Page 1 of 179
CARDIAC SURGERY CSC EXAM 2026 BANK
COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED) GUARANTEED PASS/TOP-RATED
A+.
CARDIAC
Maximize your success on the Cardiac Surgery CSC (Clinical
Specialty Certification) exam with focused preparation that
strengthens your understanding of perioperative cardiac care,
including surgical procedures, hemodynamic monitoring,
postoperative complications, and evidence-based interventions
for patients undergoing heart surgery. It is specifically designed
for registered nurses seeking to validate their expertise and
provide exceptional care in cardiac surgery units.
All of the following statements are true about use of
antibiotics in cardiac surgery patients EXCEPT:
A. A cephalosporin (typically cefazolin or cefuroxime) is the
antibiotic of choice in patients without MRSA.
B. Preoperative IV prophylactic antibiotics should not be
given until the patient is in the operating suite so the
, Page 2 of 179
administration can be timed to be 30 to 60 minutes prior to
the initial incision.
C. Vancomycin is indicated for proven or suspected MRSA.
D. Post-operative antibiotics are continued for 7 to 10 days
after surgery. ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... D. Preoperative
intravenous prophylactic antibiotics are not given until the
patient is in the operating suite so the administration can be
timed to be 30 to 60 minutes prior to the initial incision.
National quality standards require administration within one
hour of incision time to insure adequate tissue levels at the
time of incision.
Postoperative antibiotics are given for 48 hours or less.
A cephalosporin (typically cefazolin or cefuroxime) is the
antibiotic of choice in patients without MRSA, and
vancomycin, alone or in combination with other antibiotics,
is recommended in patients with MRSA.
Which of the following medications should be held prior to
cardiac surgery:
A. ASA, beta blocker, IV insulin drip.
B. Clopidogrel, beta blockers, oral hypoglycemic agents.
C. Statin, beta blockers, prasugrel.
, Page 3 of 179
D. Clopidogrel, ACE inhibitors, oral hypoglycemic agents,
NSAIDS. ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... D. All antianginal,
antihypertensive, and heart failure medications should be
continued up until the time of surgery. Exceptions are ACE
inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, which should
be held the morning of surgery. P2Y12 inhibitors (clopidogrel,
prasugrel, ticagrelor) should be discontinued 5-7 days prior
to surgery whenever possible to reduce the risk of post op
bleeding. Oral hypoglycemic agents should be held for 24
hours prior to surgery. NSAIDS should be held a few days
prior to surgery to decrease risk of bleeding and in patients
with renal dysfunction.
Beta blockers should be continued or started at least 24
hours prior to surgery to reduce the risk of postop atrial
fibrillation. Statin therapy should be started at least one
week prior to surgery, as they are associated with decreased
incidence of stroke, atrial fibrillation, renal dysfunction and
infection. ASA should not be discontinued in patients with
acute coronary syndrome or critical coronary artery disease.
If there is an increased risk for bleeding, or if the patient
refuses blood transfusion, ASA can be held 3 days prior to
surgery. If a patient is dependent on IV insulin to maintain
glucose <180 mg/dL, the drip should be started
preoperatively and continued through the first 24 hours
postop.
, Page 4 of 179
All of the following are true regarding the cardiopulmonary
bypass machine (heart / lung machine) EXCEPT for:
A. Cardiopulmonary bypass provides perfusion to the other
organs of the body during surgery.
B. Cardiopulmonary bypass allows for surgery to be
performed on a still and bloodless heart.
C. Blood is drained from the aorta and reentered into the
right atrium allowing for a high pressure flow through the
circuit.
D. The circuit contains an arterial line filter to remove
microemboli before returning blood to the patient. ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... C. Cardiopulmonary bypass allows for
surgery to be performed on a still and bloodless heart while
at the same time providing perfusion to other organs of the
body. Blood is drained (usually by gravity) from the right
atrium into a venous reservoir. From there blood is
oxygenated, cooled or warmed, and returned to the patient
through an arterial cannula usually placed in the ascending
aorta. The circuit contains an arterial line filter to remove
microemboli before returning blood to the patient.
Microemboli can consist of air, blood, fat, and platelet
microaggregates.
CARDIAC SURGERY CSC EXAM 2026 BANK
COMPLETE CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED) GUARANTEED PASS/TOP-RATED
A+.
CARDIAC
Maximize your success on the Cardiac Surgery CSC (Clinical
Specialty Certification) exam with focused preparation that
strengthens your understanding of perioperative cardiac care,
including surgical procedures, hemodynamic monitoring,
postoperative complications, and evidence-based interventions
for patients undergoing heart surgery. It is specifically designed
for registered nurses seeking to validate their expertise and
provide exceptional care in cardiac surgery units.
All of the following statements are true about use of
antibiotics in cardiac surgery patients EXCEPT:
A. A cephalosporin (typically cefazolin or cefuroxime) is the
antibiotic of choice in patients without MRSA.
B. Preoperative IV prophylactic antibiotics should not be
given until the patient is in the operating suite so the
, Page 2 of 179
administration can be timed to be 30 to 60 minutes prior to
the initial incision.
C. Vancomycin is indicated for proven or suspected MRSA.
D. Post-operative antibiotics are continued for 7 to 10 days
after surgery. ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... D. Preoperative
intravenous prophylactic antibiotics are not given until the
patient is in the operating suite so the administration can be
timed to be 30 to 60 minutes prior to the initial incision.
National quality standards require administration within one
hour of incision time to insure adequate tissue levels at the
time of incision.
Postoperative antibiotics are given for 48 hours or less.
A cephalosporin (typically cefazolin or cefuroxime) is the
antibiotic of choice in patients without MRSA, and
vancomycin, alone or in combination with other antibiotics,
is recommended in patients with MRSA.
Which of the following medications should be held prior to
cardiac surgery:
A. ASA, beta blocker, IV insulin drip.
B. Clopidogrel, beta blockers, oral hypoglycemic agents.
C. Statin, beta blockers, prasugrel.
, Page 3 of 179
D. Clopidogrel, ACE inhibitors, oral hypoglycemic agents,
NSAIDS. ✓ ✓...... ANSWER ....... D. All antianginal,
antihypertensive, and heart failure medications should be
continued up until the time of surgery. Exceptions are ACE
inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, which should
be held the morning of surgery. P2Y12 inhibitors (clopidogrel,
prasugrel, ticagrelor) should be discontinued 5-7 days prior
to surgery whenever possible to reduce the risk of post op
bleeding. Oral hypoglycemic agents should be held for 24
hours prior to surgery. NSAIDS should be held a few days
prior to surgery to decrease risk of bleeding and in patients
with renal dysfunction.
Beta blockers should be continued or started at least 24
hours prior to surgery to reduce the risk of postop atrial
fibrillation. Statin therapy should be started at least one
week prior to surgery, as they are associated with decreased
incidence of stroke, atrial fibrillation, renal dysfunction and
infection. ASA should not be discontinued in patients with
acute coronary syndrome or critical coronary artery disease.
If there is an increased risk for bleeding, or if the patient
refuses blood transfusion, ASA can be held 3 days prior to
surgery. If a patient is dependent on IV insulin to maintain
glucose <180 mg/dL, the drip should be started
preoperatively and continued through the first 24 hours
postop.
, Page 4 of 179
All of the following are true regarding the cardiopulmonary
bypass machine (heart / lung machine) EXCEPT for:
A. Cardiopulmonary bypass provides perfusion to the other
organs of the body during surgery.
B. Cardiopulmonary bypass allows for surgery to be
performed on a still and bloodless heart.
C. Blood is drained from the aorta and reentered into the
right atrium allowing for a high pressure flow through the
circuit.
D. The circuit contains an arterial line filter to remove
microemboli before returning blood to the patient. ✓ ✓......
ANSWER ....... C. Cardiopulmonary bypass allows for
surgery to be performed on a still and bloodless heart while
at the same time providing perfusion to other organs of the
body. Blood is drained (usually by gravity) from the right
atrium into a venous reservoir. From there blood is
oxygenated, cooled or warmed, and returned to the patient
through an arterial cannula usually placed in the ascending
aorta. The circuit contains an arterial line filter to remove
microemboli before returning blood to the patient.
Microemboli can consist of air, blood, fat, and platelet
microaggregates.
