ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which assessment is the most important in determining the amount of fluid that the client is retaining?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Daily weights. Daily weights are crucial in monitoring fluid retention as they provide a direct measure of changes in the body's fluid balance. Sudden weight gain can indicate fluid retention, such as in heart failure. Heart sounds (A) are important for assessing heart function but do not directly measure fluid retention. Peripheral pulses (B) are mainly used to assess circulation and not fluid retention. Peripheral edema (D) is a visible sign of fluid retention, but daily weights provide a more accurate and quantitative measure of fluid status.
Question 2 of 5
A patient comes to the emergency department (ED) and reports a swollen and painful leg but denies sustaining any injury. The physical examination reveals a tense calf muscle, decreased sensation to the foot and leg, and absent pedal pulses. The cardiac-vascular nurse asks the patient when the symptoms began because:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because irreversible anoxic injury to muscles and nerves can occur in as few as four hours in cases of acute arterial occlusion. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to restore blood flow and prevent tissue damage. A: Arterial thrombosis and embolism both lead to sudden occlusion of blood vessels, but the focus here is on the rapid onset of irreversible tissue damage, not the timing of symptom development. B: Compartment syndrome usually occurs hours to days after arterial occlusion, not days after. However, the key here is the potential for irreversible anoxic injury within a shorter timeframe. D: Metabolic alkalosis from muscle swelling is not directly related to the symptoms described and is not cardiotoxic in this context.
Question 3 of 5
When palpating the patient's popliteal pulse, the nurse feels a vibration at the site. How should the nurse record this finding?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Thrill of the popliteal artery. A thrill is a vibration felt over a turbulent blood flow, indicating an abnormality like a narrowing or blockage in the artery. When palpating the popliteal pulse, feeling a vibration suggests the presence of a thrill, indicating a potential vascular issue. A: Thready, weak pulse - This choice does not describe the sensation of vibration felt with a thrill. B: Bruit at the artery site - A bruit is a whooshing sound heard over an artery due to turbulent blood flow, not a vibration felt during palpation. C: Bounding pulse volume - This choice describes a strong, forceful pulse, not a vibration felt with a thrill. In summary, the correct choice, D, is supported by the presence of a vibration indicating a thrill, while the other choices do not align with the specific finding of a vibration felt during palpation of the popliteal pulse.
Question 4 of 5
Dietary teaching that includes dietary sources of potassium is indicated for the hypertensive patient taking which drug?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it helps retain potassium in the body. Hypertensive patients taking spironolactone may experience potassium loss, making dietary teaching on potassium sources crucial to prevent hypokalemia. Enalapril, Labetalol, and Hydrochlorothiazide do not directly affect potassium levels, so dietary teaching about potassium is not as essential for patients taking these medications.
Question 5 of 5
Myocardial ischemia occurs as a result of increased oxygen demand and decreased oxygen supply. What factors and disorders result in increased oxygen demand (select all that apply)?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Increased cardiac workload with aortic stenosis. In aortic stenosis, the heart has to work harder to pump blood against the narrowed valve, leading to increased oxygen demand. This results in myocardial ischemia due to the imbalance between oxygen demand and supply. A: Hypovolemia or anemia may decrease oxygen supply but do not directly increase oxygen demand. C: Narrowed coronary arteries from atherosclerosis decrease oxygen supply but do not directly increase oxygen demand. D: Angina in the patient with atherosclerotic coronary arteries indicates decreased oxygen supply but does not directly increase oxygen demand.