RN exams cardiovascular practice questions, set 28

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RN exams cardiovascular practice questions set 28

You read heart failure, perfusion, and blood-pressure stems and decide what to do before the patient declines. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the RN exams exam guide or more RN exams practice questions.

Five cardiovascular questions with answers

Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.

Question 1

A patient is receiving heparin therapy as part of the treatment for a pulmonary embolism. The nurse monitors the results of which laboratory test to check the drug’s effectiveness?

  1. A. Bleeding times
  2. B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
  3. C. Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR)
  4. D. Vitamin K levels
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

The correct answer is B: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This test is specifically used to monitor heparin therapy's effectiveness by measuring the blood's clotting time. Heparin works by inhibiting blood clot formation, so monitoring aPTT helps ensure the patient is within the therapeutic range to prevent clot formation. Incorrect choices: A: Bleeding times - This test assesses how long it takes for blood to clot, but it does not specifically monitor heparin therapy's effectiveness. C: Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) - This test is used to monitor warfarin therapy, not heparin therapy. D: Vitamin K levels - Monitoring vitamin K levels is not relevant to assessing heparin therapy's effectiveness in preventing clot formation.

Question 2

Which condition is characterized by the right ventricle of the heart failing due to increased pressure in the lungs, often caused by chronic lung disease?

  1. A. Cor pulmonale
  2. B. Pulmonary embolism
  3. C. Aortic stenosis
  4. D. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Cor pulmonale

The correct answer is A: Cor pulmonale. This condition is characterized by right ventricle failure due to increased pulmonary pressure from chronic lung disease. Step 1: Chronic lung disease causes increased pressure in the lungs. Step 2: The increased pressure in the lungs leads to the right ventricle of the heart working harder to pump blood through the lungs. Step 3: Over time, this increased workload can cause right ventricular failure, known as cor pulmonale. Summary: B is incorrect as pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage of an artery in the lungs. C is incorrect as aortic stenosis involves narrowing of the aortic valve, affecting the left ventricle. D is incorrect as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition causing thickening of the heart muscle.

Question 3

__________ is a side effect that can occur while a client is taking an antipsychotic medication, causing muscle rigidity, high fever, unstable vital signs, confusion, and agitation.

  1. A. Drug-induced parkinsonism
  2. B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
  3. C. Tardive dyskinesia
  4. D. Dystonia
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

The correct answer is B: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS is a serious side effect of antipsychotic medications characterized by muscle rigidity, high fever, unstable vital signs, confusion, and agitation. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Rationale: 1. Muscle rigidity, high fever, and unstable vital signs are hallmark symptoms of NMS. 2. Confusion and agitation are also common in individuals experiencing NMS. 3. NMS is a medical emergency that can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly. 4. The other choices, A: Drug-induced parkinsonism, C: Tardive dyskinesia, and D: Dystonia, do not present with the same constellation of symptoms as NMS and are unrelated to the life-threatening nature of NMS.

Question 4

The drug acts by competitively blocking the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter:

  1. A. Loop diuretics
  2. B. Thiazide diuretics
  3. C. Potassium-sparing diuretics
  4. D. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Loop diuretics

Loop diuretics act by competitively blocking the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. By inhibiting this transporter, loop diuretics prevent reabsorption of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions, leading to increased urine output. Thiazide diuretics work in the distal convoluted tubule by blocking the Na+/Cl- cotransporter. Potassium-sparing diuretics act on the collecting duct or distal tubule to inhibit sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors work in the proximal convoluted tubule by inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which reduces bicarbonate reabsorption. Therefore, the correct answer is A because loop diuretics specifically target the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter in the loop of Henle.

Question 5

The drug acts by competitively blocking the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter:

  1. A. Loop diuretics
  2. B. Thiazide diuretics
  3. C. Potassium-sparing diuretics
  4. D. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Loop diuretics

Loop diuretics act by competitively blocking the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. By inhibiting this transporter, loop diuretics prevent reabsorption of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions, leading to increased urine output. Thiazide diuretics work in the distal convoluted tubule by blocking the Na+/Cl- cotransporter. Potassium-sparing diuretics act on the collecting duct or distal tubule to inhibit sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors work in the proximal convoluted tubule by inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which reduces bicarbonate reabsorption. Therefore, the correct answer is A because loop diuretics specifically target the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter in the loop of Henle.

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Question 6

Which condition is characterized by the right ventricle of the heart failing due to increased pressure in the lungs, often caused by chronic lung disease?

  1. A. Cor pulmonale
  2. B. Pulmonary embolism
  3. C. Aortic stenosis
  4. D. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 7

Which of the following antianginal agents refers to reflex coronary dilators:

  1. A. Dipyridamole
  2. B. Validol
  3. C. Atenolol
  4. D. Alinidine
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Question 8

The client is having an exercise echocardiogram. What is a nursing instruction for this test?

  1. A. The client must lie on his back for the test.
  2. B. The client will run on a treadmill and then have an echocardiogram.
  3. C. The client will lie on the right side for the echocardiogram.
  4. D. The client will not have electrocardiographic monitoring.
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Question 9

The typical Reed-Sternberg cells are either infrequent or absent. Instead, lymphocytic and histiocytic cells or 'popcorn cells' are seen within a background of inflammatory cells, which are predominantly benign lymphocytes. Which type of Hodgkin's lymphoma best suit the description?

  1. A. Nodular sclerosis
  2. B. Mixed cellularity
  3. C. Lymphocyte depleted
  4. D. Lymphocyte predominance
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Question 10

What likely contributed to furosemide-induced metabolic alkalosis in the 47-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer?

  1. A. Increased reabsorption of uric acid
  2. B. Increased delivery of Na+ to the distal tubule
  3. C. Mild inhibition of carbonic anhydrase
  4. D. Decreased reabsorption of Ca2+ in the loop of Henle
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Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient with acute respiratory dist ress syndrome who is hypoxemic despite mechanical ventilation. The primary care provider (PCP) orders a nontraditional ventilator mode as part of treatment. Despite sedation and aabnirba.lcgoems/tieas,t the patient remains restless and appears to be in discomfort. The nurse informs the PCP of this assessment and anticipates what order?

  1. A. Continuous lateral rotation therapy
  2. B. Guided imagery
  3. C. Neuromuscular blockade
  4. D. Prone positioning
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Question 12

A patient has prescriptions for two inhalers. One inhaler is a bronchodilator, and the other is a corticosteroid. Which instruction regarding these inhalers will the nurse give to the patient?

  1. A. “Take the corticosteroid inhaler first.”
  2. B. “Take the bronchodilator inhaler first.”
  3. C. “Take these two drugs at least 2 hours apart.”
  4. D. “It does not matter which inhaler you use first.”
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Question 13

The client has atrial fibrillation. What can the nurse say about the P wave?

  1. A. It precedes a long PR interval
  2. B. It falls on the previous T wave
  3. C. The P wave is absent
  4. D. It is peaked
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Question 14

A patient has prescriptions for two inhalers. One inhaler is a bronchodilator, and the other is a corticosteroid. Which instruction regarding these inhalers will the nurse give to the patient?

  1. A. “Take the corticosteroid inhaler first.”
  2. B. “Take the bronchodilator inhaler first.”
  3. C. “Take these two drugs at least 2 hours apart.”
  4. D. “It does not matter which inhaler you use first.”
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 15

If Mr. Baker's blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite treatment, the most likely reason is that he

  1. A. is not taking his medicine as ordered
  2. B. does not adhere to his diet
  3. C. is too sedentary
  4. D. refuses to stop smoking
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About these RN exams cardiovascular questions

RN exams cardiovascular practice questions, set 28 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.

No. Nursier is independent practice. Register through the official path named on the RN exams exam guide.

The first five questions already include the rationale. Start full practice to unlock the remaining keys, missed-question review, and the rest of the bank.

Keep going past these 15 questions

Missed-question review, longer banks, and the rest of 20,000+ nursing practice questions open when you start studying.