Question 1

A patient has sustained damage to the sinoatrial node.Which heart rates indicate that the patient's atrioventricular node has taken over as the pacemaker for the heart?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 to 20 
B)  20 to 35 
C)  40 to 60 
D)  80 to 100

Question 2

The nurse determines that a patient's pulmonary artery wedge pressure is normal.What range of values did the nurse use to make this decision?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 to 7 mm Hg 
B)  2 to 9 mm Hg 
C)  3 to 10 mm Hg 
D)  4 to 12 mm Hg

Question 3

The nurse is reinforcing teaching provided to a patient about the role high-density lipoproteins (HDLs)play in cardiac disease.Which patient statement indicates correct understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

A)  "There is an increased blood clotting risk." 
B)  "There is increased risk for coronary artery disease." 
C)  "It provides protection against coronary artery disease." 
D)  "The risk for atherosclerosis development is increased."

Question 4

While collecting data a patient expectorates pink frothy sputum.Which health problem should the nurse consider is occurring in this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gastritis 
B)  Pneumonia 
C)  Heart failure 
D)  Hepatic failure

Question 5

The nurse is helping a patient understand why the heart beat can change in speed.When doing so,what should the nurse explain as being the pacemaker of the heart?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bundle of His 
B)  Sinoatrial node 
C)  Purkinje's fibers 
D)  Atrioventricular node

Question 6

The nurse is reviewing the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)in blood pressure regulation for a patient with hypertension.What should the nurse include in this discussion? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  It decreases blood volume. 
B)  It increases cardiac output. 
C)  It inhibits aldosterone secretion. 
D)  It causes an increase in the baseline heart rate. 
E)  It causes vasoconstriction throughout the body.
F) It increases renal secretion of sodium ions and water.

Question 7

The nurse notes that a patient being prepared for a cardiac computed tomography (CT)scan has mild renal insufficiency.What should the nurse expect to be ordered before and after the procedure for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Lasix 
B)  Aldactone 
C)  Lactic acid 
D)  Dextrose 10% infusion 
E)  N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)

Question 8

The nurse suspects that a patient's heart rate is being affected by parasympathetic influence.What should the nurse recall as the effect the parasympathetic nervous system has on the heart?

Accepted Answer

A)  Decreases heart rate 
B)  Decreases resting phase 
C)  Increases cardiac output 
D)  Increases strength of contraction

Question 9

The nurse is measuring a patient's central venous pressure (CVP).Which patient factors is reflected by this pressure reading?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydration 
B)  Cardiac output 
C)  Blood pressure 
D)  Peripheral vascular resistance

Question 10

A patient with orthostatic hypotension asks why the health problem is occurring.What should the nurse include when explaining the causes of orthostatic hypotension to the patient? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Experiencing pain 
B)  Use of narcotic pain medication 
C)  Lack of sufficient rest and sleep 
D)  Insufficient fluid volume in the body 
E)  Use of medication that takes fluid out of the body

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient who is having an exercise treadmill test.What interventions would be appropriate for the test? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Remove all metal objects. 
B)  Monitor vital signs throughout the test. 
C)  Administer antianxiety medication as ordered. 
D)  Monitor electrocardiogram before, during, and after the test. 
E)  Ask the patient about allergies to dyes used in diagnostic procedures.

Question 12

The nurse notes that a patient's lower legs are brown and the feet are blue when they are in the dependent position.For which health problem should the nurse collect additional data?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anemia 
B)  Insufficient oxygenation 
C)  Decreased arterial blood flow 
D)  Venous blood flow problems

Question 13

A patient asks the nurse to explain what high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)means.What response by the nurse would be appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Increased blood clotting risk." 
B)  "Increased risk for coronary artery disease." 
C)  "Protection against coronary artery disease." 
D)  "Decreased risk for atherosclerosis development."

Question 14

The nurse is documenting information collected about a patient's pulses.How should the nurse document that a peripheral pulse was normal?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  1+ 
C)  2+ 
D)  3+

Question 15

The nurse is using a stethoscope to listen to a patient's heart sounds.The nurse recognizes that the "dupp" of the characteristic "lubb-dupp" heart sound indicates what part of the cardiac cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  The closure of the mitral valve 
B)  The closure of the tricuspid valve 
C)  The closure of the atrioventricular valves 
D)  The closure of the aortic and pulmonary semilunar valves

Question 16

A patient being treated for a severe blood loss has a blood pressure of 90/56 mm Hg and urine output of 10 mL over the last hour.Which physiological mechanism should the nurse recall is occurring in this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Starling's law 
B)  Medulla-brainstem 
C)  Sodium-potassium pump 
D)  Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone

Question 17

The nurse instructs a patient on beverages to avoid when taking the prescribed medication warfarin (Coumadin).Which beverage should the patient state that indicates teaching has been effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  Beer 
B)  Orange juice 
C)  Grapefruit juice 
D)  Cranberry juice

Question 18

The nurse is planning to auscultate a patient's apical pulse.How long should the nurse listen to the patient's heart?

Accepted Answer

A)  15 seconds 
B)  30 seconds 
C)  60 seconds 
D)  90 seconds

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient with peripheral vascular disease.Which signs or symptoms should the nurse expect to observe in this patient? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Pain 
B)  Pruritus 
C)  Purpura 
D)  Paralysis 
E)  Paresthesia
F) Pulselessness

Question 20

During data collection,the nurse learns that a patient with chronic cardiac problems and diabetes has gained 5 pounds of weight over 3 days and is experiencing fatigue when climbing stairs.Upon inspection,the nurse notes edema of the lower extremities.What health problem do these symptoms suggest that the nurse should report to the physician?

Accepted Answer

A)  Acute heart failure 
B)  Myocardial infarction 
C)  Left-sided heart failure 
D)  Right-sided heart failure

Exam 21: Cardiovascular System Function, Assessment, and Therapeutic Measures

A patient has sustained damage to the sinoatrial node.Which heart rates indicate that the patient's atrioventricular node has taken over as the pacemaker for the heart?

The nurse determines that a patient's pulmonary artery wedge pressure is normal.What range of values did the nurse use to make this decision?

The nurse is reinforcing teaching provided to a patient about the role high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) play in cardiac disease.Which patient statement indicates correct understanding of the teaching?

While collecting data a patient expectorates pink frothy sputum.Which health problem should the nurse consider is occurring in this patient?

The nurse is helping a patient understand why the heart beat can change in speed.When doing so,what should the nurse explain as being the pacemaker of the heart?

The nurse is reviewing the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in blood pressure regulation for a patient with hypertension.What should the nurse include in this discussion? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse notes that a patient being prepared for a cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan has mild renal insufficiency.What should the nurse expect to be ordered before and after the procedure for this patient? (Select all that apply.)