, SET 1
1. The nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient who has recently been
diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD). During the assessment, the nurse
identifies several risk factors that may contribute to the patient’s cardiovascular
health. Which factor would the nurse focus on during the teaching session because
it can be modified through lifestyle changes and treatment?
a. Family history of coronary artery disease
b. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level
c. Greater risk associated with the patient's gender
d. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease with aging
Correct Answer: Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level
Elevated LDL is a modifiable risk factor that contributes to atherosclerotic plaque
formation and increases the risk of CAD complications. Reducing LDL through dietary
changes, physical activity, and prescribed lipid-lowering therapy can decrease
cardiovascular risk. Family history, gender, and aging are nonmodifiable risk factors,
so the nurse should focus teaching on factors the patient can change.
2. The nurse is assisting a patient with coronary artery disease who has been
advised to make dietary changes to reduce cardiovascular risk. The patient reports
enjoying several high-fat foods and states that completely changing the diet feels
unrealistic. Which nursing intervention is likely to be most effective when assisting
the patient with coronary artery disease to make dietary changes?
a. Inform the patient about a diet containing no saturated fat and minimal salt.
b. Emphasize the increased cardiac risk unless the patient makes dietary changes.
c. Help the patient modify favorite high-fat recipes by using monounsaturated oils.
d. Give the patient a list of low-sodium, low-cholesterol foods to include in the diet.
,Correct Answer: Help the patient modify favorite high-fat recipes by using
monounsaturated oils.
Dietary changes are more likely to be successful when they incorporate the patient's
preferences and usual eating habits rather than requiring unrealistic restrictions.
Replacing foods high in saturated fat with sources of monounsaturated or
polyunsaturated fats can support cardiovascular health while allowing the patient to
continue eating familiar foods. Simply providing a food list or emphasizing
cardiovascular risk does not provide the patient with practical strategies for making
sustainable changes.
3. The nurse is admitting a patient to the emergency department who reports
experiencing chest pain that began several hours ago. The nurse assesses the
characteristics and duration of the pain while considering possible cardiac and
noncardiac causes. Which assessment data suggest that the pain may be from an
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
a. The pain increases with deep breathing.
b. The pain has lasted longer than 30 minutes.
c. The pain is relieved after the patient takes nitroglycerin.
d. The pain is reproducible when the patient raises the arms.
Correct Answer: The pain has lasted longer than 30 minutes.
Chest pain associated with an acute myocardial infarction commonly persists for 20
minutes or longer and may not be relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Pain that changes
with deep breathing or arm movement is more consistent with conditions such as
musculoskeletal pain or pericarditis. Stable angina is typically relieved by rest or
nitroglycerin, making prolonged unrelieved chest pain more concerning for AMI.
4. The nurse is reviewing the history of a patient who has previously been
diagnosed with chronic stable angina. The patient describes the circumstances
, surrounding previous episodes of chest discomfort and explains what usually
relieves the symptoms. Which patient statement would help the nurse confirm the
previous diagnosis of chronic stable angina?
a. “The pain wakes me up at night.”
b. “The pain is level 3 to 5 on a 0 to 10 scale.”
c. “The pain has gotten worse over the last week.”
d. “The pain goes away with a nitroglycerin tablet.”
Correct Answer: “The pain goes away with a nitroglycerin tablet.”
Chronic stable angina typically occurs predictably with exertion or increased
myocardial oxygen demand and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Relief after
nitroglycerin is therefore consistent with the expected pattern of stable angina. Pain
occurring at rest or becoming increasingly frequent or severe is more characteristic of
unstable angina, while pain intensity alone does not establish the type of angina.
5. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient who has coronary artery
disease and has been prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin for episodes of chest
discomfort. The nurse explains how and when the medication should be used and
asks the patient to describe what action should be taken if symptoms do not
improve. Which statement indicates that the nurse's teaching about sublingual
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) has been effective?
a. “I can expect nausea as a side effect of nitroglycerin.”
b. “I should only take nitroglycerin when I have chest pain.”
c. “Nitroglycerin helps prevent a clot from blocking blood flow to my heart.”
d. “I will call an ambulance if I have pain 5 minutes after taking nitroglycerin.”
Correct Answer: “I will call an ambulance if I have pain 5 minutes after taking
nitroglycerin.”
Emergency medical services should be activated if chest pain or other cardiac
symptoms persist or are the same or worse 5 minutes after taking a sublingual
1. The nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient who has recently been
diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD). During the assessment, the nurse
identifies several risk factors that may contribute to the patient’s cardiovascular
health. Which factor would the nurse focus on during the teaching session because
it can be modified through lifestyle changes and treatment?
a. Family history of coronary artery disease
b. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level
c. Greater risk associated with the patient's gender
d. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease with aging
Correct Answer: Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level
Elevated LDL is a modifiable risk factor that contributes to atherosclerotic plaque
formation and increases the risk of CAD complications. Reducing LDL through dietary
changes, physical activity, and prescribed lipid-lowering therapy can decrease
cardiovascular risk. Family history, gender, and aging are nonmodifiable risk factors,
so the nurse should focus teaching on factors the patient can change.
2. The nurse is assisting a patient with coronary artery disease who has been
advised to make dietary changes to reduce cardiovascular risk. The patient reports
enjoying several high-fat foods and states that completely changing the diet feels
unrealistic. Which nursing intervention is likely to be most effective when assisting
the patient with coronary artery disease to make dietary changes?
a. Inform the patient about a diet containing no saturated fat and minimal salt.
b. Emphasize the increased cardiac risk unless the patient makes dietary changes.
c. Help the patient modify favorite high-fat recipes by using monounsaturated oils.
d. Give the patient a list of low-sodium, low-cholesterol foods to include in the diet.
,Correct Answer: Help the patient modify favorite high-fat recipes by using
monounsaturated oils.
Dietary changes are more likely to be successful when they incorporate the patient's
preferences and usual eating habits rather than requiring unrealistic restrictions.
Replacing foods high in saturated fat with sources of monounsaturated or
polyunsaturated fats can support cardiovascular health while allowing the patient to
continue eating familiar foods. Simply providing a food list or emphasizing
cardiovascular risk does not provide the patient with practical strategies for making
sustainable changes.
3. The nurse is admitting a patient to the emergency department who reports
experiencing chest pain that began several hours ago. The nurse assesses the
characteristics and duration of the pain while considering possible cardiac and
noncardiac causes. Which assessment data suggest that the pain may be from an
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
a. The pain increases with deep breathing.
b. The pain has lasted longer than 30 minutes.
c. The pain is relieved after the patient takes nitroglycerin.
d. The pain is reproducible when the patient raises the arms.
Correct Answer: The pain has lasted longer than 30 minutes.
Chest pain associated with an acute myocardial infarction commonly persists for 20
minutes or longer and may not be relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Pain that changes
with deep breathing or arm movement is more consistent with conditions such as
musculoskeletal pain or pericarditis. Stable angina is typically relieved by rest or
nitroglycerin, making prolonged unrelieved chest pain more concerning for AMI.
4. The nurse is reviewing the history of a patient who has previously been
diagnosed with chronic stable angina. The patient describes the circumstances
, surrounding previous episodes of chest discomfort and explains what usually
relieves the symptoms. Which patient statement would help the nurse confirm the
previous diagnosis of chronic stable angina?
a. “The pain wakes me up at night.”
b. “The pain is level 3 to 5 on a 0 to 10 scale.”
c. “The pain has gotten worse over the last week.”
d. “The pain goes away with a nitroglycerin tablet.”
Correct Answer: “The pain goes away with a nitroglycerin tablet.”
Chronic stable angina typically occurs predictably with exertion or increased
myocardial oxygen demand and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Relief after
nitroglycerin is therefore consistent with the expected pattern of stable angina. Pain
occurring at rest or becoming increasingly frequent or severe is more characteristic of
unstable angina, while pain intensity alone does not establish the type of angina.
5. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient who has coronary artery
disease and has been prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin for episodes of chest
discomfort. The nurse explains how and when the medication should be used and
asks the patient to describe what action should be taken if symptoms do not
improve. Which statement indicates that the nurse's teaching about sublingual
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) has been effective?
a. “I can expect nausea as a side effect of nitroglycerin.”
b. “I should only take nitroglycerin when I have chest pain.”
c. “Nitroglycerin helps prevent a clot from blocking blood flow to my heart.”
d. “I will call an ambulance if I have pain 5 minutes after taking nitroglycerin.”
Correct Answer: “I will call an ambulance if I have pain 5 minutes after taking
nitroglycerin.”
Emergency medical services should be activated if chest pain or other cardiac
symptoms persist or are the same or worse 5 minutes after taking a sublingual
