this is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened without an obvious cause leading to a reduction in the hearts ability to pump blood
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

Cardiovascular System Exam

1. What is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened without an obvious cause, leading to a reduction in the heart's ability to pump blood?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the correct answer. It is a condition characterized by the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle without an obvious cause, which impairs the heart's ability to effectively pump blood. Dilated cardiomyopathy (choice B) involves the enlargement and weakening of the heart chambers, not thickening. Restrictive cardiomyopathy (choice C) refers to the stiffening of the heart muscle, limiting its ability to fill properly. Myocarditis (choice D) is inflammation of the heart muscle usually caused by a viral infection, not thickening.

2. Which condition is caused by a bacterium that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs but can spread to other organs. Choice B, Pneumonia, is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. Choice C, Legionnaires' disease, is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. Choice D, Histoplasmosis, is a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus.

3. The client has a prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. What is the nurse's instruction for how to take this medication during an episode of chest pain?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The standard instruction for sublingual nitroglycerin during an episode of chest pain is to take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to three tablets. If the pain persists after taking three tablets, the client should seek emergency help. Choice B is incorrect because taking one tablet every hour is not the appropriate dosing for acute chest pain. Choice C is incorrect as taking two tablets immediately is not in line with the recommended dosing instructions. Choice D is incorrect because sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue, not swallowed with water.

4. What is the ability of cardiac cells to respond to an impulse by transmitting the impulse along cell membranes?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Conductivity. Conductivity refers to the ability of cardiac cells to transmit impulses along cell membranes. Contractility (Choice A) is the ability of cardiac cells to contract in response to an electrical stimulus, not transmit impulses. Automaticity (Choice B) is the ability of cardiac cells to spontaneously generate electrical impulses. Rhythmicity (Choice D) refers to the regular generation of electrical impulses by the heart's pacemaker cells, not the transmission of impulses along cell membranes.

5. What procedure is used to visualize the airways and diagnose lung disease?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Bronchoscopy is the correct answer because it is a procedure specifically designed to visualize the airways and diagnose lung diseases by allowing doctors to examine the inside of the airways. Thoracentesis involves the removal of fluid from the pleural space around the lungs, not the airways. Pulmonary function tests assess how well the lungs work but do not visualize the airways directly. A chest X-ray provides an image of the lungs and surrounding structures but does not involve direct visualization of the airways.

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