ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions And Answers
1. The client on warfarin has an INR of 1.2. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Increase the dose of warfarin
- B. Administer vitamin K
- C. Monitor for signs of bleeding
- D. Hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to increase the dose of warfarin. An INR of 1.2 is below the therapeutic range for a client on warfarin, indicating that the dose is subtherapeutic. The priority action in this situation is to adjust the dose to achieve the target therapeutic INR range (usually 2-3) to prevent thromboembolic events. Administering vitamin K is not necessary as the INR is low, and there are no signs of bleeding. Monitoring for signs of bleeding is important but not the priority in this case since the INR is subtherapeutic. Holding the next dose and notifying the healthcare provider would delay the intervention needed to adjust the dose and achieve the therapeutic range.
2. What is a condition where the lung's air sacs (alveoli) are damaged and enlarged, leading to breathlessness?
- A. Emphysema
- B. Chronic bronchitis
- C. Asthma
- D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Emphysema is the correct answer. It is a condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged and enlarged, leading to breathlessness. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes, not the alveoli. Asthma involves airway inflammation and constriction, not alveolar damage. Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where lung tissue becomes thickened and scarred, different from the alveolar damage seen in emphysema.
3. The client is on dobutamine. Adverse effects of Dobutrex (dobutamine) include the following: Select all that apply.
- A. Heart failure
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Tachycardia
- D. Respiratory distress
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tachycardia. Dobutamine is a medication that primarily increases heart rate (tachycardia) and blood pressure. Therefore, the adverse effects of dobutamine include tachycardia. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Heart failure is not an adverse effect of dobutamine; in fact, it is used to treat heart failure by increasing heart contractility. Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is not an expected adverse effect of dobutamine, as it usually increases heart rate. Respiratory distress is not a common adverse effect of dobutamine.
4. Which condition is characterized by chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle?
- A. Angina
- B. Myocardial infarction
- C. Pericarditis
- D. Arrhythmia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often due to coronary artery disease. Choice B, Myocardial infarction, involves the death of heart muscle tissue due to a lack of blood supply, presenting with symptoms similar to angina but more severe. Pericarditis (Choice C) is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, which may cause chest pain but is not primarily due to reduced blood flow. Arrhythmia (Choice D) refers to abnormal heart rhythms but is not directly related to chest pain due to reduced blood flow.
5. The client is on digoxin and has severe digoxin toxicity. What is the nursing priority action?
- A. Check the potassium level.
- B. Give Digibind as an antidote.
- C. Change the dosing of digoxin to every other day.
- D. Administer a potassium supplement to decrease digoxin toxicity.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is to give Digibind as an antidote in cases of severe digoxin toxicity. Digibind works by binding to digoxin and preventing it from causing further harm. Checking the potassium level (choice A) is important but not the priority when the client has severe toxicity. Changing the dosing to every other day (choice C) is not appropriate in the setting of severe toxicity where immediate action is required. Giving a potassium supplement (choice D) may be needed eventually, but the priority is to administer Digibind to counteract the toxic effects of digoxin.
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