1|Page
50 NCLEX Practice Questions: Heart Failure
Section 1: Basic Knowledge (Questions 1–10)
1. What is the primary problem in heart failure?
A. The heart beats too slowly
B. The heart cannot pump enough blood
C. The lungs cannot exchange oxygen
D. Blood pressure becomes too low
Answer: B
Rationale: Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient
blood to meet body needs.
2. Which condition is the most common cause of heart failure?
A. Asthma
B. Hypertension
C. Kidney failure
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertension increases cardiac workload and commonly
leads to HF.
3. Which symptom is most associated with left-sided heart failure?
,2|Page
A. Ascites
B. Peripheral edema
C. Crackles in lungs
D. Jugular vein distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided HF causes pulmonary congestion, producing
crackles.
4. Which symptom indicates right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Peripheral edema
C. Dyspnea
D. Orthopnea
Answer: B
Rationale: Right HF causes systemic venous congestion, leading to
edema.
5. What does orthopnea mean?
A. Chest pain when breathing
B. Difficulty breathing while lying flat
C. Rapid breathing
D. No breathing during sleep
Answer: B
, 3|Page
6. Which diagnostic test best measures ejection fraction?
A. ECG
B. Chest X-ray
C. Echocardiogram
D. CT scan
Answer: C
7. Normal ejection fraction is approximately:
A. 10–20%
B. 25–35%
C. 55–70%
D. 80–90%
Answer: C
8. A BNP test is used to:
A. Diagnose infection
B. Assess heart failure severity
C. Measure blood oxygen
D. Check kidney function
Answer: B
9. Which medication improves cardiac contractility?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
50 NCLEX Practice Questions: Heart Failure
Section 1: Basic Knowledge (Questions 1–10)
1. What is the primary problem in heart failure?
A. The heart beats too slowly
B. The heart cannot pump enough blood
C. The lungs cannot exchange oxygen
D. Blood pressure becomes too low
Answer: B
Rationale: Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient
blood to meet body needs.
2. Which condition is the most common cause of heart failure?
A. Asthma
B. Hypertension
C. Kidney failure
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertension increases cardiac workload and commonly
leads to HF.
3. Which symptom is most associated with left-sided heart failure?
,2|Page
A. Ascites
B. Peripheral edema
C. Crackles in lungs
D. Jugular vein distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided HF causes pulmonary congestion, producing
crackles.
4. Which symptom indicates right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Peripheral edema
C. Dyspnea
D. Orthopnea
Answer: B
Rationale: Right HF causes systemic venous congestion, leading to
edema.
5. What does orthopnea mean?
A. Chest pain when breathing
B. Difficulty breathing while lying flat
C. Rapid breathing
D. No breathing during sleep
Answer: B
, 3|Page
6. Which diagnostic test best measures ejection fraction?
A. ECG
B. Chest X-ray
C. Echocardiogram
D. CT scan
Answer: C
7. Normal ejection fraction is approximately:
A. 10–20%
B. 25–35%
C. 55–70%
D. 80–90%
Answer: C
8. A BNP test is used to:
A. Diagnose infection
B. Assess heart failure severity
C. Measure blood oxygen
D. Check kidney function
Answer: B
9. Which medication improves cardiac contractility?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
