Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Answer:
2. Assess the client.
,Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Answer: 2. S3.
,Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
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 - CORRECT 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.
, Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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
Questions & Answer 2026
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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Answer:
2. Assess the client.
,Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Answer: 2. S3.
,Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
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 - CORRECT 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.
, Med-Surg Cardiovascular Review
Questions & Answer 2026
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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
