Medical-Surgical Nursing –Nursing
Program – Practice Questions with
Correct Detailed Answers
Introduction:
This document contains practice questions and detailed answer
explanations focused on cardiovascular disorders in medical-
surgical nursing. Topics include coronary artery disease,
angina, myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiac
medications, and nursing interventions.
The material reviews clinical assessment findings,
pharmacology, diagnostic tests, and priority nursing actions
relevant to exam preparation. It is useful for reinforcing
knowledge and practicing clinical reasoning for Med-Surg
nursing exams.
Exam Questions and Detailed Answers:
A patient who is being admitted to the emergency department
with intermittent chest pain gives the following list of daily
medications to the nurse. Which medication has the most
immediate implications for the patient's care?
a. captopril c. furosemide (Lasix)
,b. sildenafil (Viagra) d. warfarin (Coumadin) ---Correct
precise answer---B
The nurse will need to avoid giving nitrates to the patient
because nitrate administration is contraindicated in patients
who are using sildenafil because of the risk of severe
hypotension caused by vasodilation. The other home
medications should also be documented and reported to the
health care provider but do not have as immediate an impact
on decisions about the patient's treatment.
Which assessment finding by the nurse caring for a patient
who has had coronary artery bypass grafting using a right
radial artery graft is most important to communicate to the
health care provider?
a. Complaints of incisional chest pain
b. Pallor and weakness of the right hand
c. Fine crackles heard at both lung bases
d. Redness on both sides of the sternal incision ---Correct
precise answer---B
The changes in the right hand indicate compromised blood
flow, which requires immediate evaluation and actions such as
,prescribed calcium channel blockers or surgery. The other
changes are expected or require nursing interventions.
When caring for a patient who has just arrived on the
telemetry unit after having cardiac catheterization, which
nursing intervention should the nurse delegate to a licensed
practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?
a. Give the scheduled aspirin and lipid-lowering medication.
b. Perform the initial assessment of the catheter insertion site.
c. Teach the patient about the usual postprocedure plan of
care.
d. Titrate the heparin infusion according to the agency
protocol. ---Correct precise answer---A
Administration of oral medications is within the scope of
practice for LPNs/LVNs. The initial assessment of the patient,
patient teaching, and titration of IV anticoagulant medications
should be done by the registered nurse (RN).
, Which electrocardiographic (ECG) change is most important
for the nurse to report to the health care provider when caring
for a patient with chest pain?
a. Inverted P wave c. ST-segment elevation
b. Sinus tachycardia d. First-degree atrioventricular block ---
Correct precise answer---C
The patient is likely to be experiencing an ST-segment-
elevation myocardial infarction. Immediate therapy with
percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic
medication is indicated to minimize myocardial damage. The
other ECG changes may also suggest a need for therapy but not
as rapidly.
When caring for a patient with acute coronary syndrome who
has returned to the coronary care unit after having angioplasty
with stent placement, the nurse obtains the following
assessment data. Which data indicate the need for immediate
action by the nurse?
a. Heart rate 102 beats/min c. Report of severe chest pain
b. Pedal pulses 1+ bilaterally d. Blood pressure 103/54 mm Hg
---Correct precise answer---C
Program – Practice Questions with
Correct Detailed Answers
Introduction:
This document contains practice questions and detailed answer
explanations focused on cardiovascular disorders in medical-
surgical nursing. Topics include coronary artery disease,
angina, myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiac
medications, and nursing interventions.
The material reviews clinical assessment findings,
pharmacology, diagnostic tests, and priority nursing actions
relevant to exam preparation. It is useful for reinforcing
knowledge and practicing clinical reasoning for Med-Surg
nursing exams.
Exam Questions and Detailed Answers:
A patient who is being admitted to the emergency department
with intermittent chest pain gives the following list of daily
medications to the nurse. Which medication has the most
immediate implications for the patient's care?
a. captopril c. furosemide (Lasix)
,b. sildenafil (Viagra) d. warfarin (Coumadin) ---Correct
precise answer---B
The nurse will need to avoid giving nitrates to the patient
because nitrate administration is contraindicated in patients
who are using sildenafil because of the risk of severe
hypotension caused by vasodilation. The other home
medications should also be documented and reported to the
health care provider but do not have as immediate an impact
on decisions about the patient's treatment.
Which assessment finding by the nurse caring for a patient
who has had coronary artery bypass grafting using a right
radial artery graft is most important to communicate to the
health care provider?
a. Complaints of incisional chest pain
b. Pallor and weakness of the right hand
c. Fine crackles heard at both lung bases
d. Redness on both sides of the sternal incision ---Correct
precise answer---B
The changes in the right hand indicate compromised blood
flow, which requires immediate evaluation and actions such as
,prescribed calcium channel blockers or surgery. The other
changes are expected or require nursing interventions.
When caring for a patient who has just arrived on the
telemetry unit after having cardiac catheterization, which
nursing intervention should the nurse delegate to a licensed
practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?
a. Give the scheduled aspirin and lipid-lowering medication.
b. Perform the initial assessment of the catheter insertion site.
c. Teach the patient about the usual postprocedure plan of
care.
d. Titrate the heparin infusion according to the agency
protocol. ---Correct precise answer---A
Administration of oral medications is within the scope of
practice for LPNs/LVNs. The initial assessment of the patient,
patient teaching, and titration of IV anticoagulant medications
should be done by the registered nurse (RN).
, Which electrocardiographic (ECG) change is most important
for the nurse to report to the health care provider when caring
for a patient with chest pain?
a. Inverted P wave c. ST-segment elevation
b. Sinus tachycardia d. First-degree atrioventricular block ---
Correct precise answer---C
The patient is likely to be experiencing an ST-segment-
elevation myocardial infarction. Immediate therapy with
percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic
medication is indicated to minimize myocardial damage. The
other ECG changes may also suggest a need for therapy but not
as rapidly.
When caring for a patient with acute coronary syndrome who
has returned to the coronary care unit after having angioplasty
with stent placement, the nurse obtains the following
assessment data. Which data indicate the need for immediate
action by the nurse?
a. Heart rate 102 beats/min c. Report of severe chest pain
b. Pedal pulses 1+ bilaterally d. Blood pressure 103/54 mm Hg
---Correct precise answer---C
