NCLEX-PN : Cardiovascular Conditions
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for NCLEX-PN
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Example Question #2 : Cardiovascular Conditions
What is cardiac tamponade?
Pain in the chest due to ischemia that is worse with exertion and better with rest
A loud, systolic mumur heard best over the 5th left intercostal space
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 : 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?
Asks the patient if he has tried antacids
Immediately calls the physician
Administers a dose of ibuprofen
Prepares the patient for immediate transfer to the cardiac laboratory
Administers 25 grams of 50% dextrose solution
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?
Family history
All the choices are risk factors
Race
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 #5 : Cardiovascular Conditions
What EKG rhythm is considered "irregularly irregular?"
Atrial fibrillation
All of these
Sinus bradycardia
Atrial flutter
Sinus tachycardia
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.
Example Question #2 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Example Question #3 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Which part of the heart is most susceptible to infective endocarditis?
The myocardium
The valves
The chordae tendinae
The endocardium
The valves
Because the valves of the heart don't have their own blood vessels, white blood cells can't directly get there via the bloodstream. In addition, due to the lack of vasculature, if infection does occur antimicrobial medications may have difficulty reaching the infection.
Example Question #6 : Cardiovascular Conditions
A 65-year-old male client has been admitted for complications due to chronic heart failure, and is receiving several medications. Medications include digoxin, Lasix, and metoprolol. The nurse enters the client room and he informs her that he is feeling nauseous and has vomited. She suspects the client is experiencing digoxin toxicity.
What has most likely caused the client to experience digoxin toxicity?
Change in heart rate due to metoprolol
Left ventricular hypertrophy
Digoxin level of
Hypokalemia due to Lasix
Right sided heart failure
Hypokalemia due to Lasix
Digoxin toxicity is often precipitated by low potassium levels (hypokalemia). Hypokalemia is a risk with the taking of loop diuretics such as Lasix, so monitoring of potassium levels should be performed to prevent digoxin toxicity.
Example Question #4 : Cardiovascular Conditions
Which of the following results would indicate a therapeutic effect in the client taking epoetin alfa?
Platelet count of 400,000 cells/mm3
Hematocrit of 32%
Blood urea nitrogen level of 15 mg/dL
White blood cell count of 6,000 cells/mm3
Hematocrit of 32%
Epoetin alfa is used to treat anemia by causing bone marrow to produce oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Patients experiencing the therapeutic effects of the drug will have hematocrit in the range of 27-32%.
Example Question #8 : Cardiovascular Conditions
A 50-year-old male client with a history of coronary artery disease begins to complain of chest pain. The physician has placed orders in the client's chart to allow for treatment prior to being notified of the chest pains. The nurse recognizes this client is experiencing angina.
All of the following interventions by the nurse should be performed except __________.
checking blood pressure
placing the client in a high Fowler's position
giving sublingual nitroglycerine
informing the patient that treatment may cause a bounding headache
giving oxygen via nasal canula at
placing the client in a high Fowler's position
There is no need to place patient in high Fowler's this would probably put them at risk for orthostatic hypotension which is a common side effect of nitroglycerine treatment, as is a bounding headache. Giving oxygen, assessing blood pressure and giving nitroglycerine are all proper nursing interventions for angina.
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