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. In cases of myocardial infarction leading to shock, which medication is appropriate to counteract shock?
- A. Atropine
- B. Dopamine
- C. Digoxin
- D. Adenosine
Correct answer: B
Rationale: In cases of myocardial infarction leading to shock, dopamine is the drug of choice. Dopamine helps increase blood pressure and improve blood flow to vital organs, making it beneficial in managing shock. Atropine is mainly used for symptomatic bradycardia, not for shock. Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used in heart failure and atrial fibrillation, not for managing shock. Adenosine is typically used for diagnosing and treating supraventricular tachycardias, not for shock associated with myocardial infarction.
3. Which heart chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body?
- A. Left atrium
- B. Right atrium
- C. Left ventricle
- D. Right ventricle
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is the left ventricle. It receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the rest of the body through the aorta. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
4. This is a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
- A. Heart failure
- B. Cardiomyopathy
- C. Myocarditis
- D. Pericarditis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention. Choice B, Cardiomyopathy, refers to diseases of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure but is not the specific term for the condition described. Choices C and D, Myocarditis and Pericarditis, respectively, are conditions involving inflammation of the heart muscle or the lining around the heart, which can cause heart failure as a complication but are not the primary condition described in the question.
5. Which order should the nurse question?
- A. The addition of a loop diuretic with digoxin.
- B. The addition of a beta blocker with digoxin.
- C. A digoxin dose of 0.125 mg per day.
- D. The addition of an ACE inhibitor with digoxin.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because adding a beta blocker to digoxin can potentiate the bradycardic effect of digoxin, leading to serious complications such as heart block. This combination requires caution as it can significantly slow down the heart rate. Choices A, C, and D are not the best options to question in this scenario. Loop diuretics are commonly used with digoxin, a digoxin dose of 0.125 mg per day is within the typical range, and ACE inhibitors are often prescribed alongside digoxin for managing heart conditions.
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