Deck 31: Review of the Cardiovascular System

Question 1

A patient diagnosed with angina asks the nurse why she experiences chest pain while walking up stairs.The nurse explains that which of the following has likely occurred in this patient?
1)Addisonian crisis
2)A buildup of lactic acid in the calves
3)Narrowing of the coronary arteries
4)An infection of the floor of the mouth

Answer 1

3

Question 2

A cardiovascular nurse is orienting a new nurse to the unit.The new nurse questions the steps of the normal cardiac conduction system.The senior nurse explains that action potentials in the myocardium follow which sequence?
1)Sinoatrial (SA)node, internodal pathway, atrioventricular (AV)node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibers
2)Purkinje fibers, bundle of His, atrioventricular (AV)node, internodal pathway, and sinoatrial (SA)node
3)Atrioventricular (AV)node, sinoatrial (SA)node, bundle of His, and internodal pathway.
4)Internodal pathway, sinoatrial (SA)node, atrioventricular (AV)node, and Purkinje fibers.

Answer 2

1

Question 3

A patient with iron-deficiency anemia has a low hemoglobin level.Select the priority nursing diagnosis for this patient.
1)Knowledge Deficit related to anemia
2)Impaired Tissue Perfusion, risk for
3)Impaired Nutrition: More than Body Requirements
4)Constipation, risk for

Answer 3

2

Question 4

A patient suffers a myocardial infarction of the right atrium.The nurse notices that the patient is in an irregular heart rhythm.From this information, the nurse infers there is a disturbance of which node of the cardiac conduction system?
1)Bundle of His
2)Sinoatrial (SA)node
3)Internodal pathway
4)Atrioventricular (AV)node

Question 5

A patient is in acute renal failure.During this period, the patient's erythrocyte count might drop.The nurse understands that this might be due to a deficiency of:
1)Renin.
2)Angiotensin.
3)Aldosterone.
4)Erythropoietin.

Question 6

A nurse is reading a patient's chart and notes that the patient's cardiac output (CO)is listed as 5 L/min.The nurse is aware that this measurement is equal to:
1)Heart rate (beats/min)/ stroke volume (mL/beat).
2)Systolic blood pressure X heart rate (beats/min.).
3)Stroke volume (mL/beat)X heart rate (beats/min.).
4)Systolic blood pressure − diastolic blood pressure.

Question 7

The nurse understands that which vitamin is essential the process of coagulation?
1)Vitamin A
2)Vitamin D
3)Vitamin C
4)Vitamin K

Question 8

After a stressful event, a patient's blood pressure and heart rate rise.The nurse understands that the system most responsible for this physiologic change is:
1)The autonomic nervous system.
2)The respiratory system.
3)The parasympathetic nervous system.
4)The acid-base buffer system.

Question 9

After an acute myocardial infarction of the left ventricle, a patient has irreversible cellular necrosis of the myocardium.The nurse planning care determines that which of the following nursing diagnoses would be the highest priority at this time?
1)Decreased Cardiac Output
2)Activity Intolerance
3)Infection, risk for
4)Ineffective Breathing Pattern

Question 10

A patient has a heart rate of 78 beats per minute.The node most likely to be producing this heart rate is the:
1)Atrioventricular (AV)node.
2)Purkinje fibers.
3)Internodal pathway.
4)Sinoatrial (SA)node.

Question 11

During morning rounds, the nurse is told one of her patients will need a platelet transfusion.From this information, the nurse infers that which of the following should be removed from a patient's room?
1)Magazines
2)Shaving razors
3)Fresh flowers
4)Visitors

Question 12

A low-fat, low-sodium diet is often prescribed for patients with high blood pressure and risk factors for coronary artery disease.One rationale for this diet is:
1)To decrease serum lipid levels that might build up in coronary arteries.
2)To assist patient weight loss.
3)To eliminate the chances of heart attack or stroke.
4)To prepare patients to take medications by mouth.

Question 13

Body cells require oxygen-rich blood for aerobic metabolism.The nurse explains that which organs bring oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from it?
1)The kidneys
2)The lungs
3)The bronchioles
4)The parathyroid glands

Question 14

When the left ventricle hypertrophies, the nurse monitors for decreased tissue perfusion.Which of the following assessment findings would represent decreased tissue perfusion?
1)Prolonged capillary refill
2)Crackles
3)Hepatosplenomegaly
4)Dependent edema

Question 15

A leukopenic patient is placed in a private room, and visitors are limited.These precautions are taken in order to:
1)Protect visitors from infectious respiratory particles.
2)Keep the patient in isolation.
3)Protect the patient from potential infection.
4)Allow for undisturbed rest.

Question 16

A patient asks the nurse which blood vessels supply blood to the heart muscle.The nurse correctly responds:
1)"The carotid arteries."
2)"The jugular veins."
3)"The coronary arteries."
4)"The saphenous veins."

Question 17

A nurse is preparing to administer a medication known to increase preload.The expected outcome will be:
1)A reduced stroke volume.
2)Increased resistance against the left ventricle.
3)Decreased venous return to the heart.
4)An increase in cardiac output.

Question 18

The nurse is performing a cardiovascular assessment on a patient.Which of the following is not included during this assessment?
1)Auscultation of the heart
2)Palpation of the carotid pulse
3)Inspection the jugular veins
4)Inspection of the hands for palmar erythema

Question 19

At a community health fair, a nurse stresses the importance of a cardiac-prudent diet and exercise routine in order to help prevent coronary artery disease.The rationale for this teaching is based on the fact that:
1)Coronary arteries supply the myocardium with nutrients.
2)Diet and exercise always reduce coronary artery disease.
3)Diet and exercise are more effective treatment modalities in the prevention of coronary artery disease than are medications.
4)Coronary arteries spasm in response to exercise, which enhances myocardial perfusion.

Question 20

A patient with cirrhosis is due to have a liver biopsy performed.The nurse plans to remain at the bedside after the procedure to monitor for:
1)Airway obstruction.
2)Bleeding.
3)Dyspnea.
4)Fever.

Question 21

A nurse administers an IV antihypertensive medication, causing an immediate reduction in blood pressure.The baroreceptors respond by attempting to return blood pressure back to normal.The resulting accelerated heart rate is known as:
1)Re-entry tachycardia.
2)Reflex tachycardia.
3)Ventricular tachycardia.
4)Supraventricular tachycardia.

Question 22

A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that will cause constriction of the arteries.The nurse expects that which vital sign parameter will be monitored most closely after administration of this medication?
1)Respiratory rate
2)Pulse rate
3)Blood pressure
4)Temperature

Question 23

A patient has severe atherosclerosis and hypertension.Which of the following statements about cardiac output will be true?
1)Cardiac output will be unaffected.
2)Preload will be high.
3)Afterload will be low.
4)Cardiac output will be low.

Question 24

The vasomotor center of the brain raises or lowers blood pressure based on information from the:
1)Medulla oblongata and chemoreceptor trigger zone.
2)Anterior and posterior pituitary.
3)Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors.
4)Adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex.

Question 25

A patient with an exacerbation of heart failure is experiencing fluid volume overload.The nurse understands that which regulator of blood pressure will most likely be secreted during this exacerbation?
1)Renin
2)Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
3)Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
4)Aldosterone

Question 26

A patient recently diagnosed with hypertension asks the nurse, "What did it mean when the doctor told me I have peripheral resistance?" The nurse's best response is:
1)"I will ask the doctor to come back and explain it to you."
2)"The friction that the blood encounters in the arteries is called peripheral resistance."
3)"The resistance in the veins of your arms and legs is called peripheral resistance."
4)"It is the resistance on the heart by the pulmonary artery."

Question 27

A dehydrated patient quickly receives a liter of intravenous fluid infusion to increase circulating blood volume.The nurse would expect which of the following changes in the patient's vital signs?
1)A blood pressure increase from 90/60 to 120/78
2)A pulse increase from 75 beats/min.to 120 beats per minute
3)A decrease in respiratory rate from 20 breaths/min.to 12 breaths/min.
4)A blood pressure decrease from 180/100 to 90/60