ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Assessment Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A slow heart rate is known as:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bradycardia refers to a slow heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute in adults. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate (above 100 bpm), while 'hypocardia' and 'hypercardia' are not standard medical terms related to heart rate.
Question 2 of 5
A 68 year-old client is admitted for mitral valve replacement surgery. The client has a history of mitral valve regurgitation and mitral stenosis since her teenage years. During the admission assessment, the nurse should ask the client if as a child she had?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rheumatic fever, often following streptococcal infection, is a common cause of mitral valve damage (stenosis and regurgitation) in youth, leading to long-term issues. Other conditions are unrelated to valvular pathology.
Question 3 of 5
A patient who underwent a percutaneous, transluminal coronary angioplasty four weeks ago has a subsequent ejection fraction of 30%. The patient returns for a follow-up visit. Examination reveals lungs that are clear on auscultation and slight pedal edema. The patient reports a 5 lb (2.27 kg) weight gain over the past two days. The cardiac-vascular nurse's initial action is to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A 5 lb weight gain in two days with an ejection fraction of 30% (indicating heart failure) and pedal edema suggests fluid retention, a potential emergency. Notifying the physician is urgent for intervention, outweighing documentation (A), compliance checks (B), or scan review (D).
Question 4 of 5
During a clinic appointment, a patient states, 'I came in because my calcium score was positive on my CT scan last week.' In which section of the patient assessment does the cardiac-vascular nurse document this finding?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient’s statement about the calcium score is the reason for the visit, making it the presenting problem. Past history (A) is prior diagnoses, B is lifestyle, and D is symptom review, not the chief complaint.
Question 5 of 5
The function of the cardiovascular system is to:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The cardiovascular system serves multiple essential functions. It transports oxygen and nutrients to cells through the blood (Choice A), removes carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products via venous return and exhalation (Choice B), and helps regulate body temperature by adjusting blood flow to the skin (Choice C). Since all these roles are accurate and collectively describe the system’s purpose, the correct answer is 'All of the above' (Choice D).