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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Cardiovascular Conditions
What is cardiac tamponade?
A loud, systolic mumur heard best over the 5th left intercostal space
Pain in the chest due to ischemia that is worse with exertion and better with rest
A potentially life-threatening arrhythmia arising from improper ventricular electrical activity
Accumulation of fluid in the pericardium that puts pressure on the heart
Accumulation of fluid in the pericardium that puts pressure on the heart
Cardiac tamponade is a condition in which blood, air, pus, or some other type of fluid accumulates in the pericardium, putting pressure on the heart and reducing it's ability to fill during diastole. Cardiac tamponade is not an arrhythmia, a murmur, or any type of ischemia. Signs include pulsus paradoxus (a greater than 10mmHg drop of systolic blood pressure on inspiration) and changes on ECG.
Example Question #3 : Identifying Cardiovascular Conditions
A 60-year-old male enters the emergency room complaining of burning pain under his sternum that radiates to his jaw. He has been experiencing this pain for three weeks, periodically, with episodes that occur as often as three times a week. The nurse proceeds in which of the following ways?
Administers 25 grams of 50% dextrose solution
Administers a dose of ibuprofen
Prepares the patient for immediate transfer to the cardiac laboratory
Immediately calls the physician
Asks the patient if he has tried antacids
Asks the patient if he has tried antacids
The patient is describing symptoms of heartburn. While it is important to rule out a cardiac-related cause, the nurse must do more assessment before reaching a conclusion.
Example Question #4 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Which of the following is not a risk factor for hypertension?
All the choices are risk factors
Race
Family history
Gender
All the choices are risk factors
All of the answer choices listed are risk factors for hypertension:
Gender - more common in men
Race - more common in people of African American descent
Family history - more common in patients who have family members with a history of hypertension
Example Question #3 : Cardiovascular Conditions
What EKG rhythm is considered "irregularly irregular?"
Atrial fibrillation
Sinus tachycardia
Atrial flutter
Sinus bradycardia
All of these
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is considered an "irregularly irregular" rhythm. There are no discernible p waves because the atria are not contracting properly. The rate is irregular. This means that the rate varies from beat to beat.