ATI RN
NCLEX Practice Questions Cardiovascular System Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which concentration would be an indication of anemia?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Normal RBC count is 4.5-5.9 million/mm³ (men) or 4.0-5.2 million/mm³ (women). 3.8 million/mm³ is below normal (assuming male; still low for female), indicating anemia. Thrombocytes are normal (150,000-450,000), hematocrit 43% is normal (38-50%), and hemoglobin 17 g/dL is normal.
Question 2 of 5
Rise in the carotid sinus pressure leads to
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The carotid sinus baroreceptors detect increased pressure, triggering a reflex via the vagus nerve (parasympathetic) to slow heart rate (bradycardia) and reduce blood pressure. Hypercapnia (high CO₂) and hyperpnea (increased breathing) are unrelated, and tachycardia would counter the response.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client in a cardiac telemetry unit and notes the image above on the client's EKG strip. Which electrolyte value should the nurse be concerned about?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The EKG shows inverted T-waves, a hallmark of hypokalemia (low potassium, A), which affects repolarization. Calcium (B) impacts rate/contractility, not T-waves, and chloride (C) and sodium (D) abnormalities don’t typically cause this pattern. (Source: Document, p. 10-11; assumes image context)
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following terms describes the volume of blood ejected by the heart in one minute?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cardiac output (CO, D) is the volume of blood ejected by the heart per minute (CO = HR × SV, ~5 L/min at rest). EDV (A) is pre-contraction volume, SV (B) is per beat, HR (C) is beats per minute, and BP (E) is pressure, not volume.
Question 5 of 5
The first sound of the heart beat results from
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first heart sound (S₁, ‘lub’) occurs when AV valves (tricuspid, mitral) close at the start of ventricular systole (B). Semilunar valve closure (A) is S₂ (‘dub’), and atrial contraction (C) precedes S₁, not causing it.