ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions Pdf
1. This is a procedure where a small mesh tube is inserted into an artery to keep it open and improve blood flow.
- A. Stent placement
- B. Angioplasty
- C. Bypass surgery
- D. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Stent placement is a procedure where a small mesh tube (stent) is inserted into an artery to keep it open and improve blood flow, often following angioplasty.
2. The nurse is administering an ACE inhibitor to a client. What is the most common side effect?
- A. Cough
- B. Dizziness
- C. Hypotension
- D. Hyperkalemia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cough. Cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors due to an increase in bradykinin levels. This irritating cough can be bothersome to clients and should be monitored. Choice B, Dizziness, is not the most common side effect of ACE inhibitors. While ACE inhibitors can cause hypotension (Choice C), cough is more prevalent. Hyperkalemia (Choice D) is a possible side effect of ACE inhibitors but is less common compared to cough.
3. What is a condition where the heart beats too fast, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively?
- A. Tachycardia
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Arrhythmia
- D. Ventricular fibrillation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Tachycardia is the correct answer because it is a condition characterized by a fast heart rate, which can decrease the heart's efficiency in pumping blood. Bradycardia, on the other hand, refers to a slow heart rate, which is the opposite of what is described in the question. Arrhythmia is a general term for any irregularity in the heart's rhythm, not necessarily specifically related to a fast heart rate. Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening arrhythmia where the heart's lower chambers quiver instead of pumping blood effectively, but it is not specifically characterized by a fast heart rate.
4. What test evaluates the heart's response to physical stress, often involving exercise on a treadmill while monitoring the heart?
- A. Stress test
- B. Echocardiogram
- C. Holter monitor
- D. CT angiography
Correct answer: A
Rationale: A stress test, also known as an exercise stress test, evaluates the heart's response to physical stress by monitoring its activity during exercise, typically on a treadmill. This test helps assess the heart's performance, detect coronary artery disease, and evaluate the effectiveness of heart treatments. Echocardiogram (choice B) is an ultrasound of the heart that provides detailed images of the heart's structure and function, but it does not involve physical stress like a stress test. Holter monitor (choice C) is a device for continuously monitoring the heart's rhythm and rate over a period (usually 24-48 hours), not during exercise. CT angiography (choice D) is a diagnostic test that uses X-rays to visualize blood vessels but does not involve physical stress like a stress test.
5. What is the average cardiac output?
- A. Approximately 4 to 6 L per minute
- B. Approximately 4 to 8 L per minute
- C. Approximately 5 to 8 L per minute
- D. Approximately 3 to 7 L per minute
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Approximately 4 to 8 L per minute. Cardiac output is defined as the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, typically ranging between 4 to 8 liters. Choices A, C, and D provide ranges that are either too narrow or outside the standard average values for cardiac output, making them incorrect.
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