ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions Pdf
1. The nurse is administering nitroglycerin IV to a client with chest pain. What is the most important parameter to monitor?
- A. Blood pressure
- B. Heart rate
- C. Oxygen saturation
- D. Respiratory rate
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Blood pressure. When administering nitroglycerin IV to a client with chest pain, monitoring blood pressure is crucial as nitroglycerin can cause significant hypotension. While heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate are important parameters to assess, blood pressure takes precedence in this scenario due to the potential hypotensive effects of nitroglycerin.
2. What is a condition where the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed due to the buildup of plaque?
- A. Atherosclerosis
- B. Aneurysm
- C. Arrhythmia
- D. Peripheral artery disease
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Atherosclerosis is the correct answer. It is a condition characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries supplying blood to the heart due to plaque buildup. This condition increases the risk of heart attacks. Choice B, aneurysm, refers to a balloon-like bulge in an artery, not the hardening and narrowing of arteries. Choice C, arrhythmia, is an irregular heartbeat and not related to arterial hardening. Choice D, peripheral artery disease, involves the narrowing of arteries that supply blood to the limbs, not specifically to the heart.
3. What procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect samples?
- A. Bronchoscopy
- B. Thoracentesis
- C. Lung biopsy
- D. Chest X-ray
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that entails inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect tissue or fluid samples. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose lung conditions such as infections, tumors, or obstructions. Choice B, thoracentesis, involves inserting a needle into the pleural space to remove fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes related to the lungs or pleura, not the airways. Choice C, lung biopsy, typically involves obtaining tissue samples from the lungs for further examination, not directly visualizing the airways. Choice D, chest X-ray, is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses radiation to create images of the chest area, providing a different type of information compared to bronchoscopy.
4. What is a condition where a blood clot forms in a vein, often in the legs, which can cause pain and swelling and may lead to serious complications if it travels to the lungs?
- A. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- B. Pulmonary embolism
- C. Varicose veins
- D. Aneurysm
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the correct answer. It is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. If the clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that are not typically associated with blood clots. Aneurysm is the abnormal swelling or bulging of a blood vessel.
5. Identify the three layers of the heart:
- A. Endocardium, Myocardium, Epicardium
- B. Epicardium, Pericardium, Endocardium
- C. Myocardium, Endocardium, Pericardium
- D. Pericardium, Myocardium, Endocardium
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Endocardium, Myocardium, Epicardium. The heart consists of three main layers: the endocardium, which lines the inner chambers of the heart; the myocardium, the middle layer responsible for the heart's pumping action; and the epicardium, the outermost layer that protects the heart. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not list the heart's layers in the correct order or combination.
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