BARRON’S CCRN CARDIAC EXAM |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027
UPDATED EDITION|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute inferior wall MI, post-coronary artery stent
deployment. For optimal care of the patient, the nurse should:
a) administer an analgesic for acute back pain
b) Apply pressure dressing to groin
c) Continuously monitor the patient in lead II
d) Maintain the patient in a supine position
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
It is best practice to continuously monitor the patient status post PCI with stent, in the
lead that was most abnormal during the acute occlusion. Lead II would most likely meet
this criterion for the patient with an inferior wall MI. The remaining interventions are
NOT indicated for the patient post PCI.
Question 2
The patient with aortic regurgitation will have which of the following on auscultation?
a) Diastolic murmur, loudest at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular
b) Systolic murmur, loudest at the apex of the heart
c) Diastolic murmur, loudest at the second intercostal space, right sternal border
d) Systolic murmur, loudest at the base of the heart
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
Aortic insufficiency (regurgitation) is backflow of blood during the time the aortic valve
should be closed. When is the aortic valve closed? During diastole — therefore it is a
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, diastolic murmur. The aortic area of auscultation is at the base of the heart, second
intercostal space, right sternal border.
Question 3
Cardiogenic shock secondary to left ventricular failure will generally result in:
a) Decreased afterload
b) narrow pulse pressure
c) decreased preload
d) Widening pulse pressure
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
The systolic pressure decreases due to a drop in cardiac output; however, the diastolic
pressure either stays the same or increases due to a compensatory increase of the
systemic vascular resistance. The remaining choices are not found in cardiogenic shock.
Question 4
The patient was admitted with acute inferior wall STEMI; the physician advises the nurse
to monitor the patient for signs of right ventricular (RV) infarction. Which of the following
are signs of RV infarction?
a) S2 heart sounds, lung crackles
b) Hypotension, flat neck veins
c) Hypertension, systolic murmur
d) Distended neck veins, clear lungs
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: D
If the RV contractility decreases, pressure proximal to the right ventricle (which is the
right atrium) increases, resulting in distended neck veins. As the right heart fails, left
heart preload decreases, lung sounds clear.
2
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,Question 5
The ECG demonstrates ST elevation in leads II, III and aVF. The nurse needs to monitor the
patient closely for which of the following?
a) Tachycardia, lung crackles
b) Sinus bradycardia, acute systolic murmur in the fifth intercostal space, midclavicular
c) Second-degree heart block Type 2, hypotension
d) Hypoxemia, acute systolic murmur, 5th intercostal space left sternal border
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
Complications likely to occur after an acute inferior wall MI include bradycardia
secondary to ischemia to the SA and/or AV node, and papillary muscle rupture or
dysfunction due to the anatomical distance between the right coronary artery and the
papillary muscle. The remaining choices are not common complications of inferior MI.
Question 6
Pulmonary hypertension may result in which of the following?
a) Left heart failure
b) Right heart failure
c) Increased lung compliance
d) Arterial hypertension
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
The right ventricular wall normally is thinner than the left because the RV generally
ejects into a low pressure pulmonary system with a mean pulmonary pressure of
approximately 20 mmHg. An increase in pulmonary pressure may result in failure of the
RV.
3
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, Question 7
The patient with a temporary transvenous pacemaker develops pacemaker malfunction.
The orientee is instructed to reposition the patient to try to correct the problem. The
cardiac monitor most likely demonstrates:
a) Periods of asystole without pacemaker activity
b) Runs of ventricular tachycardia
c) Pacemaker spikes without a QRS
d) Pacemaker spikes on the T-wave of the patient's own beats
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
Failure to capture (spikes present without QRS) may be corrected by repositioning the
patient to the side. The remaining problems would not be helped by repositioning the
patient.
Question 8
The patient with diastolic heart failure develops supraventricular tachycardia, heart rate
220/min. The most dangerous hemodynamic effect is a decrease in:
a) Myocardial contractility
b) Coronary artery perfusion
c) ejection fraction
d) Arterial oxygenation
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
Diastolic heart failure results in a problem with left ventricular FILLING secondary to
ventricular thickening, and contractility and ejection are maintained in diastolic failure.
The rapid heart rate will decrease filling time, worsen left ventricular filling and because
coronary artery perfusion occurs during diastole, this arrhythmia may be life-threatening.
4
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QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027
UPDATED EDITION|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute inferior wall MI, post-coronary artery stent
deployment. For optimal care of the patient, the nurse should:
a) administer an analgesic for acute back pain
b) Apply pressure dressing to groin
c) Continuously monitor the patient in lead II
d) Maintain the patient in a supine position
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
It is best practice to continuously monitor the patient status post PCI with stent, in the
lead that was most abnormal during the acute occlusion. Lead II would most likely meet
this criterion for the patient with an inferior wall MI. The remaining interventions are
NOT indicated for the patient post PCI.
Question 2
The patient with aortic regurgitation will have which of the following on auscultation?
a) Diastolic murmur, loudest at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular
b) Systolic murmur, loudest at the apex of the heart
c) Diastolic murmur, loudest at the second intercostal space, right sternal border
d) Systolic murmur, loudest at the base of the heart
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
Aortic insufficiency (regurgitation) is backflow of blood during the time the aortic valve
should be closed. When is the aortic valve closed? During diastole — therefore it is a
1
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, diastolic murmur. The aortic area of auscultation is at the base of the heart, second
intercostal space, right sternal border.
Question 3
Cardiogenic shock secondary to left ventricular failure will generally result in:
a) Decreased afterload
b) narrow pulse pressure
c) decreased preload
d) Widening pulse pressure
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
The systolic pressure decreases due to a drop in cardiac output; however, the diastolic
pressure either stays the same or increases due to a compensatory increase of the
systemic vascular resistance. The remaining choices are not found in cardiogenic shock.
Question 4
The patient was admitted with acute inferior wall STEMI; the physician advises the nurse
to monitor the patient for signs of right ventricular (RV) infarction. Which of the following
are signs of RV infarction?
a) S2 heart sounds, lung crackles
b) Hypotension, flat neck veins
c) Hypertension, systolic murmur
d) Distended neck veins, clear lungs
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: D
If the RV contractility decreases, pressure proximal to the right ventricle (which is the
right atrium) increases, resulting in distended neck veins. As the right heart fails, left
heart preload decreases, lung sounds clear.
2
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
,Question 5
The ECG demonstrates ST elevation in leads II, III and aVF. The nurse needs to monitor the
patient closely for which of the following?
a) Tachycardia, lung crackles
b) Sinus bradycardia, acute systolic murmur in the fifth intercostal space, midclavicular
c) Second-degree heart block Type 2, hypotension
d) Hypoxemia, acute systolic murmur, 5th intercostal space left sternal border
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
Complications likely to occur after an acute inferior wall MI include bradycardia
secondary to ischemia to the SA and/or AV node, and papillary muscle rupture or
dysfunction due to the anatomical distance between the right coronary artery and the
papillary muscle. The remaining choices are not common complications of inferior MI.
Question 6
Pulmonary hypertension may result in which of the following?
a) Left heart failure
b) Right heart failure
c) Increased lung compliance
d) Arterial hypertension
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
The right ventricular wall normally is thinner than the left because the RV generally
ejects into a low pressure pulmonary system with a mean pulmonary pressure of
approximately 20 mmHg. An increase in pulmonary pressure may result in failure of the
RV.
3
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, Question 7
The patient with a temporary transvenous pacemaker develops pacemaker malfunction.
The orientee is instructed to reposition the patient to try to correct the problem. The
cardiac monitor most likely demonstrates:
a) Periods of asystole without pacemaker activity
b) Runs of ventricular tachycardia
c) Pacemaker spikes without a QRS
d) Pacemaker spikes on the T-wave of the patient's own beats
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: C
Failure to capture (spikes present without QRS) may be corrected by repositioning the
patient to the side. The remaining problems would not be helped by repositioning the
patient.
Question 8
The patient with diastolic heart failure develops supraventricular tachycardia, heart rate
220/min. The most dangerous hemodynamic effect is a decrease in:
a) Myocardial contractility
b) Coronary artery perfusion
c) ejection fraction
d) Arterial oxygenation
CORRECT ANSWER
Answer: B
Diastolic heart failure results in a problem with left ventricular FILLING secondary to
ventricular thickening, and contractility and ejection are maintained in diastolic failure.
The rapid heart rate will decrease filling time, worsen left ventricular filling and because
coronary artery perfusion occurs during diastole, this arrhythmia may be life-threatening.
4
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
