occurring at rest or with increased
frequency is typical of unstable angina.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 771-776
After the nurse has finished teaching a patient about use of sublingual nitroglycerin (Nitrostat),
which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a. "I can expect indigestion as a side effect of nitroglycerin."
b. "I can only take the nitroglycerin if I start to have chest pain."
c. "I will call an ambulance if I still have pain 5 minutes after taking the nitroglycerin."
d. "I will help slow down the progress of the plaque formation by taking nitroglycerin." -
✔✔ANS: C
,The emergency medical services (EMS) system should be activated when chest pain or other
symptoms are not completely relieved 5 minutes after taking one nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin
can be taken to prevent chest pain or other symptoms from developing (e.g., before
intercourse). Gastric upset is not an expected side effect of nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin does not
impact the underlying pathophysiology of coronary artery atherosclerosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 775-776
Which of these statements made by a patient with coronary artery disease after the nurse has
completed teaching about the therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) diet indicates that further
teaching is needed?
a. "I will switch from whole milk to 1% or nonfat milk."
b. "I like fresh salmon and I will plan to eat it more often."
c. "I will miss being able to eat peanut butter sandwiches."
d. "I can have a cup of coffee with breakfast if I want one." - ✔✔ANS: C
Although only 30% of the daily calories should come from fats, most of the fat in the TLC diet
should come from monosaturated fats such as are found in nuts, olive oil, and canola oil. The
patient can include peanut butter sandwiches as part of the TLC diet. The other patient
comments indicate a good understanding of the TLC diet.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 768
After the nurse teaches the patient about the use of atenolol (Tenormin) in preventing anginal
episodes, which statement by a patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a. "It is important not to suddenly stop taking the atenolol."
b. "Atenolol will increase the strength of my heart muscle."
c. "I can expect to feel short of breath when taking atenolol."
d. "Atenolol will improve the blood flow to my coronary arteries." - ✔✔ANS: A
Patients who have been taking -blockers can develop intense and frequent angina if the
medication is suddenly discontinued. Atenolol (Tenormin) decreases myocardial contractility.
Shortness of breath that occurs when taking -blockers for angina may be due to bronchospasm
, and should be reported to the health care provider. Atenolol works by decreasing myocardial
oxygen demand, not by increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 775 | 776
A patient who has had severe chest pain for several hours is admitted with a diagnosis of
possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Which of these ordered laboratory tests should the
nurse monitor to help determine whether the patient has had an AMI?
a. Homocysteine
b. C-reactive protein
c. Cardiac-specific troponin I and troponin T
d. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - ✔✔ANS: C
Troponin levels increase about 4 to 6 hours after the onset of myocardial infarction (MI). The
other laboratory data are useful in determining the patient's risk for developing coronary
artery disease (CAD) but are not helpful in determining whether an acute MI is in progress.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 780-781
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is ordered for a patient with newly diagnosed Prinzmetal's (variant) angina.
When teaching the patient, the nurse will include the information that amlodipine will
a. reduce the "fight or flight" response.
b. decrease spasm of the coronary arteries.
c. increase the force of myocardial contraction.
d. help prevent clotting in the coronary arteries. - ✔✔ANS: B
Prinzmetal's angina is caused by coronary artery spasm. Calcium channel blockers (e.g.,
amlodipine, nifedipine [Procardia]) are a first-line therapy for this type of angina. Platelet
inhibitors, such as aspirin, help prevent coronary artery thrombosis, and -blockers
decrease sympathetic stimulation of the heart. Medications or activities that increase
myocardial contractility will increase the incidence of angina by increasing oxygen demand.
