ATI MED SURG CARDIAC EXAM 2025
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 350
WELL RESEARCHED EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% DETAILED
VERIFIED AND CORRECT ANSWERS
/ALREADY GRADED A+
A 21-year-old student arrives at the student health center
at the end of the quarter complaining that, "My heart is
skipping beats." An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows
occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).
What action should the nurse take first?
Have the patient transported to the hospital emergency
department (ED).
Administer O2 at 2 to 3 L/min using nasal prongs.
Ask the patient about any history of coronary artery
disease.
Question the patient about current stress level and coffee
use
Question the patient about current stress level and coffee
use.
Note: In a patient with a normal heart, occasional PVCs
1
,are a benign finding. The timing of the PVCs suggests
stress or caffeine as possible etiologic factors. It is unlikely
that the patient has coronary artery disease, and this
should not be the first question the nurse asks. The patient
is hemodynamically stable, so there is no indication that
the patient needs to be seen in the ED or that oxygen
needs to be administered.
The nurse has received change-of-shift report about the
following patients on the telemetry unit. Which patient
should the nurse see first?
A patient develops sinus bradycardia at a rate of 32
beats/minute, has a BP of 80/36 mm Hg, and is
complaining of feeling faint. Which action should the
nurse take?
Continue to monitor the rhythm and BP.
Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP).
Have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver.
Give the scheduled dose of diltiazem (Cardizem).
Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP).
Note: The patient is experiencing symptomatic
bradycardia, and treatment with TCP is appropriate.
Continued monitoring of the rhythm and BP is an
2
,inadequate response. Calcium channel blockers will further
decrease the heart rate, and the diltiazem should be held.
The Valsalva maneuver will further decrease the rate.
A patient with atrial fibrillation, rate 88, who has a new
order for warfarin (Coumadin)
A patient with type 1 second-degree atrioventricular (AV)
block, rate 60, who is dizzy when ambulating
A patient who is in a sinus rhythm, rate 98, after having
electrical cardioversion 2 hours ago
A patient whose implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
(ICD) fired three
A patient whose implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
(ICD) fired three times today who has a dose of amiodarone
(Cordarone) due
Note: The frequent firing of the ICD indicates that the
patient's ventricles are very irritable, and the priority is to
assess the patient and administer the amiodarone. The
other patients may be seen after the amiodarone is
administered.
Cardiac tamponade is suspected in a patient who has acute
pericarditis. To assess for the presence of pulsus
3
, paradoxus, the nurse should:
check the electrocardiogram (ECG) for variations in rate in
relation to inspiration and expiration.
note when Korotkoff sounds are audible during both
inspiration and expiration.
auscultate for a pericardial friction rub that increases in
volume during inspiration.
subtract the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from the
systolic blood pressure (SBP).
note when Korotkoff sounds are audible during both
inspiration and expiration.
Note: Pulsus paradoxus exists when there is a gap of
greater than 10 mm Hg between when Korotkoff sounds
can be heard during only expiration and when they can be
heard throughout the respiratory cycle. The other
methods described would not be useful in determining the
presence of pulsus paradoxus.
The nurse has identified a nursing diagnosis of acute pain
related to inflammatory process for a patient with acute
pericarditis. The most appropriate intervention by the
nurse for this problem is to:
force fluids to 3000 mL/day to decrease fever and
inflammation.
teach the patient to take deep, slow respirations to control
4
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 350
WELL RESEARCHED EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% DETAILED
VERIFIED AND CORRECT ANSWERS
/ALREADY GRADED A+
A 21-year-old student arrives at the student health center
at the end of the quarter complaining that, "My heart is
skipping beats." An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows
occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).
What action should the nurse take first?
Have the patient transported to the hospital emergency
department (ED).
Administer O2 at 2 to 3 L/min using nasal prongs.
Ask the patient about any history of coronary artery
disease.
Question the patient about current stress level and coffee
use
Question the patient about current stress level and coffee
use.
Note: In a patient with a normal heart, occasional PVCs
1
,are a benign finding. The timing of the PVCs suggests
stress or caffeine as possible etiologic factors. It is unlikely
that the patient has coronary artery disease, and this
should not be the first question the nurse asks. The patient
is hemodynamically stable, so there is no indication that
the patient needs to be seen in the ED or that oxygen
needs to be administered.
The nurse has received change-of-shift report about the
following patients on the telemetry unit. Which patient
should the nurse see first?
A patient develops sinus bradycardia at a rate of 32
beats/minute, has a BP of 80/36 mm Hg, and is
complaining of feeling faint. Which action should the
nurse take?
Continue to monitor the rhythm and BP.
Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP).
Have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver.
Give the scheduled dose of diltiazem (Cardizem).
Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP).
Note: The patient is experiencing symptomatic
bradycardia, and treatment with TCP is appropriate.
Continued monitoring of the rhythm and BP is an
2
,inadequate response. Calcium channel blockers will further
decrease the heart rate, and the diltiazem should be held.
The Valsalva maneuver will further decrease the rate.
A patient with atrial fibrillation, rate 88, who has a new
order for warfarin (Coumadin)
A patient with type 1 second-degree atrioventricular (AV)
block, rate 60, who is dizzy when ambulating
A patient who is in a sinus rhythm, rate 98, after having
electrical cardioversion 2 hours ago
A patient whose implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
(ICD) fired three
A patient whose implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
(ICD) fired three times today who has a dose of amiodarone
(Cordarone) due
Note: The frequent firing of the ICD indicates that the
patient's ventricles are very irritable, and the priority is to
assess the patient and administer the amiodarone. The
other patients may be seen after the amiodarone is
administered.
Cardiac tamponade is suspected in a patient who has acute
pericarditis. To assess for the presence of pulsus
3
, paradoxus, the nurse should:
check the electrocardiogram (ECG) for variations in rate in
relation to inspiration and expiration.
note when Korotkoff sounds are audible during both
inspiration and expiration.
auscultate for a pericardial friction rub that increases in
volume during inspiration.
subtract the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from the
systolic blood pressure (SBP).
note when Korotkoff sounds are audible during both
inspiration and expiration.
Note: Pulsus paradoxus exists when there is a gap of
greater than 10 mm Hg between when Korotkoff sounds
can be heard during only expiration and when they can be
heard throughout the respiratory cycle. The other
methods described would not be useful in determining the
presence of pulsus paradoxus.
The nurse has identified a nursing diagnosis of acute pain
related to inflammatory process for a patient with acute
pericarditis. The most appropriate intervention by the
nurse for this problem is to:
force fluids to 3000 mL/day to decrease fever and
inflammation.
teach the patient to take deep, slow respirations to control
4
