COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS ON CARDIAC CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS

  The main goal of treatment for a client who has rheumatic fever is to:

• a. alter electrical conduction within the heart
• b. prepare for cardiac rehabilitation
• c. prevent spread to others in the family
• d. treat the inflammation (Answer)

  The nurse notes a client’s neck veins are distended when sitting upright. This finding is indicative of which of these conditions?

• a. ascites
• b. decreased renal output
• c. pulmonary hypertension
• d. right-sided heart failure (Answer)

  A patient, age 72, was admitted to the medical unit with a diagnosis of angina pectoris. Characteristic signs and symptoms of angina pectoris include:

• a. substernal pain that radiates down the left arm (Answer)
• b. epigastric pain that radiates to the jaw
• c. indigestion, nausea, and eructation
• d. fatigue, shortness of breath, and dyspnea

  During a routine medical exam a client reports feeling odd, with several episodes of chest pressure, shortness of breath, and numbness in both shoulders. The nurse should suspect the client has been experiencing:

• a. angina pectoris (Answer)
• b. cardiac tamponade
• c. peripheral arterial disease
• d. myocarditis

  Which statement would lead the nurse to offer more instruction about taking warfarin (Coumadin)?

• a. "I eat a banana every morning with breakfast."
• b. "I try to eat more green leafy vegetables, especially broccoli, spinach, and kale." (Answer)
• c. "I try to eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet."
• d. "I don't drink alcohol or caffeine."

  While admitting a client for a cardiac catheterization, the nurse asks the client about allergies. The client states, “I always get a rash when I eat shellfish.” Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention?

• a. Notify the provider of the client’s allergy. (Answer)
• b. Attach a wrist band indicating the client’s allergy.
• c. Make a note in the client’s chart and continue preparation for procedure.
• d. Notify the dietary department of the client’s allergy.

  Heart rate and stroke volume determine:

• a. hematocrit
• b. total blood volume
• c. cardiac output (Answer)
• d. the size of the heart valves

  The right ventricle pumps blood to the:

• a. right atrium
• b. pulmonary veins
• c. pulmonary artery
• d. aorta

Answer: c. pulmonary artery

  The nurse clarifies that the master pacemaker of the heart is the:

• a. left ventricle
• b. atrioventricular (AV) node
• c. sinoatrial (SA) node
• d. bundle of His

Answer: c. sinoatrial (SA) node

  Blood leaves the heart through which of these structures?

• a. arteries
• b. capillaries
• c. veins
• d. vesicles

Answer: a. arteries

  The nurse making the schedule for the daily dose of furosemide (Lasix) would schedule the administration for which of the following times?

• a. Late in the afternoon
• b. At bedtime
• c. With any meal
• d. In the morning

Answer: d. In the morning

  The elderly patient with angina pectoris says she is unsure how she should take nitroglycerin when she has an attack. The nurse’s most helpful response would be:

• a. “Continue to take nitroglycerin sublingually at 5-minute intervals until the pain is relieved.”
• b. “If the pain is not relieved after three doses of nitroglycerin at 5-minute intervals, call your physician and come to the hospital.”
• c. “When nitroglycerin is not relieving the pain, lie down and rest.”
• d. “Use oxygen at home to relieve pain when nitroglycerin is not successful.”

Answer: b. “If the pain is not relieved after three doses of nitroglycerin at 5-minute intervals, call your physician and come to the hospital.”

  What is the major cause of cardiac valve disease?

• a. Rheumatic fever
• b. Long history of malnutrition
• c. Drug abuse
• d. Obesity

Answer: a. Rheumatic fever

  The aorta receives blood from the:

• a. right ventricle
• b. pulmonary veins
• c. pulmonary artery
• d. left ventricle

Answer: d. left ventricle

  With which of the following is inotropism most associated?

• a. Heart rate
• b. Force of myocardial contraction
• c. Oxygen saturation
• d. Systemic vascular resistance

Answer: b. Force of myocardial contraction

  The postsurgical patient has a painful and swollen right calf that appears to be larger than the calf of the left leg. What is the nurse assessing for when she flexes the patient’s right leg and dorsiflexes the foot?

• a. Pain, which would be a positive Homans sign
• b. Muscular spasm, which would be a sign of hypocalcemia
• c. Rigidity, which would be a sign of ankylosis
• d. Crepitus, which would be a sign of a joint disorder

Answer: a. Pain, which would be a positive Homans sign

  Which of these terms refers to the volume of blood pumped by the ventricle with each contraction?

• a. cardiac output
• b. polar output
• c. pulmonary volume
• d. stroke volume

Answer: d. stroke volume

  Depolarization of which heart chamber pumps blood into the aorta and out to the entire body?

• a. left atrium
• b. left ventricle
• c. right atrium
• d. right ventricle

Answer: b. left ventricle

  An elevation in pulmonary artery pressure is most likely to cause:

• a. pleural effusion
• b. pulmonary edema
• c. right ventricular hypertrophy
• d. left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema

Answer: d. left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema

  With which of the following is “lubb-dubb” associated?

• a. Myocardial contraction
• b. Ventricular depolarization
• c. Closing of heart valves
• d. Diffusion of O2 from the lungs to the blood in the pulmonary capillaries

Answer: c. Closing of heart valves

  A sinus rhythm with a heart rate ranging from 100 to 150 bpm is called:

• a. sinus bradycardia
• b. flutter
• c. fibrillation
• d. tachycardia

Answer: d. tachycardia

  The nurse is providing counsel regarding diet to a client who has an atrial dysrhythmia. Which of these foods should the client be instructed to avoid?

• a. fiber
• b. cholesterol
• c. fat
• d. caffeine

Answer: d. caffeine

  Which of the following “sees” oxygenated blood?

• a. Venae cavae
• b. Pulmonary veins
• c. Right atrium
• d. Pulmonic valve

Answer: b. Pulmonary veins

  The nurse reminds the patient who is on Coumadin for the treatment of atrial fibrillation that the ideal is to maintain the international normalized ratio (INR) at between:

• a. 1 and 2
• b. 2 and 3
• c. 3 and 4
• d. 4 and 5

Answer: b. 2 and 3

  A nurse is teaching a client who has hypertension (HTN) the stepped-care approach to keeping blood pressure within normal limits. Which of the following is part of the first step in this regimen?

• a. frequent rest periods during the day
• b. use of antihypertensive medications
• c. weight loss and dietary modifications
• d. having family members checked for HTN

Answer: c. weight loss and dietary modifications

  What is the usual treatment for tachycardia?

• a. administration of atropine
• b. administration of epinephrine
• c. depends on cause
• d. placement of a permanent pacemaker

Answer: c. depends on cause

  The nurse is aware that the muscle layer of the heart, which is responsible for the heart’s contraction, is the:

• a. endocardium
• b. pericardium
• c. mediastinum
• d. myocardium

Answer: d. myocardium

  A client with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be asymptomatic or may have which of the following?

• a. a positive Homans’ sign
• b. cyanosis of the entire leg
• c. mottling of the leg or foot
• d. cool temperature

Answer: a. a positive Homans’ sign

  A nurse is caring for a client following a cardiac catheterization. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?

• a. Monitor pedal pulses every 15 min.
• b. Perform passive range of motion to the affected extremity.
• c. Ambulate the client when he is awake and alert.
• d. Keep the client in high-Fowler’s position for 6 hr.

Answer: a. Monitor pedal pulses every 15 min.

  Jugular vein distention is most associated with:

• a. right-sided heart failure.
• b. aortic valve stenosis.
• c. left wall infarct and left ventricular failure.
• d. low volume shock right-sided heart failure.

Answer: a. right-sided heart failure.

  Digoxin exerts a (−) chronotropic effect and (+) inotropic effect. Which of the following describes these effects?

• a. Slows heart rate and decreases cardiac output
• b. Increases heart rate and increases systemic vascular resistance
• c. Decreases heart rate and decreases stroke volume
• d. Decreases heart rate and strengthens myocardial contraction

Answer: d. Decreases heart rate and strengthens myocardial contraction.

  How should the nurse advise a patient with an international normalized ratio (INR) of 5.8?

• a. Make arrangements to go to the emergency room immediately.
• b. Increase fluid intake to 2000 mL/day
• c. Stop taking the anticoagulant and notify health care provider
• d. Add more leafy green vegetables to patient diet

Answer: a. Make arrangements to go to the emergency room immediately.

  The home health nurse caring for a patient with infective endocarditis overhears the patient making a dental appointment for an extraction next month. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask?

• a. “Do you have a toothache?”
• b. “Have you contacted your physician about your dental appointment?”
• c. “Is your dentist board certified?”
• d. “Do you think you should wait that long for your tooth extraction?”

Answer: d. “Do you think you should wait that long for your tooth extraction?”