C HAPTER 14: C ARDIOVASCULAR
D ISORDERS
Urden: Critical Care Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which description best describes the pain as sociated with aortic
dissection?
a. Substernal pressure
b. Tearing in the chest, abdomen, or back
c. Numbness and tingling in the left arm
d. Stabbing in the epigastric area
ANS: B
The classic clinical presentation is the sudden onset of intense, severe,
tearing pain, which may be localized initiall y in the chest, abdomen, or
back. As the aortic tear (dissection) extends, pain radiates to the back
or distall y toward the lower extremities. Many patients have
hypertension upon initial presentation, and the focus is on control of
blood pressure and earl y operation.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p.
343 OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
,2. Which clinical manifestation is usuall y the first symp tom of peripheral
arterial disease (PAD)?
a. Cramping when walking
b. Thrombophlebitis
c. Pulmonary embolism
d. Cordlike veins
ANS: A
Arterial occlusion obstructs blood flow to the distal extremit y. The
lack of blood flow produces ischemic muscle pain known as
intermittent claudication. This cramping, aching pain while walking is
often the first symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The
pain is relieved by rest and may remain stable in occurrence and
intensit y for many years.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level : Remembering REF: p. 346
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
3. The nurse is developing a patient education plan for the patient with
endocarditis. What information would be included in the plan?
a. Endocarditis is a viral infection that is easil y treated with
antibiotics.
b. The risk of this diagnosis is occlusion of the coronary arteries.
c. A long course of antibiotics is needed to treat this disorder.
d. Complications are rare after antibiotics have been s tarted.
ANS: C
, Treatment requires prolonged IV therapy with adequate doses of
antimicrobial agents tailored to the specific infective endocarditis
microbe and patient circumstances. Antibiotic treatment is prolonged,
administered in high doses intravenou sl y, and may involve combination
therapy. Best outcomes are achieved if therapy is initiated before
hemodynamic compromise.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying REF: p. 355
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Intervention TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
4. A patient is admitted with an acute inferior m yocardial infarction (MI). A
12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is done to validate the area of infarction.
Which finding on the ECG is most conclusive for infarction?
a. Inverted T waves
b. Tall, peaked T waves
c. ST segment depression
d. Pathologic Q waves
ANS: D
The changes in repolarization are seen by the presence of new Q
waves. These new, pathologic Q waves are deeper and wider than tiny
Q waves found on the normal 12 -lead ECG.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 301
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
D ISORDERS
Urden: Critical Care Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which description best describes the pain as sociated with aortic
dissection?
a. Substernal pressure
b. Tearing in the chest, abdomen, or back
c. Numbness and tingling in the left arm
d. Stabbing in the epigastric area
ANS: B
The classic clinical presentation is the sudden onset of intense, severe,
tearing pain, which may be localized initiall y in the chest, abdomen, or
back. As the aortic tear (dissection) extends, pain radiates to the back
or distall y toward the lower extremities. Many patients have
hypertension upon initial presentation, and the focus is on control of
blood pressure and earl y operation.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p.
343 OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
,2. Which clinical manifestation is usuall y the first symp tom of peripheral
arterial disease (PAD)?
a. Cramping when walking
b. Thrombophlebitis
c. Pulmonary embolism
d. Cordlike veins
ANS: A
Arterial occlusion obstructs blood flow to the distal extremit y. The
lack of blood flow produces ischemic muscle pain known as
intermittent claudication. This cramping, aching pain while walking is
often the first symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The
pain is relieved by rest and may remain stable in occurrence and
intensit y for many years.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level : Remembering REF: p. 346
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
3. The nurse is developing a patient education plan for the patient with
endocarditis. What information would be included in the plan?
a. Endocarditis is a viral infection that is easil y treated with
antibiotics.
b. The risk of this diagnosis is occlusion of the coronary arteries.
c. A long course of antibiotics is needed to treat this disorder.
d. Complications are rare after antibiotics have been s tarted.
ANS: C
, Treatment requires prolonged IV therapy with adequate doses of
antimicrobial agents tailored to the specific infective endocarditis
microbe and patient circumstances. Antibiotic treatment is prolonged,
administered in high doses intravenou sl y, and may involve combination
therapy. Best outcomes are achieved if therapy is initiated before
hemodynamic compromise.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying REF: p. 355
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Intervention TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
4. A patient is admitted with an acute inferior m yocardial infarction (MI). A
12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is done to validate the area of infarction.
Which finding on the ECG is most conclusive for infarction?
a. Inverted T waves
b. Tall, peaked T waves
c. ST segment depression
d. Pathologic Q waves
ANS: D
The changes in repolarization are seen by the presence of new Q
waves. These new, pathologic Q waves are deeper and wider than tiny
Q waves found on the normal 12 -lead ECG.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 301
OBJ: Nursing Process Step: Assessment TOP:
Cardiovascular MSC: NC LEX: Physiologic Integrit y
