CARDIAC ATI FINAL PAPER EXAM FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY PASSED 2026.
◍ You are providing teaching to a PT who is 2 days post op following
a heart transplant. Which following statements should the nurse
include in the teaching?
1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain
2. Your level of activity intolerance will not change
3. after 6 months you will no longer need to restrict you Na
4. You will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12
months. Answer: 1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain-
transplant PTs no longer feel chest pain due to denervation of the
heart
◍ ER nurse is assessing PT with bradydysrhythmia. Which finding
should he expect?
1. Confusion
2. Friction Rub
3. HTN
4. Dry skin. Answer: 1. Confusion- as a result of decreased tissue
perfusion
,◍ You are caring for a PT who had an anterior MI. PTs hx shows she
is 1 wk post op open cholecystectomy the RN knows that which
intervention is contraindicated?
1. Administering IV morphine
2. giving O2 at 2L NC
3. Helping client to BSC
4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy. Answer: 4. Assisting in
thrombolytic therapy- having surgery within 3 wks is a
contraindication for thrombolytic therapy
◍ You are caring for a PT who has endocarditis. Which finding
should you recognize as a complication?
1. Ventricular depolarization
2. Guillain Barre Syndrome
3. Myelodysplastic syndrome
4. Valvular disease. Answer: 4. Valvular disease- damage will occur as
a result of inflammation or infection of the endocardium
◍ You are caring for PT with BP of 254/139, you recognize the PT is
in a hypertensive crisis. Which action should you take first?
1. Obtain blood samples for testing
2. Tell the PT to report vision changes
,3. Place HOB at 45 degrees
4. Initiate IV access. Answer: 3. Place HOB at 45 degrees-ABC's this
will promote respiratory status and promote venous return reducing
workload on heart
**Initiate IV access- not first action
◍ When performing a cardiac assessment what is the point of
maximal impulse?
1. 2nd intercostal space right to the sternum
2. 2nd intercostal space left to the sternum
3. 5th intercostal space to the left of thermal border
4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Answer: 4. Left
5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line-this is best to hear the
apex of the heart which is considered maximal impulse
◍ You are caring for a PT who is experiencing Afib. You should
report what finding to the provider?
1. Slurred speech
2. Irregular pulse
3. Dependent edema
4. Persistant fatigue. Answer: 1. Slurred speech- greatest risk is an
embolus and this can indicate embolus
, ◍ You are assessing a PT with Left sided heart failure. What
manifestation should you expect to find?
1. Increased abdominal girth
2. Weak peripheral pulses
3. Jugular venous neck distention
4. Dependent edema. Answer: 2. Weak peripheral pulses- r/t
decreased CO from LSHF
◍ You are caring for a PT who is being treated for HF and has
prescriptions for digoxin and furosemide. You plan to monitor for
which of the following as an adverse effect of these meds?
1. SOB
2. Lightheadedness
3. Dry cough
4. Metallic taste. Answer: 2. Lightheadedness- can cause a sudden
drop in BP= lightheadedness
◍ You are monitoring a PT following coronary bypass graft surgery
(CABG). Which finding indicates cardiac tamponade?
1. Sternal instability
2. Increased WBC count
3. BP of 140/82 on inspiration and 154/90 on expiration
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ALREADY PASSED 2026.
◍ You are providing teaching to a PT who is 2 days post op following
a heart transplant. Which following statements should the nurse
include in the teaching?
1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain
2. Your level of activity intolerance will not change
3. after 6 months you will no longer need to restrict you Na
4. You will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12
months. Answer: 1. You may no longer be able to feel chest pain-
transplant PTs no longer feel chest pain due to denervation of the
heart
◍ ER nurse is assessing PT with bradydysrhythmia. Which finding
should he expect?
1. Confusion
2. Friction Rub
3. HTN
4. Dry skin. Answer: 1. Confusion- as a result of decreased tissue
perfusion
,◍ You are caring for a PT who had an anterior MI. PTs hx shows she
is 1 wk post op open cholecystectomy the RN knows that which
intervention is contraindicated?
1. Administering IV morphine
2. giving O2 at 2L NC
3. Helping client to BSC
4. Assisting in thrombolytic therapy. Answer: 4. Assisting in
thrombolytic therapy- having surgery within 3 wks is a
contraindication for thrombolytic therapy
◍ You are caring for a PT who has endocarditis. Which finding
should you recognize as a complication?
1. Ventricular depolarization
2. Guillain Barre Syndrome
3. Myelodysplastic syndrome
4. Valvular disease. Answer: 4. Valvular disease- damage will occur as
a result of inflammation or infection of the endocardium
◍ You are caring for PT with BP of 254/139, you recognize the PT is
in a hypertensive crisis. Which action should you take first?
1. Obtain blood samples for testing
2. Tell the PT to report vision changes
,3. Place HOB at 45 degrees
4. Initiate IV access. Answer: 3. Place HOB at 45 degrees-ABC's this
will promote respiratory status and promote venous return reducing
workload on heart
**Initiate IV access- not first action
◍ When performing a cardiac assessment what is the point of
maximal impulse?
1. 2nd intercostal space right to the sternum
2. 2nd intercostal space left to the sternum
3. 5th intercostal space to the left of thermal border
4. Left 5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Answer: 4. Left
5th intercostal space in the midclavicular line-this is best to hear the
apex of the heart which is considered maximal impulse
◍ You are caring for a PT who is experiencing Afib. You should
report what finding to the provider?
1. Slurred speech
2. Irregular pulse
3. Dependent edema
4. Persistant fatigue. Answer: 1. Slurred speech- greatest risk is an
embolus and this can indicate embolus
, ◍ You are assessing a PT with Left sided heart failure. What
manifestation should you expect to find?
1. Increased abdominal girth
2. Weak peripheral pulses
3. Jugular venous neck distention
4. Dependent edema. Answer: 2. Weak peripheral pulses- r/t
decreased CO from LSHF
◍ You are caring for a PT who is being treated for HF and has
prescriptions for digoxin and furosemide. You plan to monitor for
which of the following as an adverse effect of these meds?
1. SOB
2. Lightheadedness
3. Dry cough
4. Metallic taste. Answer: 2. Lightheadedness- can cause a sudden
drop in BP= lightheadedness
◍ You are monitoring a PT following coronary bypass graft surgery
(CABG). Which finding indicates cardiac tamponade?
1. Sternal instability
2. Increased WBC count
3. BP of 140/82 on inspiration and 154/90 on expiration
