ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
The client is receiving digoxin and complains of nausea. What is the nurse's priority action?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Check the client's digoxin level. The priority action is to assess the digoxin level to determine if it is within the therapeutic range, as nausea can be a sign of digoxin toxicity. Checking the level will guide further actions. Continuing the dose without assessment (B) may worsen toxicity. Administering an antiemetic (C) only addresses the symptom, not the underlying cause. Discontinuing digoxin immediately (D) without assessing the level can be harmful if the client actually needs the medication.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is giving digoxin to a client. What is the most important parameter to check before administration?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Digoxin is primarily used to treat heart conditions. Step 2: Heart rate is crucial as digoxin can affect the heart rhythm. Step 3: Monitoring heart rate ensures safety and effectiveness of digoxin. Step 4: Blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation are important but not as directly impacted by digoxin.
Question 3 of 5
The client is on spironolactone (Aldactone) and has a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority action?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hold the spironolactone and notify the healthcare provider. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia. With a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L, the client is at risk for serious complications like cardiac arrhythmias. The priority action is to stop the medication to prevent further elevation of potassium levels and inform the healthcare provider for further management. Administering potassium supplements (B) would worsen the hyperkalemia. Continuing spironolactone (C) or increasing the dose (D) would be inappropriate and potentially harmful in this situation.
Question 4 of 5
During hemodynamic monitoring, the nurse finds that the patient has a decreased CO with unchanged pulmonary artery wedge pressures, HR, and SVR. The nurse identifies that the patient has a decrease in
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 5 of 5
You are working in the ED caring for a patient who was just admitted with left anterior chest pain, possible unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Which nursing activity will you accomplish first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.