MED-SURG CARDIOVASCULAR EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS COMPLETE
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
\.1. A client complains of crushing chest pain that radiates to his left arm. He
should be presented with the following treatment:
1. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and codeine
3. Oxygen, nitroglycerin, meperidine, and thrombolytics
4. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroprusside, and morphine - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. Aspirin,
oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
\.2. Which lifestyle changes should a client diagnosed with coronary artery disease
consider?
1. Smoking cessation
2. Establishing a regular exercise routine
3. Weight reduction
4. All of the Above - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 4. All of the Above
\.3. A client's cardiac monitor alarm sounds, indicating ventricular tachycardia.
The nurse should:
1. perform immediate defibrillation.
,2. Assess the client.
3. Call the physician.
4. Administer a precordial thump. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. Assess the client.
\.4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. stasis ulcer.
\.5. A key diagnostic test for heart failure is:
1. serum potassium.
2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
3. Troponin I
4. cardiac enzymes. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
\.6. While auscultating the heart sounds of a client with mitral insufficiency, the
nurse hears an extra heart sound immediately after the S2. The nurse should
document this extra heart sound as a:
1. S1.
2. S3.
3. S4.
4. mitral murmur. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. S3.
,Rationale: An S3, is heard following an S2. This indicates that the client is
experiencing heart failure and results from increased filling pressures. An S1 is a
normal heart sound made by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. An S4
is heard before S1 and is caused by resistance to ventricular filling. A murmur of
mitral insufficiency occurs during systole and is heard when there's turbulent
blood flow across the valve.
\.7. A nurse administers heparin to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis.
Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness
of heparin?
1. PTT
2. HCT
3. CBC
4. PT - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. PTT
Rationale: The therapeutic effectiveness of heparin is determined by monitoring
the patient's PTT, PT, HCT, and CBC don't monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
heparin. Monitoring the PT determines warfarin's effectiveness.
\.8. A client has just returned from cardiac catheterization. Which nursing
intervention would be most appropriate?
1. Help the client ambulate to the bathroom.
2. Restrict fluids.
3. Monitor peripheral pulses.
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - ANSWERS✔-Answer. 3. Monitor
peripheral pulses.
Rationale: After cardiac catheterization, monitor peripheral pulses to assess
peripheral perfusion. Helping the client ambulate to the bathroom is incorrect
, because the client should be on bed rest for 4 to 8 hours after the procedure to
reduce the risk of bleeding at the insertion site. Restricting fluids is incorrect
because the client should be encouraged to drink fluids after the procedure,
unless contraindicated. Adequate hydration reduces the risk of nephrotoxicity that
can occur with the use of contrast dye. Although urine output is monitored
following cardiac catheterization, the insertion of a urinary catherter isn't
necessary.
\.9. A client is in the first postoperative day after left femoropopliteal
revascularization. Which position would be most appropriate for this client?
1. On his left-sided
2. In high Fowler's position
3. On his right side
4. In a left lateral decubitus position - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 3. On his right side
Rationale: Following revascularization, avoid positioning the client on the surgical
side. Because this client had left femoropoliteal revascularization, he may be
positioned on the right side. Placing the client on the left side is incorrect because
this would position the client on the operative side. Positioning the client in high
Fowler's position is incorrect because the client should avoid flexion at the surgical
site. Placing the client in a left lateral decubitus position is incorrect because this
would place the client on the surgical side and cause flexion at the site.
\.10. A nurse is evaluating a client with left-sided heart failure. Which finding
should the nurse expect to assess?
1. Ascites
2. Dyspnea
3. Hepatomegaly
REVIEW QUESTIONS COMPLETE
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
\.1. A client complains of crushing chest pain that radiates to his left arm. He
should be presented with the following treatment:
1. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and codeine
3. Oxygen, nitroglycerin, meperidine, and thrombolytics
4. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroprusside, and morphine - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. Aspirin,
oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
\.2. Which lifestyle changes should a client diagnosed with coronary artery disease
consider?
1. Smoking cessation
2. Establishing a regular exercise routine
3. Weight reduction
4. All of the Above - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 4. All of the Above
\.3. A client's cardiac monitor alarm sounds, indicating ventricular tachycardia.
The nurse should:
1. perform immediate defibrillation.
,2. Assess the client.
3. Call the physician.
4. Administer a precordial thump. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. Assess the client.
\.4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. stasis ulcer.
\.5. A key diagnostic test for heart failure is:
1. serum potassium.
2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
3. Troponin I
4. cardiac enzymes. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
\.6. While auscultating the heart sounds of a client with mitral insufficiency, the
nurse hears an extra heart sound immediately after the S2. The nurse should
document this extra heart sound as a:
1. S1.
2. S3.
3. S4.
4. mitral murmur. - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 2. S3.
,Rationale: An S3, is heard following an S2. This indicates that the client is
experiencing heart failure and results from increased filling pressures. An S1 is a
normal heart sound made by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. An S4
is heard before S1 and is caused by resistance to ventricular filling. A murmur of
mitral insufficiency occurs during systole and is heard when there's turbulent
blood flow across the valve.
\.7. A nurse administers heparin to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis.
Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness
of heparin?
1. PTT
2. HCT
3. CBC
4. PT - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 1. PTT
Rationale: The therapeutic effectiveness of heparin is determined by monitoring
the patient's PTT, PT, HCT, and CBC don't monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
heparin. Monitoring the PT determines warfarin's effectiveness.
\.8. A client has just returned from cardiac catheterization. Which nursing
intervention would be most appropriate?
1. Help the client ambulate to the bathroom.
2. Restrict fluids.
3. Monitor peripheral pulses.
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - ANSWERS✔-Answer. 3. Monitor
peripheral pulses.
Rationale: After cardiac catheterization, monitor peripheral pulses to assess
peripheral perfusion. Helping the client ambulate to the bathroom is incorrect
, because the client should be on bed rest for 4 to 8 hours after the procedure to
reduce the risk of bleeding at the insertion site. Restricting fluids is incorrect
because the client should be encouraged to drink fluids after the procedure,
unless contraindicated. Adequate hydration reduces the risk of nephrotoxicity that
can occur with the use of contrast dye. Although urine output is monitored
following cardiac catheterization, the insertion of a urinary catherter isn't
necessary.
\.9. A client is in the first postoperative day after left femoropopliteal
revascularization. Which position would be most appropriate for this client?
1. On his left-sided
2. In high Fowler's position
3. On his right side
4. In a left lateral decubitus position - ANSWERS✔-Answer: 3. On his right side
Rationale: Following revascularization, avoid positioning the client on the surgical
side. Because this client had left femoropoliteal revascularization, he may be
positioned on the right side. Placing the client on the left side is incorrect because
this would position the client on the operative side. Positioning the client in high
Fowler's position is incorrect because the client should avoid flexion at the surgical
site. Placing the client in a left lateral decubitus position is incorrect because this
would place the client on the surgical side and cause flexion at the site.
\.10. A nurse is evaluating a client with left-sided heart failure. Which finding
should the nurse expect to assess?
1. Ascites
2. Dyspnea
3. Hepatomegaly
