ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions
1. Which type of heart disease involves the stiffening of the heart muscle, reducing its ability to relax and fill with blood?
- A. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
- B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- C. Dilated cardiomyopathy
- D. Ventricular hypertrophy
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, restrictive cardiomyopathy. This condition specifically involves the stiffening of the heart muscle, leading to a reduced ability to relax and fill with blood between beats. Choice B, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, not stiffening. Choice C, dilated cardiomyopathy, involves the enlargement and weakening of the heart chambers, not stiffening. Choice D, ventricular hypertrophy, refers to the thickening of the walls of the heart's pumping chambers but does not specifically involve the stiffening that is characteristic of restrictive cardiomyopathy.
2. The nurse is administering a beta blocker to a client with a heart rate of 58 bpm. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Administer the beta blocker as ordered.
- B. Hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider.
- C. Increase the dose of the beta blocker.
- D. Monitor the client’s heart rate and reassess in 30 minutes.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. A heart rate of 58 bpm is considered low, and beta blockers can further decrease the heart rate. Therefore, the nurse's priority action should be to hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider for further assessment. Choice A is incorrect because administering the beta blocker without considering the low heart rate can worsen the condition. Choice C is incorrect as increasing the dose of the beta blocker can lead to further slowing of the heart rate, which is not safe in this situation. Choice D is not the priority action; holding the medication and seeking guidance from the healthcare provider is more crucial.
3. Which medication relaxes the muscles around the airways, making it easier to breathe?
- A. Bronchodilator
- B. Corticosteroid
- C. Antihistamine
- D. Mucolytic
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Bronchodilator. Bronchodilators are medications that relax the muscles surrounding the airways, which helps to open them and makes breathing easier. Corticosteroids (choice B) work by reducing inflammation, antihistamines (choice C) are used to manage allergies, and mucolytics (choice D) help to break down and thin mucus in the airways.
4. What is the amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in a minute?
- A. Cardiac output
- B. Stroke volume
- C. End-diastolic volume
- D. Ejection fraction
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cardiac output. Cardiac output is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute. It is calculated by multiplying the stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped out of the heart in each beat) by the heart rate (number of heartbeats per minute). This question specifically asks for the total amount of blood pumped through the circulatory system in a minute, which is represented by cardiac output. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because stroke volume refers to the amount of blood pumped out of the heart in each beat, end-diastolic volume is the volume of blood in the heart at the end of diastole, and ejection fraction is the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction, not the total amount pumped per minute.
5. What is a condition where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients?
- A. Stroke
- B. Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- C. Myocardial infarction
- D. Angina
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A stroke is the correct answer. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the brain tissue, causing brain damage. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain with no lasting damage, myocardial infarction is a heart attack due to blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, and angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
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