ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is giving nitroglycerin sublingually for chest pain. What is the most important instruction to give to the client?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve completely. Nitroglycerin is absorbed quickly through the oral mucosa, providing rapid relief for chest pain. Placing it under the tongue allows for direct absorption into the bloodstream. Swallowing the tablet whole (B) would delay absorption. Chewing the tablet (C) would cause rapid absorption and possibly lead to a drop in blood pressure. Taking one tablet every 5 minutes (D) is not recommended as it can lead to hypotension. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate instruction for the client.
Question 2 of 5
The client on digoxin has a potassium level of 2.7 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority action?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider. A potassium level of 2.7 mEq/L is below the normal range (3.5-5.0 mEq/L), which can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. Holding the digoxin and informing the healthcare provider is crucial to prevent potential harm. Administering the digoxin (choice B) can exacerbate toxicity symptoms. Increasing the dose of digoxin (choice C) is contraindicated due to the low potassium level. Administering potassium supplements (choice D) may be necessary, but the priority is to address the digoxin therapy first.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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.