ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
What procedure involves using a balloon to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, often followed by the placement of a stent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Angioplasty. Angioplasty involves using a balloon to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, followed by the placement of a stent to keep the vessel open. This procedure is commonly used to treat conditions like coronary artery disease. Valve replacement (B) involves replacing damaged heart valves, CABG (C) involves bypassing blocked coronary arteries using grafts, and endarterectomy (D) involves removing plaque from arteries, but none of these procedures specifically involve using a balloon and stent to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel.
Question 2 of 5
What is the condition where the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked, causing pain and difficulty walking?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is characterized by narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the legs, leading to reduced blood flow, causing pain and difficulty walking (claudication). The narrowing is typically due to atherosclerosis. Raynaud's disease (B) involves spasms of small arteries, causing reduced blood flow to fingers and toes, not legs. Varicose veins (C) are enlarged, twisted veins, not arteries. Pulmonary embolism (D) is a blockage in the lungs' arteries, not the legs.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is giving the client digoxin for heart failure and recognizes that the drug has what type of effect on the heart?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Positive inotropic, negative chronotropic effect. Digoxin is a positive inotrope, meaning it increases the force of myocardial contraction, which helps improve cardiac output in heart failure. It has a negative chronotropic effect, meaning it decreases the heart rate by slowing down the electrical conduction in the heart, which can be beneficial in certain heart conditions. Choice A (Negative inotropic, negative chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin is a positive inotrope, not a negative inotrope. Choice C (Negative inotropic, positive chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin does not have a positive chronotropic effect. Choice D (Positive inotropic, positive chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin has a negative chronotropic effect, not a positive one. Therefore, the correct choice is B due to the combination of positive inotropic effect and negative chronotropic effect of digoxin on the heart
Question 4 of 5
For what reason might the nurse be given an order to administer milrinone (Primacor)?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: For congestive heart failure. Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor used to improve cardiac output in patients with severe heart failure. It works by increasing the force of heart contractions. Therefore, it is specifically indicated for congestive heart failure to help improve cardiac function. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because milrinone is not typically used for hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, or bradycardia. It is important to understand the specific indications and mechanisms of action of medications to determine the appropriate use in clinical practice.
Question 5 of 5
The client has a prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. What is the nurse's instruction for how to take this medication during an episode of chest pain?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken under the tongue to quickly relieve chest pain. The nurse should instruct the client to take one tablet every 5 minutes during an episode of chest pain, up to a maximum of three tablets. This is because nitroglycerin works rapidly to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart, helping to relieve angina symptoms. Taking one tablet every hour or two tablets immediately may not provide adequate relief and could lead to an overdose. Taking the tablet with water is unnecessary as the medication is absorbed through the mucous membranes under the tongue.