ATI RN
Med-Surg Cardiovascular Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A 55-year-old patient who is diagnosed with an evolving myocardial infarction (MI) insists on going home. The cardiac-vascular nurse encourages the patient to be admitted because the greatest risk within the first 24 hours of sustaining an MI is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening arrhythmia that often occurs in the first 24 hours after an MI.
Question 2 of 9
Which of the following classifications of heart failure is defined as marked limitation of physical activity with the client being comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, heart palpitation, or dyspnea?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Class III heart failure involves significant limitations in physical activity despite being comfortable at rest.
Question 3 of 9
When caring for a patient following a cardiac catheterization with coronary angiography, which of the following findings would be of most concern to the nurse?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An absence of pulses distal to the insertion site indicates that clotting around the site is occluding blood flow to the extremity and is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Question 4 of 9
During the initial post-operative assessment of a patient who has just transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you obtain all of these data. Which has the most immediate implications for the patient's care?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertension can increase the risk of bleeding or aneurysm re-rupture.
Question 5 of 9
The earliest evidence of a complication of heparin infusion is
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hematuria (blood in urine) is an early sign of heparin-induced bleeding.
Question 6 of 9
To prevent postoperative pulmonary embolus, clients must be taught effective coughing. To stimulate the cough reflex, it is desirable for the patient to first take
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deep breathing followed by a short breath enhances cough effectiveness.
Question 7 of 9
A patient diagnosed with CHF will need positive inotropic medication to improve the contractility of the cardiac muscle. Which of the following medications taken by this patient has a positive inotropic effect?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Digoxin increases the force of contraction of the heart, improving cardiac output in CHF.
Question 8 of 9
Before taking hemodynamic measurements, the monitoring equipment must be referenced by
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Referencing hemodynamic monitoring equipment means positioning the monitoring equipment so that the zero reference point is at the vertical level of the left atrium of the heart.
Question 9 of 9
To prevent rheumatic heart disease, the school nurse, the school teacher, the family health practitioner, and the parents must work together to
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prompt treatment prevents rheumatic fever and its complications.