Question 1

A client reports pain in the calf muscle while walking and exercising but also reports that the pain is relieved by resting. Which medication does the nurse expect the health-care provider to prescribe the client?

Accepted Answer

Pentoxifylline is often prescribed to improve blood flow and decrease symptoms of intermittent claudication, such as pain in the calf muscles during walking or exercising, which is relieved by rest.

Question 2

A client has a pulsatile mass in the abdomen. Which assessment technique should be avoided until the possibility of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is ruled out?

Accepted Answer

Deep palpation of the abdomen should be avoided to prevent the risk of rupturing an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which could lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.

Question 3

The nurse is providing teaching to a client diagnosed with hypertension. When the nurse presents information about smoking cessation, the client states, "I don't plan to quit unless someone convinces me of the connection between smoking and high blood pressure." Which information does the nurse present?

Accepted Answer

Nicotine increases blood pressure by causing vasoconstriction, which is directly related to hypertension.

Question 4

Which is a risk factor for hypertension?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient vitamin D in the diet is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Vitamin D plays a role in heart health, and low levels can contribute to high blood pressure. Increased vitamin C and potassium in the diet are generally considered beneficial for blood pressure control, and insufficient sodium is not typically a risk factor for hypertension; in fact, high sodium intake is more commonly linked to increased blood pressure.

Question 5

A client presents to the emergency room with reports of severe back pain described as a ripping sensation. Further assessment reveals a different blood pressure in the right arm than in the left arm of 20 mm Hg, generalized pallor, and tachycardia. Which possible condition causes the nurse to immediately notify the health-care provider?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including severe back pain described as a ripping sensation, a difference in blood pressure between arms, generalized pallor, and tachycardia, are classic signs of an aortic dissection. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

Question 6

Which is the most common type of vasculitis of small-sized arterioles?

Accepted Answer

Raynaud's disease is the most common type of vasculitis of small-sized arterioles. It is a condition in which the small arteries in the fingers and toes become narrow, causing them to turn white or blue.

Question 7

A nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with Kawasaki disease who is exhibiting symptoms related to the condition. Which symptom causes the nurse to be most concerned about the possibility of a myocardial infarction (MI)?

Accepted Answer

Kawasaki disease can lead to coronary artery aneurysms, which increase the risk of myocardial infarction. Abdominal pain and vomiting can be signs of a more severe complication like myocardial infarction, especially when considering the systemic inflammation and potential cardiac involvement in Kawasaki disease.

Question 8

A nurse hears a bruit while assessing the carotid artery of a client. Which is the most probable reason behind the bruit?

Accepted Answer

A bruit is a whooshing sound heard when there is turbulent blood flow in an artery, often due to a narrowing or partial blockage, indicating a potential vascular issue.

Question 9

An older adult client reports severe headache, weight loss, fatigue, stiffness, and pain in the shoulders. Which additional assessment finding does the nurse apply to specifically support a diagnosis of temporal arteritis (TA)?

Accepted Answer

Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large and medium arteries of the head. A key symptom that can specifically indicate temporal arteritis is the sudden, bilateral loss of vision, which results from the inflammation of arteries that supply blood to the eyes. This symptom is a critical indicator and requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent blindness. The other options listed do not directly support a diagnosis of temporal arteritis.

Question 10

The nurse is providing care to a client diagnosed with hypertension and scheduled for testing related to the diagnosis. The client states, "I don't know why I need to have kidney tests." Which client teaching does the nurse provide?

Accepted Answer

The kidneys play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure by managing sodium and water balance in the body. Impaired kidney function can lead to hypertension due to fluid retention and increased blood volume.

Question 11

The nurse is teaching a client who has cardiovascular disease about the dietary sources of cholesterol and the effects on the body. Which statement made by the client indicates the need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

Peanut and canola oils are actually considered heart-healthy due to their high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content, which can help lower bad cholesterol levels and are recommended for those with cardiovascular disease.

Question 12

The nurse is providing care for a client with chronic hypertension who presents with chest pain. The client is diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy. Which manifestation of the condition accounts for the client's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is providing care for a...

Question 13

A child who has a fever of 103°F and diarrhea is admitted to the hospital. The parents state that the child has poor oral intake and joint pain. The diagnostic test report shows that the child has an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and a high platelet count. Which condition has the child probably developed?

Accepted Answer

Kawasaki disease is characterized by fever, diarrhea, joint pain, and can lead to elevated ESR and high platelet count, matching the symptoms and test results described for the child.

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with an aneurysm. For which diagnostic procedure, prescribed to provide information about the size and location of the aneurysm, does the nurse prepare the client?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is caring for a client...

Question 15

The registered nurse is teaching a nursing student about the effects of glucose on the arteries. Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective learning?

Accepted Answer

Increased serum glucose can cause endothelial injury, which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis. This process involves the damage to the inner lining of the arteries, promoting the buildup of plaques that can lead to cardiovascular diseases.

Question 16

The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a new client. The nurse notes diminished pulses, palpable coolness, and pallor in the lower extremities. The client reports numbness, tingling, and pain with ambulation. Which question by the nurse helps identify possible complications?

Accepted Answer

These symptoms suggest peripheral arterial disease (PAD), where pain during rest indicates worsening or severe arterial insufficiency, a significant complication requiring immediate attention.

Question 17

A registered nurse is preparing an in-service education session for nursing staff about the diagnostic tests for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Which information does the nurse correctly include?

Accepted Answer

C) Hypothyroidism is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Hypothyroidism can lead to elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.

Question 18

The registered nurse is teaching staff nurses the relationship between cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (BP), and peripheral vascular resistances (PVR). A nurse is asked to recap the mathematical equation that relates the three factors. Which equation provided by the nurse indicates the need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The registered nurse is teaching staff nurses...

Question 19

Which clinical manifestation is observed in a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture?

Accepted Answer

A rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) often leads to significant internal bleeding. This can result in hypovolemic shock, where the body diverts blood to vital organs, causing extremities to feel cool to the touch due to reduced blood flow.

Question 20

A registered nurse is teaching a nursing student the effects of medications that are used to treat hyperlipidemia. Which statement of the student nurse indicates effective learning?

Accepted Answer

Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant that works by binding to bile acids in the GI tract, preventing their absorption. This forces the liver to use more cholesterol to make more bile acids, thereby lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood. Simvastatin is a statin that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis in the liver, rather than blocking fat absorption from the intestine. Fenofibrate works by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) which leads to increased oxidation of fatty acids and reduced triglyceride levels, not by blocking the breakdown of fats in tissues. Ezetimibe works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, not by increasing the breakdown of bile acid absorption.

Quiz 15: Arterial Disorders