ATI MED SURG; Nursing Management: Coronary Artery
Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome Essential Test Toolkit
Exam Questions and solutions approved for credibility;
Latest 2025/2026
1. A patient with hyperlipidemia has a new order for colesevelam (Welchol). Which
nursing action is most appropriate when giving the medication?
A. Have the patient take this medication with an aspirin.
B. Administer the medication at the patient's usual bedtime.
C. Have the patient take the colesevelam with a sip of water.
D. Give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the colesevelam. - correct answer
ANS: D Give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the colesevelam.
The bile acid sequestrants interfere with the absorption of many other drugs, and giving
other medications at the same time should be avoided. Taking an aspirin concurrently
with the colesevelam may increase the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects such as
heartburn. An increased fluid intake is encouraged for patients taking the bile acid
sequestrants to reduce the risk for constipation. For maximum effect, colesevelam
should be administered with meals.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the coronary care unit following
an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention the
previous day. Teaching for this patient would include
A. when cardiac rehabilitation will begin.
B. the typical emotional responses to AMI.
C. information regarding discharge medications.
D. the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. - correct answer ANS: A when
cardiac rehabilitation will begin.
Early after an AMI, the patient will want to know when resumption of usual activities can
be expected. At this time, the patient's anxiety level or denial will interfere with good
understanding of complex information such as the pathophysiology of coronary artery
disease (CAD). Teaching about discharge medications should be done closer to
,discharge. The nurse should support the patient by decreasing anxiety rather than
discussing the typical emotional responses to myocardial infarction (MI).
3. A patient who has recently started taking pravastatin (Pravachol) and niacin (Nicobid)
reports the following symptoms to the nurse. Which is most important to communicate
to the health care provider?
A. Generalized muscle aches and pains
B. Dizziness when changing positions quickly
C. Nausea when taking the drugs before eating
D. Flushing and pruritus after taking the medications - correct answer ANS: A
Generalized muscle aches and pains
Muscle aches and pains may indicate myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which have
caused acute kidney injury and death in some patients who have taken the statin
medications. These symptoms indicate that the pravastatin may need to be
discontinued. The other symptoms are common side effects when taking niacin, and
although the nurse should follow-up with the health care provider, they do not indicate
that a change in medication is needed.
4. A patient who is being admitted to the emergency department with intermittent chest
pain gives the following list of medications to the nurse. Which medication has the most
immediate implications for the patient's care?
A. Sildenafil (Viagra)
B. Furosemide (Lasix)
C. Captopril (Capoten)
D. Warfarin (Coumadin) - correct answer ANS: A Sildenafil (Viagra)
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 also should be
documented and reported to the health care provider but do not have as immediate an
impact on decisions about the patient's treatment.
, 5. 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 answer ANS: B Pallor and
weakness of the right hand
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 and/or require nursing interventions.
6. When caring for a patient who has just arrived on the medical-surgical 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 answer ANS:
A Give the scheduled aspirin and lipid-lowering medication.
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).
7. 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
B. Sinus tachycardia
C. ST-segment elevation
D. First-degree atrioventricular block - correct answer ANS: C ST-segment elevation
Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome Essential Test Toolkit
Exam Questions and solutions approved for credibility;
Latest 2025/2026
1. A patient with hyperlipidemia has a new order for colesevelam (Welchol). Which
nursing action is most appropriate when giving the medication?
A. Have the patient take this medication with an aspirin.
B. Administer the medication at the patient's usual bedtime.
C. Have the patient take the colesevelam with a sip of water.
D. Give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the colesevelam. - correct answer
ANS: D Give the patient's other medications 2 hours after the colesevelam.
The bile acid sequestrants interfere with the absorption of many other drugs, and giving
other medications at the same time should be avoided. Taking an aspirin concurrently
with the colesevelam may increase the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects such as
heartburn. An increased fluid intake is encouraged for patients taking the bile acid
sequestrants to reduce the risk for constipation. For maximum effect, colesevelam
should be administered with meals.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the coronary care unit following
an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention the
previous day. Teaching for this patient would include
A. when cardiac rehabilitation will begin.
B. the typical emotional responses to AMI.
C. information regarding discharge medications.
D. the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. - correct answer ANS: A when
cardiac rehabilitation will begin.
Early after an AMI, the patient will want to know when resumption of usual activities can
be expected. At this time, the patient's anxiety level or denial will interfere with good
understanding of complex information such as the pathophysiology of coronary artery
disease (CAD). Teaching about discharge medications should be done closer to
,discharge. The nurse should support the patient by decreasing anxiety rather than
discussing the typical emotional responses to myocardial infarction (MI).
3. A patient who has recently started taking pravastatin (Pravachol) and niacin (Nicobid)
reports the following symptoms to the nurse. Which is most important to communicate
to the health care provider?
A. Generalized muscle aches and pains
B. Dizziness when changing positions quickly
C. Nausea when taking the drugs before eating
D. Flushing and pruritus after taking the medications - correct answer ANS: A
Generalized muscle aches and pains
Muscle aches and pains may indicate myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which have
caused acute kidney injury and death in some patients who have taken the statin
medications. These symptoms indicate that the pravastatin may need to be
discontinued. The other symptoms are common side effects when taking niacin, and
although the nurse should follow-up with the health care provider, they do not indicate
that a change in medication is needed.
4. A patient who is being admitted to the emergency department with intermittent chest
pain gives the following list of medications to the nurse. Which medication has the most
immediate implications for the patient's care?
A. Sildenafil (Viagra)
B. Furosemide (Lasix)
C. Captopril (Capoten)
D. Warfarin (Coumadin) - correct answer ANS: A Sildenafil (Viagra)
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 also should be
documented and reported to the health care provider but do not have as immediate an
impact on decisions about the patient's treatment.
, 5. 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 answer ANS: B Pallor and
weakness of the right hand
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 and/or require nursing interventions.
6. When caring for a patient who has just arrived on the medical-surgical 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 answer ANS:
A Give the scheduled aspirin and lipid-lowering medication.
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).
7. 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
B. Sinus tachycardia
C. ST-segment elevation
D. First-degree atrioventricular block - correct answer ANS: C ST-segment elevation
