ATI CARDIOVASCULAR EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
● A nurse is caring for a client who has dilated cardiomyopathy. The
client reports increasing difficulty completing her daily 1-mile walks.
The nurse should recognize that this is a finding of which of the
following? Answer: Left ventricular failure. Activity intolerance is a
finding and is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy.
● A nurse is caring for a client who present to the ER with a blood
pressure of 254/139. The nurse recognizes that the client is in a
hypertensive crisis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first? Answer: Place the head of the bed at a 45 degree angle. First
action is to maintain airway, breathing, and circulation. This improves
respiratory status and promotes venous return to reduce workload on the
heart.
● A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided hear failure. Which on
the following Manifestations should the nurse expect to find? Answer:
Weak peripheral pulses. Related to decreased cardiac output resulting
from the left-Sided heart failure.
● A nurse is caring for a client in the first hour of an aortic aneurysm
repair. Which of the following findings can indicate shock and should be
reported to the provider? Answer: Urine output of 20ml/hr. Urine output
, less than 30ml/hr can indicate shock because it reflects decreased blood
flow to the kidneys, and possible graft rupture and hemorrhage.
● A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of DVT and is
receiving warfarin. Which of the following client finding provides the
nurse with the best evidence regarding the effectiveness of the warfarin
therapy? Answer: INR 2.5. It is within the desired therapeutic rename
and best evidence of effective warfarin therapy.
● A nurse us reviewing the laboratory results of several clients who have
peripheral arterial disease. The nurse should plan to provide dietary
teaching for the client who has which of the following laboratory
values? Answer: Cholesterol 190 mg/dL, HDL 25 mg/ dL, and LDL 160
mg/dL. Cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, HDL above 40 mg/dL, and
LDL less than 100 mg/dL.
● A nurse is caring for a client in the first 8 hours following coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Which of the following client
finding should the nurse report to the provider? Answer: Blood pressure
160/80. Elevated BP following a CABG because increase vascular
pressure can cause bleeding at the incision sites.
● A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a CABG in 2 hours.
Which of the following statements indicated a need for further
clarification by the nurse? Answer: "I took my warfarin last night
according to my usual schedule." CABG clients should not take
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
● A nurse is caring for a client who has dilated cardiomyopathy. The
client reports increasing difficulty completing her daily 1-mile walks.
The nurse should recognize that this is a finding of which of the
following? Answer: Left ventricular failure. Activity intolerance is a
finding and is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy.
● A nurse is caring for a client who present to the ER with a blood
pressure of 254/139. The nurse recognizes that the client is in a
hypertensive crisis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first? Answer: Place the head of the bed at a 45 degree angle. First
action is to maintain airway, breathing, and circulation. This improves
respiratory status and promotes venous return to reduce workload on the
heart.
● A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided hear failure. Which on
the following Manifestations should the nurse expect to find? Answer:
Weak peripheral pulses. Related to decreased cardiac output resulting
from the left-Sided heart failure.
● A nurse is caring for a client in the first hour of an aortic aneurysm
repair. Which of the following findings can indicate shock and should be
reported to the provider? Answer: Urine output of 20ml/hr. Urine output
, less than 30ml/hr can indicate shock because it reflects decreased blood
flow to the kidneys, and possible graft rupture and hemorrhage.
● A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of DVT and is
receiving warfarin. Which of the following client finding provides the
nurse with the best evidence regarding the effectiveness of the warfarin
therapy? Answer: INR 2.5. It is within the desired therapeutic rename
and best evidence of effective warfarin therapy.
● A nurse us reviewing the laboratory results of several clients who have
peripheral arterial disease. The nurse should plan to provide dietary
teaching for the client who has which of the following laboratory
values? Answer: Cholesterol 190 mg/dL, HDL 25 mg/ dL, and LDL 160
mg/dL. Cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, HDL above 40 mg/dL, and
LDL less than 100 mg/dL.
● A nurse is caring for a client in the first 8 hours following coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Which of the following client
finding should the nurse report to the provider? Answer: Blood pressure
160/80. Elevated BP following a CABG because increase vascular
pressure can cause bleeding at the incision sites.
● A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a CABG in 2 hours.
Which of the following statements indicated a need for further
clarification by the nurse? Answer: "I took my warfarin last night
according to my usual schedule." CABG clients should not take
