1|Page
CNUR 204 Actual Exam Questions and verified
Answers 2026
what are the layers of the heart wall - ANSWER -pericardium,
pericardial cavity, myocardium, endocardium
what are the infectious processes involving the heart wall - ANSWER -
endocarditis and pericarditis
if a heart valve has vegetation, what does that mean - ANSWER -fibrin,
WBC, platelets, or microbes stuck or growing on the surface
what is IE stand for - ANSWER -infective endocarditis
what are the common causes of endocarditis - ANSWER -cocaine,
artificial valve replacement, IVDU, intracardiac devices
what are important subjective questions to ask if you suspect some has
IE - ANSWER -have you had an infection recently, strep throat?
symptoms, SOB, symptoms associated with poor heart function, did you
have an symptoms prior to this current problem
pg. 1
,2|Page
what are the risk factors for endocarditis - ANSWER -heart disease,
prior IE, valve replacement, procedures when at risk, intravascular
devices
what are the signs of IE - ANSWER -cyanosis, petechiae, and pain,
symptoms of heart failure
why would someone have abdominal pain if they have IE - ANSWER -
the body protects the box resulting in the intestines not having proper
perfusion
why might a patient have symptoms of HF if they have IE - ANSWER -
the heart isn't being efficient, not allowing proper filling time, so the
heart is backing up
what would the nurse or the doctor order if they suspect IE - ANSWER -
echo, ecg, ESR, CRP, WBC differential, blood culture
treatment for IE causes a risk for what - ANSWER -CDiff and thrush
because the intense antibiotics take out normal flora
what are the teaching points of IE - ANSWER -recovery (let your body
heal before you go back to work), relapse (if the risk factors continue
the problem will happen again), prevention (med compliance, monitor
and manage side effects, offer support groups where needed)
pg. 2
,3|Page
what does the pericardium do - ANSWER -anchoring, lubrication,
prevents over dilation during systole, reduces friction and stops heart
from getting too big
what is the most common cause of pericarditis - ANSWER -TB
what will you see on assessment of a patient with pericarditis -
ANSWER -pain (patient won't want to take a deep breath, may show
signs of respiratory distress because of this)
what will you hear on assessment of a patient pericarditis - ANSWER -
friction rub
what diagnostics do you do if you suspect pericarditis - ANSWER -chest
xray, echo, labs (WBC differential, blood C&S, ESR, CRP)
what is cardiac effusion - ANSWER -a build-up of fluid (serous, purulent,
blood) in the pericardium
when pericardial effusion increases and compresses the heart what is
this known as - ANSWER -cardiac tamponade
what will happen to the heart during cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -
stops beating because it has nowhere to go
pg. 3
, 4|Page
what are assessment changes with cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -
chest pain, restlessness, tachycardia, tachypnea, JVD, dyspnea, pulsus
paridoxus
what is significant about the chest in cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -it
is not resolved with nitro
what is pulsus paridoxus - ANSWER -every time you take a breath SBP
drops (heart doesn't have the ability to expand and contract
what is pericardiocentesis - ANSWER -aspiration of fluid with a fine
needle
what are the three steps to treat cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -treat
the cause (bacterial-antibiotics, inflammatory-steroids), NSAID/ASA,
pericardiocentesis
what happens in coronary artery disease that compromises blood flow -
ANSWER -atherosclerosis
what is homocysteine - ANSWER -protein from red meat, increase
cholesterol and our body needs to work harder to break it down
pg. 4
CNUR 204 Actual Exam Questions and verified
Answers 2026
what are the layers of the heart wall - ANSWER -pericardium,
pericardial cavity, myocardium, endocardium
what are the infectious processes involving the heart wall - ANSWER -
endocarditis and pericarditis
if a heart valve has vegetation, what does that mean - ANSWER -fibrin,
WBC, platelets, or microbes stuck or growing on the surface
what is IE stand for - ANSWER -infective endocarditis
what are the common causes of endocarditis - ANSWER -cocaine,
artificial valve replacement, IVDU, intracardiac devices
what are important subjective questions to ask if you suspect some has
IE - ANSWER -have you had an infection recently, strep throat?
symptoms, SOB, symptoms associated with poor heart function, did you
have an symptoms prior to this current problem
pg. 1
,2|Page
what are the risk factors for endocarditis - ANSWER -heart disease,
prior IE, valve replacement, procedures when at risk, intravascular
devices
what are the signs of IE - ANSWER -cyanosis, petechiae, and pain,
symptoms of heart failure
why would someone have abdominal pain if they have IE - ANSWER -
the body protects the box resulting in the intestines not having proper
perfusion
why might a patient have symptoms of HF if they have IE - ANSWER -
the heart isn't being efficient, not allowing proper filling time, so the
heart is backing up
what would the nurse or the doctor order if they suspect IE - ANSWER -
echo, ecg, ESR, CRP, WBC differential, blood culture
treatment for IE causes a risk for what - ANSWER -CDiff and thrush
because the intense antibiotics take out normal flora
what are the teaching points of IE - ANSWER -recovery (let your body
heal before you go back to work), relapse (if the risk factors continue
the problem will happen again), prevention (med compliance, monitor
and manage side effects, offer support groups where needed)
pg. 2
,3|Page
what does the pericardium do - ANSWER -anchoring, lubrication,
prevents over dilation during systole, reduces friction and stops heart
from getting too big
what is the most common cause of pericarditis - ANSWER -TB
what will you see on assessment of a patient with pericarditis -
ANSWER -pain (patient won't want to take a deep breath, may show
signs of respiratory distress because of this)
what will you hear on assessment of a patient pericarditis - ANSWER -
friction rub
what diagnostics do you do if you suspect pericarditis - ANSWER -chest
xray, echo, labs (WBC differential, blood C&S, ESR, CRP)
what is cardiac effusion - ANSWER -a build-up of fluid (serous, purulent,
blood) in the pericardium
when pericardial effusion increases and compresses the heart what is
this known as - ANSWER -cardiac tamponade
what will happen to the heart during cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -
stops beating because it has nowhere to go
pg. 3
, 4|Page
what are assessment changes with cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -
chest pain, restlessness, tachycardia, tachypnea, JVD, dyspnea, pulsus
paridoxus
what is significant about the chest in cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -it
is not resolved with nitro
what is pulsus paridoxus - ANSWER -every time you take a breath SBP
drops (heart doesn't have the ability to expand and contract
what is pericardiocentesis - ANSWER -aspiration of fluid with a fine
needle
what are the three steps to treat cardiac tamponade - ANSWER -treat
the cause (bacterial-antibiotics, inflammatory-steroids), NSAID/ASA,
pericardiocentesis
what happens in coronary artery disease that compromises blood flow -
ANSWER -atherosclerosis
what is homocysteine - ANSWER -protein from red meat, increase
cholesterol and our body needs to work harder to break it down
pg. 4
