Med-Surg: Cardiovascular Review Exam
2026 Questions and Answers Graded A+
1. A client complains of crushing chest pain that radiates to his left arm. He should
be presented with the following treatment:
1. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and codeine
3. Oxygen, nitroglycerin, meperidine, and thrombolytics
4. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroprusside, and morphine - Correct answer-Answer: 1.
Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Which lifestyle changes should a client diagnosed with coronary artery disease
consider?
1. Smoking cessation
2. Establishing a regular exercise routine
3. Weight reduction
4. All of the Above - Correct answer-Answer: 4. All of the Above
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,3. A client's cardiac monitor alarm sounds, indicating ventricular tachycardia. The
nurse should:
1. perform immediate defibrillation.
2. Assess the client.
3. Call the physician.
4. Administer a precordial thump. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. Assess the client.
4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - Correct answer-Answer: 1. stasis ulcer.
5. A key diagnostic test for heart failure is:
1. serum potassium.
2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
3. Troponin I
4. cardiac enzymes. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
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,6. While auscultating the heart sounds of a client with mitral insufficiency, the
nurse hears an extra heart sound immediately after the S2. The nurse should
document this extra heart sound as a:
1. S1.
2. S3.
3. S4.
4. mitral murmur. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. S3.
Rationale: An S3, is heard following an S2. This indicates that the client is
experiencing heart failure and results from increased filling pressures. An S1 is a
normal heart sound made by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. An S4 is
heard before S1 and is caused by resistance to ventricular filling. A murmur of
mitral insufficiency occurs during systole and is heard when there's turbulent blood
flow across the valve.
7. A nurse administers heparin to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of
heparin?
1. PTT
2. HCT
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, 3. CBC
4. PT - Correct answer-Answer: 1. PTT
Rationale: The therapeutic effectiveness of heparin is determined by monitoring
the patient's PTT, PT, HCT, and CBC don't monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
heparin. Monitoring the PT determines warfarin's effectiveness.
8. A client has just returned from cardiac catheterization. Which nursing
intervention would be most appropriate?
1. Help the client ambulate to the bathroom.
2. Restrict fluids.
3. Monitor peripheral pulses.
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - Correct answer-Answer. 3. Monitor
peripheral pulses.
Rationale: After cardiac catheterization, monitor peripheral pulses to assess
peripheral perfusion. Helping the client ambulate to the bathroom is incorrect
because the client should be on bed rest for 4 to 8 hours after the procedure to
reduce the risk of bleeding at the insertion site. Restricting fluids is incorrect
because the client should be encouraged to drink fluids after the procedure, unless
contraindicated. Adequate hydration reduces the risk of nephrotoxicity that can
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
2026 Questions and Answers Graded A+
1. A client complains of crushing chest pain that radiates to his left arm. He should
be presented with the following treatment:
1. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and codeine
3. Oxygen, nitroglycerin, meperidine, and thrombolytics
4. Aspirin, oxygen, nitroprusside, and morphine - Correct answer-Answer: 1.
Aspirin, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine
2. Which lifestyle changes should a client diagnosed with coronary artery disease
consider?
1. Smoking cessation
2. Establishing a regular exercise routine
3. Weight reduction
4. All of the Above - Correct answer-Answer: 4. All of the Above
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,3. A client's cardiac monitor alarm sounds, indicating ventricular tachycardia. The
nurse should:
1. perform immediate defibrillation.
2. Assess the client.
3. Call the physician.
4. Administer a precordial thump. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. Assess the client.
4. A complication of peripheral vascular disease may be:
1. stasis ulcer.
2. Pressure ulcer.
3. Gastric ulcer.
4. Duodenal ulcer. - Correct answer-Answer: 1. stasis ulcer.
5. A key diagnostic test for heart failure is:
1. serum potassium.
2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
3. Troponin I
4. cardiac enzymes. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. B-type natriuretic peptide.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,6. While auscultating the heart sounds of a client with mitral insufficiency, the
nurse hears an extra heart sound immediately after the S2. The nurse should
document this extra heart sound as a:
1. S1.
2. S3.
3. S4.
4. mitral murmur. - Correct answer-Answer: 2. S3.
Rationale: An S3, is heard following an S2. This indicates that the client is
experiencing heart failure and results from increased filling pressures. An S1 is a
normal heart sound made by the closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. An S4 is
heard before S1 and is caused by resistance to ventricular filling. A murmur of
mitral insufficiency occurs during systole and is heard when there's turbulent blood
flow across the valve.
7. A nurse administers heparin to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of
heparin?
1. PTT
2. HCT
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, 3. CBC
4. PT - Correct answer-Answer: 1. PTT
Rationale: The therapeutic effectiveness of heparin is determined by monitoring
the patient's PTT, PT, HCT, and CBC don't monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
heparin. Monitoring the PT determines warfarin's effectiveness.
8. A client has just returned from cardiac catheterization. Which nursing
intervention would be most appropriate?
1. Help the client ambulate to the bathroom.
2. Restrict fluids.
3. Monitor peripheral pulses.
4. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. - Correct answer-Answer. 3. Monitor
peripheral pulses.
Rationale: After cardiac catheterization, monitor peripheral pulses to assess
peripheral perfusion. Helping the client ambulate to the bathroom is incorrect
because the client should be on bed rest for 4 to 8 hours after the procedure to
reduce the risk of bleeding at the insertion site. Restricting fluids is incorrect
because the client should be encouraged to drink fluids after the procedure, unless
contraindicated. Adequate hydration reduces the risk of nephrotoxicity that can
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
