Cardiovascular Test Bank questions and
100% verified Answers 2025/2026
A nurse assesses a client who had a myocardial infarction and is hypotensive. Which additional
assessment finding should the nurse expect?
a. Heart rate of 120 beats/min
b. Cool, clammy skin
c. Oxygen saturation of 90%
d. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min - Answer ANS: A
When a client experiences hypotension, baroreceptors in the aortic arch sense a pressure decrease in
the vessels. The parasympathetic system responds by lessening the inhibitory effect on the sinoatrial
node. This results in an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate. This tachycardia is an early response
and is seen even when blood pressure is not critically low. An increased heart rate and respiratory rate
will compensate for the low blood pressure and maintain oxygen saturations and perfusion. The client
may not be able to compensate for long, and decreased oxygenation and cool, clammy skin will occur
later.
A nurse assesses a client after administering a prescribed beta blocker. Which assessment should the
nurse expect to find?
a. Blood pressure increased from 98/42 mm Hg to 132/60 mm Hg
b. Respiratory rate decreased from 25 breaths/min to 14 breaths/min
c. Oxygen saturation increased from 88% to 96%
d. Pulse decreased from 100 beats/min to 80 beats/min - Answer ANS: D
,Beta blockers block the stimulation of beta1-adrenergic receptors. They block the sympathetic (fight-or-
flight) response and decrease the heart rate (HR). The beta blocker will decrease HR and blood pressure,
increasing ventricular filling time. It usually does not have effects on beta2-adrenergic receptor sites.
Cardiac output will drop because of decreased HR.
A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse identify as having the
greatest risk for cardiovascular disease?
a. An 86-year-old man with a history of asthma
b. A 32-year-old Asian-American man with colorectal cancer
c. A 45-year-old American Indian woman with diabetes mellitus
d. A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman who is on hormone therapy - Answer ANS: C
The incidence of coronary artery disease and hypertension is higher in American Indians than in whites
or Asian Americans. Diabetes mellitus increases the risk for hypertension and coronary artery disease in
people of any race or ethnicity. Asthma, colorectal cancer, and hormone therapy do not increase risk for
cardiovascular disease.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who has multiple chronic diseases. The clients heart rate is 48
beats/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Document the finding in the chart.
b. Initiate external pacing.
c. Assess the clients medications.
d. Administer 1 mg of atropine. - Answer ANS: C
,Pacemaker cells in the conduction system decrease in number as a person ages, resulting in bradycardia.
The nurse should check the medication reconciliation for medications that might cause such a drop in
heart rate, then should inform the health care provider. Documentation is important, but it is not the
priority action. The heart rate is not low enough for atropine or an external pacemaker to be needed.
An emergency room nurse obtains the health history of a client. Which statement by the client should
alert the nurse to the occurrence of heart failure?
a. I get short of breath when I climb stairs.
b. I see halos floating around my head.
c. I have trouble remembering things.
d. I have lost weight over the past month. - Answer ANS: A
Dyspnea on exertion is an early manifestation of heart failure and is associated with an activity such as
stair climbing. The other findings are not specific to early occurrence of heart failure.
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is newly admitted to the medical unit. Which
statement by the client should alert the nurse to the presence of edema?
a. I wake up to go to the bathroom at night.
b. My shoes fit tighter by the end of the day.
c. I seem to be feeling more anxious lately.
d. I drink at least eight glasses of water a day. - Answer ANS: B
, Weight gain can result from fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces. This is known as edema. The
nurse should note whether the client feels that his or her shoes or rings are tight, and should observe,
when present, an indentation around the leg where the socks end. The other Answers do not describe
edema.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who is experiencing a myocardial infarction. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect?
a. Excruciating pain on inspiration
b. Left lateral chest wall pain
c. Disorientation and confusion
d. Numbness and tingling of the arm - Answer ANS: C
In older adults, disorientation or confusion may be the major manifestation of myocardial infarction
caused by poor cardiac output. Pain manifestations and numbness and tingling of the arm could also be
related to the myocardial infarction. However, the nurse should be more concerned about the new
onset of disorientation or confusion caused by decreased perfusion.
A nurse assesses a client 2 hours after a cardiac angiography via the left femoral artery. The nurse notes
that the left pedal pulse is weak. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Elevate the leg and apply a sandbag to the entrance site.
b. Increase the flow rate of intravenous fluids.
c. Assess the color and temperature of the left leg.
d. Document the finding as left pedal pulse of +1/4. - Answer ANS: C
100% verified Answers 2025/2026
A nurse assesses a client who had a myocardial infarction and is hypotensive. Which additional
assessment finding should the nurse expect?
a. Heart rate of 120 beats/min
b. Cool, clammy skin
c. Oxygen saturation of 90%
d. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min - Answer ANS: A
When a client experiences hypotension, baroreceptors in the aortic arch sense a pressure decrease in
the vessels. The parasympathetic system responds by lessening the inhibitory effect on the sinoatrial
node. This results in an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate. This tachycardia is an early response
and is seen even when blood pressure is not critically low. An increased heart rate and respiratory rate
will compensate for the low blood pressure and maintain oxygen saturations and perfusion. The client
may not be able to compensate for long, and decreased oxygenation and cool, clammy skin will occur
later.
A nurse assesses a client after administering a prescribed beta blocker. Which assessment should the
nurse expect to find?
a. Blood pressure increased from 98/42 mm Hg to 132/60 mm Hg
b. Respiratory rate decreased from 25 breaths/min to 14 breaths/min
c. Oxygen saturation increased from 88% to 96%
d. Pulse decreased from 100 beats/min to 80 beats/min - Answer ANS: D
,Beta blockers block the stimulation of beta1-adrenergic receptors. They block the sympathetic (fight-or-
flight) response and decrease the heart rate (HR). The beta blocker will decrease HR and blood pressure,
increasing ventricular filling time. It usually does not have effects on beta2-adrenergic receptor sites.
Cardiac output will drop because of decreased HR.
A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse identify as having the
greatest risk for cardiovascular disease?
a. An 86-year-old man with a history of asthma
b. A 32-year-old Asian-American man with colorectal cancer
c. A 45-year-old American Indian woman with diabetes mellitus
d. A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman who is on hormone therapy - Answer ANS: C
The incidence of coronary artery disease and hypertension is higher in American Indians than in whites
or Asian Americans. Diabetes mellitus increases the risk for hypertension and coronary artery disease in
people of any race or ethnicity. Asthma, colorectal cancer, and hormone therapy do not increase risk for
cardiovascular disease.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who has multiple chronic diseases. The clients heart rate is 48
beats/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Document the finding in the chart.
b. Initiate external pacing.
c. Assess the clients medications.
d. Administer 1 mg of atropine. - Answer ANS: C
,Pacemaker cells in the conduction system decrease in number as a person ages, resulting in bradycardia.
The nurse should check the medication reconciliation for medications that might cause such a drop in
heart rate, then should inform the health care provider. Documentation is important, but it is not the
priority action. The heart rate is not low enough for atropine or an external pacemaker to be needed.
An emergency room nurse obtains the health history of a client. Which statement by the client should
alert the nurse to the occurrence of heart failure?
a. I get short of breath when I climb stairs.
b. I see halos floating around my head.
c. I have trouble remembering things.
d. I have lost weight over the past month. - Answer ANS: A
Dyspnea on exertion is an early manifestation of heart failure and is associated with an activity such as
stair climbing. The other findings are not specific to early occurrence of heart failure.
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is newly admitted to the medical unit. Which
statement by the client should alert the nurse to the presence of edema?
a. I wake up to go to the bathroom at night.
b. My shoes fit tighter by the end of the day.
c. I seem to be feeling more anxious lately.
d. I drink at least eight glasses of water a day. - Answer ANS: B
, Weight gain can result from fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces. This is known as edema. The
nurse should note whether the client feels that his or her shoes or rings are tight, and should observe,
when present, an indentation around the leg where the socks end. The other Answers do not describe
edema.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who is experiencing a myocardial infarction. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect?
a. Excruciating pain on inspiration
b. Left lateral chest wall pain
c. Disorientation and confusion
d. Numbness and tingling of the arm - Answer ANS: C
In older adults, disorientation or confusion may be the major manifestation of myocardial infarction
caused by poor cardiac output. Pain manifestations and numbness and tingling of the arm could also be
related to the myocardial infarction. However, the nurse should be more concerned about the new
onset of disorientation or confusion caused by decreased perfusion.
A nurse assesses a client 2 hours after a cardiac angiography via the left femoral artery. The nurse notes
that the left pedal pulse is weak. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Elevate the leg and apply a sandbag to the entrance site.
b. Increase the flow rate of intravenous fluids.
c. Assess the color and temperature of the left leg.
d. Document the finding as left pedal pulse of +1/4. - Answer ANS: C
