HEART FAILURE WITH ATRIAL
FIBRILLATION ACTUAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Which finding should indicate to the PN that Burt is experiencing
right-sided heart failure?
Answer: *C. Edema.*
RATIONALE: Right-sided heart failure results in peripheral congestion
due to the inability of the right ventricle to effectively pump blood out of
the heart to the lungs, causing edema, JVD, an enlarged liver, abdominal
ascites, and weight gain.
●● Which cardiac dysrhythmia is Burt most likely experiencing?
Answer: *B. Atrial fibrillation*.
RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation commonly occurs in heart failure.
Multiple areas in the atria initiate rapid, irregular electrical stimuli,
which results in the inability to see clear P waves on the ECG recording.
Some, but not all, of these electrical impulses travel through the AV
node, causing an irregular ventricular response. This appears as irregular
QRS complexes on the ECG recording and manifests as an irregular
pulse rhythm when the client is observed.
, ●● Based on Burt's cardiac dysrhythmia, which action should the PN
implement first?
Answer: *A. Administer a prescribed stat dose of digoxin (Lanoxin).*
RATIONALE: Pulmonary artery catheters are used in the management
of acutely ill clients in the critical care setting. Catheterization allows
measurement of the pressures within the right atrium and pulmonary
artery, which then guides treatment.
●● Which of these diagnostic tests is used to measure the pressure
within the right atrium?
Answer: *D. Pulmonary artery catheterization.*
RATIONALE: Capoten is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used as an antihypertensive agent. ACE inhibitors have been
shown to prolong survival in clients with heart failure. By lowering the
blood pressure (reduced afterload), ACE inhibitors reduce the workload
on the heart. The PN should monitor the client's blood pressure to ensure
that the medication is having the desired effect and that hypotension
does not occur.
●● Which focused assessment is most important for the PN to perform
prior to the administration of captopril (Capoten)?
Answer: *B. Blood pressure.*
FIBRILLATION ACTUAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Which finding should indicate to the PN that Burt is experiencing
right-sided heart failure?
Answer: *C. Edema.*
RATIONALE: Right-sided heart failure results in peripheral congestion
due to the inability of the right ventricle to effectively pump blood out of
the heart to the lungs, causing edema, JVD, an enlarged liver, abdominal
ascites, and weight gain.
●● Which cardiac dysrhythmia is Burt most likely experiencing?
Answer: *B. Atrial fibrillation*.
RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation commonly occurs in heart failure.
Multiple areas in the atria initiate rapid, irregular electrical stimuli,
which results in the inability to see clear P waves on the ECG recording.
Some, but not all, of these electrical impulses travel through the AV
node, causing an irregular ventricular response. This appears as irregular
QRS complexes on the ECG recording and manifests as an irregular
pulse rhythm when the client is observed.
, ●● Based on Burt's cardiac dysrhythmia, which action should the PN
implement first?
Answer: *A. Administer a prescribed stat dose of digoxin (Lanoxin).*
RATIONALE: Pulmonary artery catheters are used in the management
of acutely ill clients in the critical care setting. Catheterization allows
measurement of the pressures within the right atrium and pulmonary
artery, which then guides treatment.
●● Which of these diagnostic tests is used to measure the pressure
within the right atrium?
Answer: *D. Pulmonary artery catheterization.*
RATIONALE: Capoten is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor used as an antihypertensive agent. ACE inhibitors have been
shown to prolong survival in clients with heart failure. By lowering the
blood pressure (reduced afterload), ACE inhibitors reduce the workload
on the heart. The PN should monitor the client's blood pressure to ensure
that the medication is having the desired effect and that hypotension
does not occur.
●● Which focused assessment is most important for the PN to perform
prior to the administration of captopril (Capoten)?
Answer: *B. Blood pressure.*
