Question: Measurement of a patient’s arterial blood gas shows: / pH 7.3

Answer Options:
• metabolic alkalosis, partially compensated
• metabolic acidosis with partial compensation
• respiratory acidosis, partially compensated
• respiratory alkalosis with partial compensation

Answer: respiratory acidosis, partially compensated

Question: A priority intervention for a patient who had a left cardiac catheterization via the left femoral artery would be:

Answer Options:
• apply sequential pneumatic compression device on the legs
• administer alteplase
• administer oxygen
• keep the patient’s leg straight.

Answer: keep the patient’s leg straight.

Question: An embolus is a portion of a clot that has broken off of a venous wall and is now traveling in the bloodstream.

Answer Options:
• True
• False

Answer: True

Question: Complications of cardiac surgery include the following (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

Answer Options:
• Fluid overload
• hypothyroidism
• myocardial infarction
• hyperglycemia
• Tachyarrythmias

Answer: Fluid overload
myocardial infarction
hyperglycemia
Tachyarrythmias

Question: A patient undergoing pericardiocentesis will likely have which of the following symptoms: (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

Answer Options:
• hypotension
• bradycardia
• muffled heart sounds
• bradypnea
• jugular vein distention

Answer: hypotension
muffled heart sounds
jugular vein distention

Question: Measurement of arterial blood gas shows:

Answer Options:
• metabolic acidosis, partially compensated
• Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
• Metabolic alkalosis, partially compensated
• respiratory alkalosis with partial compensation

Answer: metabolic acidosis, partially compensated

Question: A patient underwent coronary artery bypass graft 1 day ago. The patient asks when he will be able to go home. The best response by the nurse would be:

Answer Options:
• “you will likely recover in the hospital for 1 month.”
• “You will likely recover in the hospital for at least 2 weeks.”
• “You will be discharged today.”
• “You will likely be discharged 1 week after surgery!”

Answer: “You will likely be discharged 1 week after surgery!”

Question: A patient is prescribed captopril (ACE inhibitor) for heart failure. The patient complains of a dry, hacking cough. The best response by the nurse would be:

Answer Options:
• “you will need a chest X Ray.”
• “antibiotics are not prescribed for viral infections.”
• “this is a sign that your heart failure is worsening.”
• “a dry cough is expected with this medication.”

Answer: “a dry cough is expected with this medication.”

Question: Interpret the following ABG:

Answer Options:
• respiratory acidosis without compensation
• metabolic acidosis without compensation
• respiratory alkalosis, fully compensated
• metabolic alkalosis without compensation

Answer: respiratory acidosis without compensation

Question: Cardiogenic shock is likely to occur with all the following EXCEPT:

Answer Options:
• myocardial infarction
• cardiogenic tamponade
• physiologic murmur
• end-stage heart failure

Answer: physiologic murmur

Question: A patient just underwent left cardiac catheterization and is recovering. Which action would be a priority for the nurse caring for this patient?

Answer Options:
• keep patient in Trendelenburg position for 6 hours.
• maintain a compression device for 24 hours
• provide IV fluid bolus
• ambulate the patient

Answer: maintain a compression device for 24 hours

Question: Which intervention is appropriate for a patient with right-sided heart failure?

Answer Options:
• pacemaker
• daily weights
• morphine
• epinephrine

Answer: daily weights

Question: A 68-year-old woman is scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement for severe mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Although the diagnosis was made during childhood, she did not have any symptoms until 4 years ago. Recently, she noticed increased symptoms. During the initial interview with this patient, the nurse would most likely learn that the client’s childhood health history included:

Answer Options:
• rheumatic fever
• meningitis
• chicken pox
• poliomyelitis

Answer: rheumatic fever

Question: Medication for the treatment for systolic heart failure include all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer Options:
• diuretics
• nitrates
• alpha blockers
• digitalis

Answer: alpha blockers

Question: The nurse is providing education to a patient diagnosed with left-sided heart failure. The nurse will include which signs and symptoms of this disease (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY).

Answer Options:
• tachycardia
• ascites
• cough
• cyanosis
• enlarged liver
• weight gain

Answer: tachycardia
cough
cyanosis

Question: A patient with a history of heart failure has palpitations and fatigue while getting out of bed to walk to the bathroom. What stage of congestive heart failure does this patient have?

Answer Options:
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4

Answer: Stage 3

Question: All of the following patients would be at risk for heart failure EXCEPT:

Answer Options:
• A 57-year-old male with history of myocardial infarction
• 58-year-old female with a history of alcohol abuse
• 49-year-old male with type II diabetes
• 62-year-old with a history of atrial fibrillation

Answer: 62-year-old with a history of atrial fibrillation

Question: A patient with heart failure develops pulmonary edema. Which of the following positions would best aid breathing for a client with acute pulmonary edema?

Answer Options:
• supine
• high Fowler’s
• Left side-lying
• Trendelenberg

Answer: high Fowler’s

Question: A patient with a history of persistent pericardial effusions would be a candidate for:

Answer Options:
• pericardiocentesis
• cardioversion
• pericardial window
• coronary artery bypass graft

Answer: pericardial window

Question: The purpose of right heart catheterization is to assess the right ventricle, mitral valve, and pulmonary valves.

Answer Options:
• True
• False

Answer: False

Question: A patient is being transferred to the cardiac catheterization unit for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The goal of this treatment is:

Answer Options:
• prevention of right-sided heart failure
• increase pulmonary artery pressure
• improve blood flow within a coronary artery
• remove thrombus from the atria

Answer: improve blood flow within a coronary artery