Cardiovascular Disorders Review Questions with Complete Solutions Graded A+
The nurse advises a client recovering from a myocardial infarction to decrease fat and sodium intake.
Which foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid? Select all that apply.
a) Soft drinks
b) Oatmeal
c) Pepperoni pizza
d) Bacon
e) Apple juice
f) Cheese - Answers A. Soft drinks
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Bacon
F. Cheese
Foods high in sodium include cheese, processed meats such as pepperoni and bacon, and soft drinks.
Bacon and cheese also have a high fat content.
A client with heart failure is receiving digoxin intravenously. The nurse should determine the
effectiveness of the drug by assessing which of the following?
a) Increased myocardial contractility.
b) Dilated coronary arteries.
c) Decreased electrical conductivity in the heart.
d) Decreased cardiac arrhythmias. - Answers A. Increased myocardial contractility.
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic activity. This inotropic activity causes increased
strength of myocardial contractions and thereby increases output of blood from the left ventricle.
Digoxin does not dilate coronary arteries. Although digoxin can be used to treat arrhythmias and does
,decrease the electrical conductivity of the myocardium, these are not primary reasons for its use in
clients with heart failure and pulmonary edema.
What is the most important reason for a nurse to encourage a client with peripheral vascular disease to
initiate a walking program?
a) Walking increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level.
b) Walking aids in weight reduction.
c) Walking decreases venous congestion.
d) Walking reduces stress. - Answers C. Walking decreases venous congestion.
Regular walking is the best way to decrease venous congestion because using the leg muscles as a pump
helps return blood to the heart. Regular exercise also aids in stress reduction and weight reduction and
increases the formation of HDLs, which are all beneficial to a client with peripheral vascular disease.
However, these changes do not have as significant an effect on the client's condition as decreasing
venous congestion.
A nurse is assigned with an ancillary staff member to care for a group of cardiac clients. Which client
should the nurse address first?
a) The client who suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is complaining of constipation.
b) The client who had a pacemaker inserted yesterday and who is complaining of incisional pain.
c) The client who has his call light on.
d) The client admitted with unstable angina pectoris who wants to be discharged. - Answers A. The client
who suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is complaining of constipation.
The client who suffered an acute MI who is complaining of constipation should be addressed first. If the
client strains at stool after an MI, the vagal response may be stimulated, causing bradycardia thereby
provoking arrhythmias. After addressing the MI client with constipation, the nurse should promptly
address the pain-relief needs of the client who had a pacemaker inserted the previous day. The nurse
should delegate answering the call light to the ancillary personnel. She may also delegate some of the
discharge preparation, such as packing the client's belongings.
, Which of the following foods should the nurse teach a client with heart failure to limit when following a
2-g sodium diet?
a) Whole wheat bread.
b) Apples.
c) Beef tenderloin.
d) Tomato juice. - Answers D. Tomato juice.
Canned foods and juices such as tomato juice are typically high in sodium and should be avoided in a
sodium-restricted diet. Canned foods and juices in which sodium has been removed or limited are
available. The client should be taught to read labels carefully. Apples and whole wheat breads are not
high in sodium. Beef tenderloin would have less sodium than canned foods or tomato juice.
A client with heart failure has bilateral +4 edema of the right ankle that extends up to midcalf. The client
is sitting in a chair with the legs in a dependent position. Which of the following goals is the priority?
a) Maintain body temperature.
b) Decrease venous congestion.
c) Maintain normal respirations.
d) Prevent injury to lower extremities. - Answers B. Decrease venous congestion.
Decreasing venous congestion in the extremities is a desired outcome for clients with heart failure. The
nurse should elevate the client's legs above the level of the heart to achieve this goal. The client is not
demonstrating difficulty breathing or being cold. The nurse should prevent injury to the swollen
extremity; however, this is not the priority.
A client reports recent onset of chest pain that occurs sporadically with exertion. The client also has
fatigue and mild ankle swelling, which is most pronounced at the end of the day. The nurse suspects a
cardiovascular disorder. What other client presentation increases the likelihood of a cardiovascular
disorder?
a) Irritability
The nurse advises a client recovering from a myocardial infarction to decrease fat and sodium intake.
Which foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid? Select all that apply.
a) Soft drinks
b) Oatmeal
c) Pepperoni pizza
d) Bacon
e) Apple juice
f) Cheese - Answers A. Soft drinks
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Bacon
F. Cheese
Foods high in sodium include cheese, processed meats such as pepperoni and bacon, and soft drinks.
Bacon and cheese also have a high fat content.
A client with heart failure is receiving digoxin intravenously. The nurse should determine the
effectiveness of the drug by assessing which of the following?
a) Increased myocardial contractility.
b) Dilated coronary arteries.
c) Decreased electrical conductivity in the heart.
d) Decreased cardiac arrhythmias. - Answers A. Increased myocardial contractility.
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside with positive inotropic activity. This inotropic activity causes increased
strength of myocardial contractions and thereby increases output of blood from the left ventricle.
Digoxin does not dilate coronary arteries. Although digoxin can be used to treat arrhythmias and does
,decrease the electrical conductivity of the myocardium, these are not primary reasons for its use in
clients with heart failure and pulmonary edema.
What is the most important reason for a nurse to encourage a client with peripheral vascular disease to
initiate a walking program?
a) Walking increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level.
b) Walking aids in weight reduction.
c) Walking decreases venous congestion.
d) Walking reduces stress. - Answers C. Walking decreases venous congestion.
Regular walking is the best way to decrease venous congestion because using the leg muscles as a pump
helps return blood to the heart. Regular exercise also aids in stress reduction and weight reduction and
increases the formation of HDLs, which are all beneficial to a client with peripheral vascular disease.
However, these changes do not have as significant an effect on the client's condition as decreasing
venous congestion.
A nurse is assigned with an ancillary staff member to care for a group of cardiac clients. Which client
should the nurse address first?
a) The client who suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is complaining of constipation.
b) The client who had a pacemaker inserted yesterday and who is complaining of incisional pain.
c) The client who has his call light on.
d) The client admitted with unstable angina pectoris who wants to be discharged. - Answers A. The client
who suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) who is complaining of constipation.
The client who suffered an acute MI who is complaining of constipation should be addressed first. If the
client strains at stool after an MI, the vagal response may be stimulated, causing bradycardia thereby
provoking arrhythmias. After addressing the MI client with constipation, the nurse should promptly
address the pain-relief needs of the client who had a pacemaker inserted the previous day. The nurse
should delegate answering the call light to the ancillary personnel. She may also delegate some of the
discharge preparation, such as packing the client's belongings.
, Which of the following foods should the nurse teach a client with heart failure to limit when following a
2-g sodium diet?
a) Whole wheat bread.
b) Apples.
c) Beef tenderloin.
d) Tomato juice. - Answers D. Tomato juice.
Canned foods and juices such as tomato juice are typically high in sodium and should be avoided in a
sodium-restricted diet. Canned foods and juices in which sodium has been removed or limited are
available. The client should be taught to read labels carefully. Apples and whole wheat breads are not
high in sodium. Beef tenderloin would have less sodium than canned foods or tomato juice.
A client with heart failure has bilateral +4 edema of the right ankle that extends up to midcalf. The client
is sitting in a chair with the legs in a dependent position. Which of the following goals is the priority?
a) Maintain body temperature.
b) Decrease venous congestion.
c) Maintain normal respirations.
d) Prevent injury to lower extremities. - Answers B. Decrease venous congestion.
Decreasing venous congestion in the extremities is a desired outcome for clients with heart failure. The
nurse should elevate the client's legs above the level of the heart to achieve this goal. The client is not
demonstrating difficulty breathing or being cold. The nurse should prevent injury to the swollen
extremity; however, this is not the priority.
A client reports recent onset of chest pain that occurs sporadically with exertion. The client also has
fatigue and mild ankle swelling, which is most pronounced at the end of the day. The nurse suspects a
cardiovascular disorder. What other client presentation increases the likelihood of a cardiovascular
disorder?
a) Irritability
