Chapter 32: Nursing Assessment: Cardiovascular System Practice Questions

After noting a pulse deficit when assessing a 74-year-old patient who has just arrived in the emergency department, the nurse will anticipate that the patient may require ___________
a. emergent cardioversion
b. a cardiac catheterization
c. hourly blood pressure (BP) checks
d. electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring
Click the card to flip 👆
1 / 24
Terms in this set (24)
After noting a pulse deficit when assessing a 74-year-old patient who has just arrived in the emergency department, the nurse will anticipate that the patient may require ___________
a. emergent cardioversion
b. a cardiac catheterization
c. hourly blood pressure (BP) checks
d. electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring
ANS: D; ECG monitoring
When reviewing the 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) for a healthy 79-year-old patient who is having an annual physical exam, what will be of most concern to the nurse?
a. The PR interval is 0.21 seconds
b. The QRS duration is 0.13 seconds
c. There is a right bundle branch block
d. The heart rate is 42 bpm
ANS: D; The HR is 42 bpm
During a physical exam of a 74 year old patient, the nurse palpates the point of maximal impulse (PMI) in the sixth intercostal space lateral to the left midclavicular line. The most appropriate action for the nurse to take next will be to __________
a. ask the patient about risk factors for atherosclerosis
b. document that the PMI is in the normal anatomic location
c. auscultate both the carotid arteries for the presence of a bruit
d. assess the patient for symptoms of left ventricular hypertrophy
ANS: D; assess the pt for symptoms of left ventricular hypertrophy
To auscultate for S3 or S4 gallops in the mitral area, the nurse listens with the __________
a. bell of the stethoscope with the patient in the left lateral position
b. diaphragm of the stethoscope with the patient in a supine position
c. bell of the stethoscope with the patient sitting and leaning forward
d. diaphragm of the stethoscope with the patient lying flat on the left side
ANS: A; bell of the stethoscope with the patient in the left lateral position
To determine the effects of therapy for a patient who is being treated for heart failure, which laboratory result will the nurse plan to review?
a. Troponin
b. Homocysteine (Hcy)
c. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
d. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
ANS: D; BNP
While doing the admission assessment for a thin 76-year-old patient, the nurse observes pulsation of the abdominal aorta in the epigastric area. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Teach the patient about aneurysms
b. Notify the hospital rapid response team
c. Instruct the patient to remain on bed rest
d. Document the finding in the patient chart
ANS: D; Document
A patient is scheduled for a cardiac catherization with coronary angiography. Before the test, the nurse informs the patient that _________
a. it will be important to lie completely still during the procedure
b. a flushed feeling may be noted when the contrast dye is injected
c. monitored anesthesia care will be provided during the procedure
d. arterial pressure monitoring will be required for 24 hours after
ANS: B; a flushed feeling after contrasted is admin.
While assessing a patient who was admitted with heart failure, the nurse notes that the patient has jugular venous distention (JVD) when lying flat in bed. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Document this finding in the patient's record
b. Obtain vital signs, including oxygen saturation
c. Have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver
d. Observe for JVD with the patient upright at 45 degrees
ANS: Observe for JVD w/ HOB at 45
The nurse teaches the patient being evaluated for rhythm disturbances with a Holter monitor to _________
a. connect the recorder to a computer once daily
b. exercise more than usual while the monitor is in place
c. remove the electrodes when taking a shower or bath tub
d. keep a diary of daily activities while the monitor is worn
ANS: D; keep diary of daily activities
When auscultating over the patient's abdominal aorta, the nurse hears a humming sound. The nurse documents this finding as a ________
a. thrill
b. bruit
c. murmur
d. normal finding
ANS: B; bruit
The nurse has received the laboratory results for a patient who developed chest pain 4 hours ago and may be having a myocardial infarction. The most important laboratory result to review will be ____ a. myoglobin b. low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol c. troponins T and L d. creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB)ANS: D; troponinsWhen assessing a newly admitted patient, the nurse notes a murmur along the left sternal border. To document more information about the murmur, which action will the nurse take next? a. Find the point of maximal impulse b. Determine the timing of the murmur c. Compare the apical and radial pulse rates d. Palpate the quality of the peripheral pulsesANS: B; Determine timing of the murmurThe nurse hears a murmur between the S1 and S2 heart sounds at the patient's left fifth intercostal space and midclavicular line. How will the nurse record this information? a. Systolic murmur heard at mitral area b. Systolic murmur head at Erb's point c. Diastolic murmur heard at aortic area d. Diastolic murmur head at the point of maximal impulseANS: A; systolic murmur at mitral areaA registered nurse (RN) is observing a student nurse who is doing a physical assessment on a patient. The RN will need to intervene immediately if the student nurse ______ a. presses on the skin over the tibia for 10 sec to check for edema b. palpates both carotid arteries simultaneously to compare pulse quality c. documents a murmur heard along the right sternal border as a pulmonic murmur d. places the patient in the left lateral position to check for point of maximal impulseANS: B; presses both carotidsWhich action will the nurse implement for a patient who arrives for a calcium-scoring CT scan? a. Insert an IV catheter b. Administer oral sedative medications c. Teach the patient about the procedure d. Confirm that the patient has been fastingANS: C; teach ptWhich information obtained by the nurse who is admitting the patient for magnetic resonance imaging will be most important to report to the health care provider before the MRI? a. The patient has an allergy to shellfish b. The patient has a history of atherosclerosis c. The patient has a permanent ventricular pacemaker d. The patient took all the prescribed cardiac medications todayANS: C; pacemakerWhen the nurse is monitoring a patient who is undergoing exercise (stress) testing on a treadmill, which assessment finding requires the most rapid action by the nurse? a. Patient complaint of feeling tired b. Pulse change from 87 to 101 beats/minute c. Blood pressure (BP) increase from 134/68 to 150/80 mm Hg d. Newly inverted T waves on the electrocardiogramANS: D; inverted T waves on ECGThe standard policy on the cardiac unit states, "Notify the health care provider for mean arterial pressure (MAP) less than 70 mmHg." The nurse will need to call the health care provider about the ___________ a. postoperative patient with a BP of 116/42 b. newly admitted patient with a BP of 150/87 c. patient with left ventricular failure who has a BP of 110/70 d. patient with a myocardial infarction who has a BP of 140/86ANS: A; 116/42 is a MAP of 67; MAP= (systolic BP + 2 diastolic BP)/3When admitting a patient for a cardiac catherization and coronary angiogram, which information about the patient is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider? a. The patient's pedal pulses are +1 b. The patient is allergic to shellfish c. The patient had a heart attack a year ago d. The patient has not eaten anything todayANS: B; shellfish allergyA transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is ordered for a patient with possible endocarditis. Which action included in the standard TEE orders will the nurse need to accomplish first? a. Start an IV line b. Place the patient on NPO status c. Administer O2 per nasal cannula d. Give lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IVANS: B; NPOThe nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on the telemetry unit are caring for four patients. Which nursing action can be delegated to the UAP? a. Teaching a patient scheduled for exercise electrocardiography about the procedure b. Placing electrodes in the correct position for a patient who is to receive ECG monitoring c. Checking the catheter insertion site for a patient who is recovering from a coronary angiogram d. Monitoring a patient who has just returned to the unit after a transesophageal echocardiogramANS: B; placing electrodes for ECGThe nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for newly admitted patients on the cardiovascular unit. Which patient laboratory result is most important to communicate as soon as possible to the health care provider? a. Patient whose triglyceride level is high b. Patient who has very low homocysteine level c. Patient with increase in troponin T and troponin I level d. Patient with elevated high sensitivity C reactive protein levelANS: C; elevated troponinWhen the nurse is screening patients for possible peripheral arterial disease, indicate where the posterior tibial artery will be palpated. a. 1 inguinal area b. 2 popliteal area c. 3 posterior tibial area d. 4 pedal areaANS: C; posterior tibial pulse areaWhile listening at the mitral area, the nurse notes abnormal heart sounds at the patient's fifth intercostal space, the midclavicular line. After listening to the audio clip, describe how the nurse will document the assessment finding. http://static.us.elsevierhealth.com/lewis_9e/ch32_pansystolic.mp3 a. S3 gallop heard at the aortic area b. Systolic murmur noted at mitral area c. Diastolic murmur noted at tricuspid area d. Pericardial friction rub heard at the apexANS: B; mitral murmur