Question 1

Which part of the heart produces the muscular contraction of the heart?

Accepted Answer

The thick muscular middle layer is called the myocardium.

Question 2

Calcium assists in the contraction of a muscle. In which area of the heart is the impulse to contract stimulated?

Accepted Answer

Impulses that stimulate contraction normally originate in specialized cells (sinoatrial node) near the top of the right atrium.

Question 3

The period of contraction of the heart muscle when blood is ejected from the atria into the ventricles, and from the ventricles into the arteries, is called:

Accepted Answer

Contraction of the atria and the ventricles is called systole. Diastole refers to the period of time between heart contractions. Conductivity refers to the ability of the heart to contract. Repolarization refers to the return of ionic concentrations to conditions prior to contraction.

Question 4

Cardiac output is a function of the heart rate and:

Accepted Answer

Cardiac output is a function of the heart rate and stroke volume. Stroke volume refers to the amount of blood the heart ejects with each beat.

Question 5

A woman is being seen in the nurse practitioner's office for a yearly gynecologic examination. She states, "I think I am beginning menopause. My periods have been very light and irregular, and I am always hot." The nurse would expect what finding in her vital signs?

Accepted Answer

In women, BP may increase slightly after menopause, probably as a result of hormonal changes.

Question 6

When the nursery nurse auscultates a newborn's heart rate at 138 beats per minute, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

The newborn's heart rate is normally 130 to 160 beats per minute.

Question 7

Which individual is at risk for the development of blood clots?

Accepted Answer

Women who take birth control pills are at risk for the development of blood clots. Regular exercise will reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications. Aspirin is an anticoagulant and reduces the risk of blood clots. Daily exercise in any age group is associated with the lowering of risk factors.

Question 8

A 40-year-old man has been told he has a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). How will the nurse explain this factor?

Accepted Answer

High levels of LDL cholesterol leads to peripheral vascular disease and hypertension, which greatly increases the chance of myocardial infarction.

Question 9

Which education intervention should the client implement to improve heart function?

Accepted Answer

Exercise protects the cardiovascular system and promotes weight reduction by raising the good HDL cholesterol and reducing triglycerides. Sodium is traditionally restricted in clients with cardiovascular health concerns. Excessive sodium intake will result in fluid retention. Exercise acts to reduce blood glucose.

Question 10

A client on bed rest is prescribed antiembolism stockings. The nurse would apply the stockings at which time?

Accepted Answer

Antiembolism stockings should be applied in the morning, before the client has gotten out of bed, for them to be fitted while the client's legs are least edematous. Applying them at any other time would be less effective. The stockings are usually removed for 30 minutes once every 8 hours.

Question 11

Illicit use of which of the following substances is associated with sudden cardiac death?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine use has been increasingly associated with sudden cardiac arrest, because it increases oxygen demand and reduces supply to the myocardium.

Question 12

When a 60-year-old client asks the nurse what a dysrhythmia is, the nurse explains that it is an irregular heart rhythm that can be caused by:

Accepted Answer

Dysrhythmias range from minor, clinically insignificant abnormalities to life-threatening conditions. Dysrhythmias may be caused by damage to the heart muscle or conduction system, diminished coronary blood flow, decreased blood oxygen levels, medications, alterations in serum electrolytes, stress, or overstretching of the heart muscle.

Question 13

A client who was in an automobile accident has a deep laceration in the left arm at the brachial artery. The blood pressure is 70/30, with pulse of 120 and thready. The client is suffering from:

Accepted Answer

Dehydration or hemorrhage causes a decrease in circulating volume. Because tissue perfusion depends on a sufficient volume of circulating blood, any decrease in volume can lead to tissue hypoxia. This occurs in the condition commonly called hypovolemic shock. Septic shock results from infection. It is associated with elevations in heart rate and temperature. Cardiogenic shock results when the heart is unable to meet the demands of the body. Anaphylactic shock results when the body is introduced to a substance to which it is highly allergic. Symptoms include tachycardia and difficulty breathing.

Question 14

A client asks the nurse what atherosclerosis is. The nurse states:

Accepted Answer

Atherosclerosis is characterized by fatty deteriorations of the arterial smooth muscle walls, causing arterial occlusion.

Question 15

The nurse explains to the client scheduled to undergo a cardiac catheterization that the test involves the use of:

Accepted Answer

Catheterization of the heart and large vessel is used to determine precise information concerning valve function and cardiac muscle strength. Radiopaque dye is used for this purpose. A catheter is not introduced through the chest wall and neither Doppler nor sound waves are used.

Question 16

Which statement is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for the homebound client with a cardiac problem who has become fatigued upon minimal exertion?

Accepted Answer

Activity intolerance is a significant problem for clients with cardiovascular dysfunction, although it is not exclusively a cardiovascular problem.

Question 17

The nurse is reviewing the history of a client who has been diagnosed with hypertension. When planning care for the client, which risk factor is nonmodifiable? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Nonmodifiable risk factors are those elements of the client's history that cannot be changed. Age, family history, and a diagnosis of diabetes are permanent factors and cannot be modified. Weight and level of activity can be changed.

Question 18

A client who is planning a diet questions the nurse about the role of sugar in the development of heart disease. What response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Sugar consumption exists in epidemic proportions in the United States. High amounts of sugar consumption increase the risk of coronary artery disease by increasing triglyceride levels. Increased sugar consumption has also been linked to hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.

Question 19

A 24-year-old client in good health has begun an exercise program. The client correctly recognizes that to promote cardiac health, the following regimen is needed:

Accepted Answer

The AHA recommends that individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 engage in aerobic activity of moderate intensity for a duration of 30 minutes five times a week.

Question 20

The nurse is reviewing the client's medical history and notes that the client takes herbal supplements to help in the management of hypertension. Which supplement does the client most likely take?

Accepted Answer

Herbal remedies, such as garlic, may be used by some to lower cholesterol and BP.

Quiz 31: Cardiac Function