ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam Questions
1. What type of medication is used to relax the muscles around the airways and improve breathing in conditions like asthma and COPD?
- A. Bronchodilator
- B. Corticosteroid
- C. Mucolytic
- D. Antihistamine
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Bronchodilators are medications that relax the muscles around the airways, improving airflow and making breathing easier for patients with asthma or COPD. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs used to reduce airway inflammation, while mucolytics help in thinning and clearing mucus. Antihistamines are used to treat allergies and not specifically to improve breathing in conditions like asthma or COPD.
2. 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.
3. The nurse is caring for a client on warfarin with an INR of 5.2. What is the most appropriate action?
- A. Administer vitamin K as an antidote.
- B. Hold the next dose of warfarin.
- C. Increase the dose of warfarin.
- D. Monitor the client’s INR closely.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: An INR of 5.2 is elevated, indicating an increased risk of bleeding. Administering vitamin K can help reverse the effects of warfarin, which is the most appropriate action in this situation. Holding the next dose of warfarin is not enough to address the high INR, and increasing the dose would further elevate the INR level. Monitoring the INR closely is important, but in this case, immediate action is needed to counteract the anticoagulant effects of warfarin.
4. Which type of medication is used to reduce the workload on the heart by slowing down the heart rate and lowering blood pressure?
- A. Beta-blocker
- B. ACE inhibitor
- C. Calcium channel blocker
- D. Diuretic
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Beta-blocker. Beta-blockers are medications that reduce the workload on the heart by slowing down the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. They are commonly used in the treatment of heart conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. ACE inhibitors (B) work by dilating blood vessels to reduce blood pressure, calcium channel blockers (C) prevent calcium from entering the heart muscle and blood vessel walls, and diuretics (D) help the body get rid of excess salt and water by increasing urine production.
5. What is the term for the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle into the aorta per beat, determined by preload, contractility, and afterload?
- A. Stroke volume
- B. Cardiac output
- C. End-diastolic volume
- D. Ejection fraction
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Stroke volume. Stroke volume refers to the volume of blood ejected by the left ventricle during each heartbeat. This is determined by preload (the degree of stretch of the cardiac muscle fibers at the end of diastole), contractility (the force of myocardial contraction), and afterload (the pressure or resistance that the ventricle must overcome to eject blood). Choice B, Cardiac output, is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute and is calculated by multiplying the heart rate by the stroke volume. Choice C, End-diastolic volume, is the volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole before contraction. Choice D, Ejection fraction, is the proportion of blood pumped out of the ventricle with each contraction, calculated by dividing the stroke volume by the end-diastolic volume.
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