ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
When arrhythmias occur immediately following cardiac surgery, they are most commonly due to
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 2 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 has a positive inotropic effect, meaning it increases the strength of the heart's contractions. This is beneficial in heart failure. Digoxin also has a negative chronotropic effect, which means it decreases the heart rate. This helps improve the efficiency of the heart's pumping action. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the effects of digoxin on the heart.
Question 3 of 5
The client has a condition for which a beta agonist has been ordered. What condition might this be?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Supraventricular tachycardia. Beta agonists, such as medications like adenosine or beta-adrenergic agonists, can be used to treat supraventricular tachycardia by increasing heart rate. In this condition, the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing a rapid heart rate. The other choices (A: Shock, B: Hypertension, C: Cardiac arrhythmias) are not typically treated with beta agonists. Shock is usually managed with fluids and medications to increase blood pressure, hypertension is often treated with medications that lower blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmias may require antiarrhythmic medications, not beta agonists.
Question 4 of 5
The client is taking a class I anti-arrhythmic medication. How does this type of medication work?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because Class I anti-arrhythmic medications work by blocking sodium channels in the heart, which results in a decrease in the rate of depolarization and conduction velocity. This helps to stabilize the heart's electrical activity and prevent abnormal rhythms. Choice A is incorrect because blocking calcium channels is characteristic of Class IV anti-arrhythmic medications. Choice B is incorrect as increasing conduction through the AV node is not the mechanism of action for Class I drugs. Choice C is incorrect because decreasing the excitability of the SA node is more indicative of Class II anti-arrhythmic medications.
Question 5 of 5
The client is taking an ACE inhibitor. The nurse explains to the client that this drug acts how?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because ACE inhibitors block the conversion of renin to angiotensin II. This action helps dilate blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, and decrease sodium and water retention. Choice A is incorrect because calcium channel blockers, not ACE inhibitors, block calcium channels in blood vessels. Choice C is incorrect as ACE inhibitors do not have a direct positive inotropic effect on the heart. Choice D is incorrect because ACE inhibitors do not have a direct negative chronotropic effect on the heart.