Cardiovascular Test Bank
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Updated
2026/2027
A nurse assesses a client who had a myocardial infarction and is hypotensive.
Which additional assessment finding should the nurse expect?
a. Heart rate of 120 beats/min
b. Cool, clammy skin
c. Oxygen saturation of 90%
d. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min - Ans✔✔-ANS: A
When a client experiences hypotension, baroreceptors in the aortic arch sense
a pressure decrease in the vessels. The parasympathetic system responds by
lessening the inhibitory effect on the sinoatrial node. This results in an increase
in heart rate and respiratory rate. This tachycardia is an early response and is
,seen even when blood pressure is not critically low. An increased heart rate
and respiratory rate will compensate for the low blood pressure and maintain
oxygen saturations and perfusion. The client may not be able to compensate
for long, and decreased oxygenation and cool, clammy skin will occur later.
A nurse assesses a client after administering a prescribed beta blocker. Which
assessment should the nurse expect to find?
a. Blood pressure increased from 98/42 mm Hg to 132/60 mm Hg
b. Respiratory rate decreased from 25 breaths/min to 14 breaths/min
c. Oxygen saturation increased from 88% to 96%
d. Pulse decreased from 100 beats/min to 80 beats/min - Ans✔✔-ANS: D
Beta blockers block the stimulation of beta1-adrenergic receptors. They block
the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) response and decrease the heart rate (HR). The
beta blocker will decrease HR and blood pressure, increasing ventricular filling
time. It usually does not have effects on beta2-adrenergic receptor sites.
Cardiac output will drop because of decreased HR.
A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the
nurse identify as having the greatest risk for cardiovascular disease?
a. An 86-year-old man with a history of asthma
b. A 32-year-old Asian-American man with colorectal cancer
,c. A 45-year-old American Indian woman with diabetes mellitus
d. A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman who is on hormone therapy -
Ans✔✔-ANS: C
The incidence of coronary artery disease and hypertension is higher in
American Indians than in whites or Asian Americans. Diabetes mellitus
increases the risk for hypertension and coronary artery disease in people of any
race or ethnicity. Asthma, colorectal cancer, and hormone therapy do not
increase risk for cardiovascular disease.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who has multiple chronic diseases. The
clients heart rate is 48 beats/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Document the finding in the chart.
b. Initiate external pacing.
c. Assess the clients medications.
d. Administer 1 mg of atropine. - Ans✔✔-ANS: C
Pacemaker cells in the conduction system decrease in number as a person
ages, resulting in bradycardia. The nurse should check the medication
reconciliation for medications that might cause such a drop in heart rate, then
should inform the health care provider. Documentation is important, but it is
, not the priority action. The heart rate is not low enough for atropine or an
external pacemaker to be needed.
An emergency room nurse obtains the health history of a client. Which
statement by the client should alert the nurse to the occurrence of heart
failure?
a. I get short of breath when I climb stairs.
b. I see halos floating around my head.
c. I have trouble remembering things.
d. I have lost weight over the past month. - Ans✔✔-ANS: A
Dyspnea on exertion is an early manifestation of heart failure and is associated
with an activity such as stair climbing. The other findings are not specific to
early occurrence of heart failure.
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is newly admitted to the
medical unit. Which statement by the client should alert the nurse to the
presence of edema?
a. I wake up to go to the bathroom at night.
b. My shoes fit tighter by the end of the day.
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Answers.
GRADED A+. Updated
2026/2027
A nurse assesses a client who had a myocardial infarction and is hypotensive.
Which additional assessment finding should the nurse expect?
a. Heart rate of 120 beats/min
b. Cool, clammy skin
c. Oxygen saturation of 90%
d. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min - Ans✔✔-ANS: A
When a client experiences hypotension, baroreceptors in the aortic arch sense
a pressure decrease in the vessels. The parasympathetic system responds by
lessening the inhibitory effect on the sinoatrial node. This results in an increase
in heart rate and respiratory rate. This tachycardia is an early response and is
,seen even when blood pressure is not critically low. An increased heart rate
and respiratory rate will compensate for the low blood pressure and maintain
oxygen saturations and perfusion. The client may not be able to compensate
for long, and decreased oxygenation and cool, clammy skin will occur later.
A nurse assesses a client after administering a prescribed beta blocker. Which
assessment should the nurse expect to find?
a. Blood pressure increased from 98/42 mm Hg to 132/60 mm Hg
b. Respiratory rate decreased from 25 breaths/min to 14 breaths/min
c. Oxygen saturation increased from 88% to 96%
d. Pulse decreased from 100 beats/min to 80 beats/min - Ans✔✔-ANS: D
Beta blockers block the stimulation of beta1-adrenergic receptors. They block
the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) response and decrease the heart rate (HR). The
beta blocker will decrease HR and blood pressure, increasing ventricular filling
time. It usually does not have effects on beta2-adrenergic receptor sites.
Cardiac output will drop because of decreased HR.
A nurse assesses clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the
nurse identify as having the greatest risk for cardiovascular disease?
a. An 86-year-old man with a history of asthma
b. A 32-year-old Asian-American man with colorectal cancer
,c. A 45-year-old American Indian woman with diabetes mellitus
d. A 53-year-old postmenopausal woman who is on hormone therapy -
Ans✔✔-ANS: C
The incidence of coronary artery disease and hypertension is higher in
American Indians than in whites or Asian Americans. Diabetes mellitus
increases the risk for hypertension and coronary artery disease in people of any
race or ethnicity. Asthma, colorectal cancer, and hormone therapy do not
increase risk for cardiovascular disease.
A nurse assesses an older adult client who has multiple chronic diseases. The
clients heart rate is 48 beats/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Document the finding in the chart.
b. Initiate external pacing.
c. Assess the clients medications.
d. Administer 1 mg of atropine. - Ans✔✔-ANS: C
Pacemaker cells in the conduction system decrease in number as a person
ages, resulting in bradycardia. The nurse should check the medication
reconciliation for medications that might cause such a drop in heart rate, then
should inform the health care provider. Documentation is important, but it is
, not the priority action. The heart rate is not low enough for atropine or an
external pacemaker to be needed.
An emergency room nurse obtains the health history of a client. Which
statement by the client should alert the nurse to the occurrence of heart
failure?
a. I get short of breath when I climb stairs.
b. I see halos floating around my head.
c. I have trouble remembering things.
d. I have lost weight over the past month. - Ans✔✔-ANS: A
Dyspnea on exertion is an early manifestation of heart failure and is associated
with an activity such as stair climbing. The other findings are not specific to
early occurrence of heart failure.
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is newly admitted to the
medical unit. Which statement by the client should alert the nurse to the
presence of edema?
a. I wake up to go to the bathroom at night.
b. My shoes fit tighter by the end of the day.
