ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client on a heparin infusion when the client expresses concern over a progressively painful headache. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Notifying the physician (C) is the priority for a headache (possible heparin hypersensitivity or bleed). Stopping heparin (A) or giving protamine (B) awaits orders, morphine (D) is inappropriate.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse's client asks, 'How did I get rheumatic heart disease?' The most appropriate response by the nurse is that rheumatic heart disease is frequently a result of?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a complication of rheumatic fever, which is triggered by an untreated streptococcal infection (e.g., strep throat). Pregnancy, hypertension, and genetics may exacerbate heart conditions but are not primary causes of RHD.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is teaching a class to student nurses on rheumatic fever. Which of the following should the nurse include in the class? Rheumatic fever
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Rheumatic fever follows streptococcal infection, diagnosed via throat culture (for Streptococcus) and antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers. It’s not linked to varicella, not diagnosed by blood cultures, and affects younger populations, not mainly the elderly.
Question 4 of 5
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, a lethal arrhythmia, is the greatest risk in the first 24 hours post-MI due to myocardial irritability from ischemia, often causing sudden cardiac death. Other complications (A-C) are serious but less immediate threats.
Question 5 of 5
A patient recently had a cardiac catheterization via right-radial approach and now has a compression device in place. The patient reports numbness and pain in the right hand. The cardiac-vascular nurse notes a diminished pulse, with a cool and cyanotic hand. The nurse:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Numbness, pain, weak pulse, and cyanosis post-radial catheterization suggest vascular compromise (e.g., occlusion or hematoma), requiring urgent physician notification. B assesses pre-procedure, C risks bleeding, and D delays action.