PRACTICE PERFUSION NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
A 58-year-old female with a family history of CAD is being seen for her annual physical exam. Fasting lab
test results include: Total cholesterol 198; LDL cholesterol 120; HDL cholesterol 58; Triglycerides 148;
Blood sugar 102; and C-reactive protein (CRP) 4.2. The health care provider informs the client that she
will be started on a statin medication and aspirin. The client asks the nurse why she needs to take these
medications. Which is the best response by the nurse?
a. "The labs indicate severe hyperlipidemia and the medications will lower your LDL, along with a low-fat
diet."
b. "The triglycerides are elevated and will not return to normal without these medications."
c. "The CRP is elevated indicating inflammation seen in cardiovascular disease, which can be lowered by
the medications ordered."
d. "The medications are not indicated since your lab values are all normal." - ansc. CRP is a marker of
inflammation and is elevated in the presence of cardiovascular disease. The high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)
is the blood test for greater accuracy in measuring the CRP to evaluate cardiovascular risk. The family
history, post-menopausal age, LDL above optimum levels and elevated CRP place the client at risk of
CAD. Statin medications can decrease LDL, whereas statins and aspirin can reduce CRP and decrease the
risk of MI and stroke.
A client has developed uncontrolled atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 150 beats/min. What
manifestation should the nurse observe for when performing the client's focused assessment?
a. Flat neck veins
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Hypotension and dizziness
d. Clubbed fingertips and headache - ansd. Hypotension and dizziness
A client taking spironolactone (Aldactone) [potassium-sparing diuretic] has been taught about the
therapy. Which menu selection indicates that the client understands teaching related to this medication?
a. Apricots
b. Bananas
c. Fish
d. Strawberries - ansc.
, PRACTICE PERFUSION NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that could potentially cause hyperkalemia. Fish is an
appropriate dietary choice, because it is low in potassium. The other foods are high in potassium.
A client with a diagnosis of cardiac dysrhythmias and a history of type I diabetes mellitus is placed on
propranolol therapy. The client asks the nurse if the drug will affect insulin needs. The best response by
the nurse would be that:
a. The drug will have no effect on insulin needs.
b. The drug might cause hypoglycemia.
c. The drug could cause hyperglycemia.
d. The client should ask the physician this question. - ansb. The drug might cause hypoglycemia.
There is increased incidence of hypoglycemia with type I diabetes mellitus, because propranolol can
inhibit glycogenolysis.
A client with a first-degree heart block has an electrocardiogram (ECG) taken during an episode of chest
pain. The nurse knows that which ECG finding would be an indication of first-degree heart block?
a. Presence of Q waves
b. Tall, peaked T waves
c. Prolonged PR interval
d. Widened QRS complex - ansc. Prolonged PR interval
A client's blood pressure (BP) is 145/90. According to the guidelines for determining hypertension, the
nurse realizes that the client's BP is at which stage?
a. Normal
b. Prehypertension
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
A 58-year-old female with a family history of CAD is being seen for her annual physical exam. Fasting lab
test results include: Total cholesterol 198; LDL cholesterol 120; HDL cholesterol 58; Triglycerides 148;
Blood sugar 102; and C-reactive protein (CRP) 4.2. The health care provider informs the client that she
will be started on a statin medication and aspirin. The client asks the nurse why she needs to take these
medications. Which is the best response by the nurse?
a. "The labs indicate severe hyperlipidemia and the medications will lower your LDL, along with a low-fat
diet."
b. "The triglycerides are elevated and will not return to normal without these medications."
c. "The CRP is elevated indicating inflammation seen in cardiovascular disease, which can be lowered by
the medications ordered."
d. "The medications are not indicated since your lab values are all normal." - ansc. CRP is a marker of
inflammation and is elevated in the presence of cardiovascular disease. The high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)
is the blood test for greater accuracy in measuring the CRP to evaluate cardiovascular risk. The family
history, post-menopausal age, LDL above optimum levels and elevated CRP place the client at risk of
CAD. Statin medications can decrease LDL, whereas statins and aspirin can reduce CRP and decrease the
risk of MI and stroke.
A client has developed uncontrolled atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 150 beats/min. What
manifestation should the nurse observe for when performing the client's focused assessment?
a. Flat neck veins
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Hypotension and dizziness
d. Clubbed fingertips and headache - ansd. Hypotension and dizziness
A client taking spironolactone (Aldactone) [potassium-sparing diuretic] has been taught about the
therapy. Which menu selection indicates that the client understands teaching related to this medication?
a. Apricots
b. Bananas
c. Fish
d. Strawberries - ansc.
, PRACTICE PERFUSION NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that could potentially cause hyperkalemia. Fish is an
appropriate dietary choice, because it is low in potassium. The other foods are high in potassium.
A client with a diagnosis of cardiac dysrhythmias and a history of type I diabetes mellitus is placed on
propranolol therapy. The client asks the nurse if the drug will affect insulin needs. The best response by
the nurse would be that:
a. The drug will have no effect on insulin needs.
b. The drug might cause hypoglycemia.
c. The drug could cause hyperglycemia.
d. The client should ask the physician this question. - ansb. The drug might cause hypoglycemia.
There is increased incidence of hypoglycemia with type I diabetes mellitus, because propranolol can
inhibit glycogenolysis.
A client with a first-degree heart block has an electrocardiogram (ECG) taken during an episode of chest
pain. The nurse knows that which ECG finding would be an indication of first-degree heart block?
a. Presence of Q waves
b. Tall, peaked T waves
c. Prolonged PR interval
d. Widened QRS complex - ansc. Prolonged PR interval
A client's blood pressure (BP) is 145/90. According to the guidelines for determining hypertension, the
nurse realizes that the client's BP is at which stage?
a. Normal
b. Prehypertension
