ATI RN
Med Surg Cardiovascular Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client experiences acute myocardial ischemia. The nurse administers oxygen and sublingual nitroglycerin. When assessing an electrocardiogram (ECG) for evidence that blood flow to the myocardium has improved, the nurse should focus on the:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Return of the ST segment to baseline. This is because in acute myocardial ischemia, ST segment elevation or depression is indicative of myocardial injury. Therefore, the improvement in blood flow would be reflected by the ST segment returning to baseline. Widening of the QRS complex (A) is not specific to blood flow improvement. Frequency of ectopic beats (B) may be present but is not a direct indicator of improved blood flow. Presence of a significant Q wave (D) indicates a previous myocardial infarction and does not necessarily reflect current blood flow status.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who had a permanent pacemaker inserted because of a complete heart block. The nurse determines that which of the following client outcomes indicates a successful procedure?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because a permanent pacemaker is inserted to address heart blocks by providing electrical stimulation to maintain an appropriate heart rate. In this case, the client having paced beats at the rate of 68 per minute indicates that the pacemaker is functioning effectively. Choice A is incorrect as ambulating without dyspnea or chest pain does not specifically indicate the success of the pacemaker procedure. Choice B is incorrect because a normal sinus rhythm would not be expected in a client with a permanent pacemaker. Choice C is incorrect as the heart rate of 80 beats per minute may not be indicative of the pacemaker's effectiveness, as the client may be paced at a different rate. Blood pressure values alone do not indicate the success of the pacemaker insertion.
Question 3 of 5
In coordinating care for a client with venous stasis ulcers, the nurse explains to unlicensed assistive personnel that which of the following is the most important intervention in ulcer healing?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Elevation of the extremities to increase venous return. Elevating the extremities helps reduce edema and improve venous return, promoting healing of venous stasis ulcers. This intervention aids in reducing venous pressure, preventing pooling of blood, and promoting circulation. Surgical debridement (A) may be necessary in some cases but is not the most important intervention for healing. Meticulous cleaning (B) is important to prevent infection but does not directly promote healing. Leg exercises (C) can help improve circulation but may not be as crucial as elevating the extremities in the context of venous stasis ulcers.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is admitted to your telemetry unit with chest pain that has been increasing in intensity and duration. The critical care nurse can identify that this type of angina is called
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Unstable angina. Unstable angina is characterized by chest pain that is increasing in intensity and duration, indicating an imminent heart attack. This type of angina is considered a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. Stable angina (choice A) is chest pain that occurs predictably with exertion and resolves with rest. Variant angina (choice B) is caused by coronary artery spasm and is typically relieved by medication. Predictable angina (choice C) is not a recognized term in cardiology. Therefore, the critical care nurse should identify the patient's symptoms as consistent with unstable angina due to the escalating nature of the chest pain.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is measuring a waveform of the ECG strip and determines it is normally around 06 to 1 the waveform s/he is measuring is the
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: P wave. The P wave represents atrial depolarization in an ECG strip, typically measuring around 0.06 to 0.1 seconds. This is the first wave in the ECG waveform sequence. The PRI (B) measures the time from the start of the P wave to the start of the QRS complex, the QRS complex (C) represents ventricular depolarization, and the QT interval (D) measures the time from the start of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave. Therefore, the P wave is the most fitting choice based on the given information.