NSG 322 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
▶ Ventricular Tachycardia. Answer: Unreliably regular
No P, PR
Wide and Bizarre QRS
NSG: check pt, prep for defib or cardioversion as it can turn into vfib
▶ Ventricular Fibrillation. Answer: Unorganized and irregular with no
discernable P, QRS, T
No pulse, resus required
▶ Groups of ECG Lead Placement. Answer: Inferior (II, III, aVF): left leg, rt
coronary artery
Lateral (I, aVL, V5, V6): lt arm and chest, Rt and Circumflex coronary
arteries
Septal (V1, V2) and Anterior (V3, V4): Lt anterior descending coronary
artery
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
ST Depression. Answer: Indicates ischemia
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
ST Elevation. Answer: Indicates injury
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
Q Waves and T Wave Inversions. Answer: Indicates infarction
▶ Heart Failure. Answer: Inability of the heart to pump enough blood to
meet the oxygen demands of the body
▶ Systolic vs. Diastolic of Heart Failure. Answer: Systolic: pumping
problem, inability to contract and provide blood flow forward
, Diastolic: filling/relaxation problem; inability of the left ventricle to relax
normally, resulting in fluid build up into lungs
▶ Lt vs. Rt sided of Heart Failure. Answer: Lt sided: inability of the Lt
ventricle to pump enough blood, causing fluid build up back into Lt atria and
lungs
sx: pulmonary
Rt sided: inefficient pumping of the Rt side of the heart, causing fluid
buildup in the abd, legs and feet.
Sx: incr venous pressure, ascites, edema
▶ Acute Heart Failure. Answer: An emergency in which pt was previously
asymptomatic. Adaptive mechanisms that previously maintained can no
longer keep up.
Sx: incr RR< hRR, sputum, SOB, dyspnea, crackles/wheeze, anxiety, decr
sats
▶ Chronic Heart Failure. Answer: Long term syndrome in which a pt
exhibits symptoms, usually results from pre-existing condition
Hypertrophy due to chronic increased wall stress
▶ Pathophysiology of Heart Failure. Answer: Damaged cardiac muscle
Decreased contractility/SV
Compensatory Measures:
Increased HR, Lt ventricular hypertrophy, dilation, neurohormonal.
Tissue death (due to dilation)
All chambers dilate (palliative)
▶ Compensatory Measures of Heart Failure. Answer: Increased HR
Dilation: relaxes to allow bigger stretch
Neurohormonal: renin angiotensin cycle (actually makes things worse as
fluid builds up when the body already had too much fluid to process)
▶ Renin Angiotensin Cycle. Answer: BP drops
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
▶ Ventricular Tachycardia. Answer: Unreliably regular
No P, PR
Wide and Bizarre QRS
NSG: check pt, prep for defib or cardioversion as it can turn into vfib
▶ Ventricular Fibrillation. Answer: Unorganized and irregular with no
discernable P, QRS, T
No pulse, resus required
▶ Groups of ECG Lead Placement. Answer: Inferior (II, III, aVF): left leg, rt
coronary artery
Lateral (I, aVL, V5, V6): lt arm and chest, Rt and Circumflex coronary
arteries
Septal (V1, V2) and Anterior (V3, V4): Lt anterior descending coronary
artery
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
ST Depression. Answer: Indicates ischemia
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
ST Elevation. Answer: Indicates injury
▶ 12 Leads ECG Findings:
Q Waves and T Wave Inversions. Answer: Indicates infarction
▶ Heart Failure. Answer: Inability of the heart to pump enough blood to
meet the oxygen demands of the body
▶ Systolic vs. Diastolic of Heart Failure. Answer: Systolic: pumping
problem, inability to contract and provide blood flow forward
, Diastolic: filling/relaxation problem; inability of the left ventricle to relax
normally, resulting in fluid build up into lungs
▶ Lt vs. Rt sided of Heart Failure. Answer: Lt sided: inability of the Lt
ventricle to pump enough blood, causing fluid build up back into Lt atria and
lungs
sx: pulmonary
Rt sided: inefficient pumping of the Rt side of the heart, causing fluid
buildup in the abd, legs and feet.
Sx: incr venous pressure, ascites, edema
▶ Acute Heart Failure. Answer: An emergency in which pt was previously
asymptomatic. Adaptive mechanisms that previously maintained can no
longer keep up.
Sx: incr RR< hRR, sputum, SOB, dyspnea, crackles/wheeze, anxiety, decr
sats
▶ Chronic Heart Failure. Answer: Long term syndrome in which a pt
exhibits symptoms, usually results from pre-existing condition
Hypertrophy due to chronic increased wall stress
▶ Pathophysiology of Heart Failure. Answer: Damaged cardiac muscle
Decreased contractility/SV
Compensatory Measures:
Increased HR, Lt ventricular hypertrophy, dilation, neurohormonal.
Tissue death (due to dilation)
All chambers dilate (palliative)
▶ Compensatory Measures of Heart Failure. Answer: Increased HR
Dilation: relaxes to allow bigger stretch
Neurohormonal: renin angiotensin cycle (actually makes things worse as
fluid builds up when the body already had too much fluid to process)
▶ Renin Angiotensin Cycle. Answer: BP drops
