ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions
Question 1 of 9
What condition is characterized by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs or arms, leading to pain and mobility issues?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is characterized by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs or arms, leading to pain and mobility issues due to reduced blood flow. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of plaque in arteries but doesn't specify limbs. Raynaud's disease is a condition affecting blood supply to extremities due to cold or stress, not arterial blockages. Varicose veins involve enlarged, twisted veins, not arterial blockages. Therefore, the correct choice is A as it specifically addresses the narrowed or blocked arteries in limbs causing pain and mobility issues.
Question 2 of 9
Which heart chamber receives venous blood returning to the heart via the superior and inferior vena cava?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Right atrium. The right atrium receives venous blood returning to the heart via the superior and inferior vena cava. Blood from the body enters the right atrium through the vena cavae, then flows into the right ventricle and eventually gets pumped to the lungs for oxygenation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Question 3 of 9
What condition is characterized by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs or arms, leading to pain and mobility issues?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is characterized by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs or arms, leading to pain and mobility issues due to reduced blood flow. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of plaque in arteries but doesn't specify limbs. Raynaud's disease is a condition affecting blood supply to extremities due to cold or stress, not arterial blockages. Varicose veins involve enlarged, twisted veins, not arterial blockages. Therefore, the correct choice is A as it specifically addresses the narrowed or blocked arteries in limbs causing pain and mobility issues.
Question 4 of 9
If Mr. Lane, with essential hypertension, complains of dizziness when changing position, your evaluation would be that Mr. Lane
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dizziness may indicate postural hypotension, requiring preventive education.
Question 5 of 9
What advice about sexual activity should the nurse give to a male patient who has had an MI?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nitroglycerin prevents angina during activity.
Question 6 of 9
The client on furosemide (Lasix) is at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, Hypokalemia. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion in the urine, leading to low potassium levels in the body. Hypokalemia can result in muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and other serious complications. Hyperkalemia (choice A) is the opposite condition of high potassium levels and is not typically associated with furosemide use. Hyponatremia (choice C) is a low sodium level, which may be a potential side effect of furosemide but is not the primary electrolyte imbalance to be concerned about. Hypernatremia (choice D) is high sodium levels and is not directly related to furosemide use.
Question 7 of 9
Which structure serves as the normal pacemaker of the heart?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: SA node. The SA node is known as the natural pacemaker of the heart because it initiates the electrical impulses that regulate the heartbeat. It is located in the right atrium and generates the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's contractions. The other choices, B: AV node, C: Purkinje fibers, and D: Atria, do play roles in the heart's electrical conduction system, but they do not serve as the primary pacemaker. The AV node delays the electrical impulses, the Purkinje fibers distribute the impulses to the heart muscles, and the atria contract to pump blood into the ventricles. However, none of these structures serve as the primary pacemaker like the SA node does.
Question 8 of 9
The client on atorvastatin (Lipitor) should be advised to report which of the following symptoms?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Muscle pain. Atorvastatin can cause muscle pain as a side effect, which may progress to a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis. This requires immediate medical attention. Headache, nausea, and dizziness are less common side effects of atorvastatin and generally not as serious as muscle pain in this context. Reporting muscle pain promptly can help prevent complications and ensure appropriate management.
Question 9 of 9
This term refers to a change in the inotropic state of the muscle without a change in myocardial fiber length.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contractility is the correct answer as it specifically refers to the ability of the heart muscle to contract with a given force without changing its length. This term is used to describe changes in the inotropic state of the muscle, which affects the strength of contraction. Excitability, refractoriness, and automaticity do not directly relate to changes in muscle contraction force without altering fiber length. Excitability is the ability of the muscle to respond to stimuli, refractoriness is the recovery period after a muscle contraction, and automaticity is the ability of certain cells to generate spontaneous electrical activity.