ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam
1. What is a condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is consistently too high, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke?
- A. Hypertension
- B. Hypotension
- C. Diabetes
- D. Hyperlipidemia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition where the force of the blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. This increased pressure can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke. Hypotension (choice B) refers to low blood pressure, which is not the correct term in this context. Diabetes (choice C) and hyperlipidemia (choice D) are also serious conditions but are not specifically characterized by consistently high blood pressure.
2. The client on a beta blocker has a blood pressure of 88/58 mm Hg. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider.
- B. Administer the beta blocker as ordered.
- C. Increase the dose of the beta blocker.
- D. Continue to monitor the client and reassess in 30 minutes.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take when a client on a beta blocker presents with a blood pressure of 88/58 mm Hg is to hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider. Beta blockers can further decrease blood pressure, which is already low in this case. Administering the beta blocker as ordered (Choice B) would exacerbate the hypotension. Increasing the dose of the beta blocker (Choice C) would be inappropriate and unsafe given the low blood pressure. Continuing to monitor the client and reassessing in 30 minutes (Choice D) could lead to a delay in necessary intervention. Therefore, the priority is to hold the medication and seek guidance from the healthcare provider.
3. What is a condition where the right side of the heart fails due to increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries, often caused by chronic lung disease?
- A. Cor pulmonale
- B. Heart failure
- C. Pulmonary embolism
- D. Myocarditis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Cor pulmonale is the correct answer. It is a condition where the right side of the heart fails due to increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries, often caused by chronic lung disease such as COPD. Pulmonary embolism (choice C) is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. Myocarditis (choice D) is inflammation of the heart muscle. While heart failure (choice B) is a broad term that can involve the failure of either the right or left side of the heart.
4. What procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect samples?
- A. Bronchoscopy
- B. Thoracentesis
- C. Lung biopsy
- D. Chest X-ray
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that entails inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect tissue or fluid samples. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose lung conditions such as infections, tumors, or obstructions. Choice B, thoracentesis, involves inserting a needle into the pleural space to remove fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes related to the lungs or pleura, not the airways. Choice C, lung biopsy, typically involves obtaining tissue samples from the lungs for further examination, not directly visualizing the airways. Choice D, chest X-ray, is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses radiation to create images of the chest area, providing a different type of information compared to bronchoscopy.
5. Which condition occurs when the heart muscle is damaged due to a lack of oxygen, often resulting from a heart attack?
- A. Myocardial infarction
- B. Angina
- C. Pericarditis
- D. Pulmonary embolism
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is the condition where the heart muscle is damaged due to a lack of oxygen, typically caused by a blocked coronary artery. Angina (choice B) is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Pericarditis (choice C) is the inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. Pulmonary embolism (choice D) is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, often caused by a blood clot.
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