NR 325 Advanced Cardiac Conditions and Shock Practice Exam 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse identifies symptomatic sinus bradycardia in a patient with a heart
rate of 38 bpm. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer first?
A. Amiodarone
B. Dopamine
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: C
Rationale: Atropine is the first-line medication for symptomatic bradycardia as it
increases the heart rate by blocking vagal stimulation.
2. Which EKG characteristic is the hallmark of Atrial Fibrillation?
A. Presence of sawtooth-shaped P waves
B. A PR interval greater than 0.20 seconds
C. Occasional dropped QRS complexes
D. An irregularly irregular rhythm with no discernible P waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a lack of P waves and an irregularly
irregular ventricular response.
,3. A patient is in Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). The nurse should prepare
for the rapid IV administration of which drug?
A. Lidocaine
B. Adenosine
C. Diltiazem
D. Digoxin
Answer: B
Rationale: Adenosine is the drug of choice for SVT to chemically cardiovert the rhythm
back to sinus.
4. Which hemodynamic parameter is most indicative of Cardiogenic Shock?
A. Low Central Venous Pressure (CVP)
B. Decreased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
C. Increased Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure (PAWP)
D. Increased Cardiac Output (CO)
Answer: C
Rationale: In cardiogenic shock, the heart fails as a pump, leading to fluid backing up into
the lungs and increasing the PAWP (left-sided preload).
5. A patient’s EKG shows a rhythm with a rate of 160 bpm, wide QRS complexes,
and no visible P waves. The patient has no pulse. What is the priority action?
A. Defibrillation
B. Synchronized cardioversion
C. Administration of Amiodarone
D. Vagal maneuvers
Answer: A
Rationale: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia is treated the same as Ventricular
Fibrillation: immediate defibrillation.
, 6. Which type of shock is characterized by a loss of sympathetic tone leading to
bradycardia and hypotension?
A. Anaphylactic shock
B. Septic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Neurogenic shock
Answer: D
Rationale: Neurogenic shock is unique because it causes bradycardia due to the loss of
sympathetic nervous system influence, unlike other shocks which cause tachycardia.
7. The nurse observes a ‘sawtooth’ pattern on the EKG monitor. Which rhythm
does this represent?
A. Atrial Flutter
B. Atrial Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Fibrillation
D. Third-degree Heart Block
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrial flutter is classically identified by sawtooth-shaped ‘F’ waves.
8. What is the definitive treatment for a patient in Ventricular Fibrillation?
A. CPR only
B. Defibrillation
C. Carotid massage
D. Atropine administration
Answer: B
Rationale: Defibrillation is the only definitive treatment to stop the chaotic electrical
activity of V-Fib and allow the SA node to take over.
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse identifies symptomatic sinus bradycardia in a patient with a heart
rate of 38 bpm. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer first?
A. Amiodarone
B. Dopamine
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: C
Rationale: Atropine is the first-line medication for symptomatic bradycardia as it
increases the heart rate by blocking vagal stimulation.
2. Which EKG characteristic is the hallmark of Atrial Fibrillation?
A. Presence of sawtooth-shaped P waves
B. A PR interval greater than 0.20 seconds
C. Occasional dropped QRS complexes
D. An irregularly irregular rhythm with no discernible P waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a lack of P waves and an irregularly
irregular ventricular response.
,3. A patient is in Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). The nurse should prepare
for the rapid IV administration of which drug?
A. Lidocaine
B. Adenosine
C. Diltiazem
D. Digoxin
Answer: B
Rationale: Adenosine is the drug of choice for SVT to chemically cardiovert the rhythm
back to sinus.
4. Which hemodynamic parameter is most indicative of Cardiogenic Shock?
A. Low Central Venous Pressure (CVP)
B. Decreased Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)
C. Increased Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure (PAWP)
D. Increased Cardiac Output (CO)
Answer: C
Rationale: In cardiogenic shock, the heart fails as a pump, leading to fluid backing up into
the lungs and increasing the PAWP (left-sided preload).
5. A patient’s EKG shows a rhythm with a rate of 160 bpm, wide QRS complexes,
and no visible P waves. The patient has no pulse. What is the priority action?
A. Defibrillation
B. Synchronized cardioversion
C. Administration of Amiodarone
D. Vagal maneuvers
Answer: A
Rationale: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia is treated the same as Ventricular
Fibrillation: immediate defibrillation.
, 6. Which type of shock is characterized by a loss of sympathetic tone leading to
bradycardia and hypotension?
A. Anaphylactic shock
B. Septic shock
C. Hypovolemic shock
D. Neurogenic shock
Answer: D
Rationale: Neurogenic shock is unique because it causes bradycardia due to the loss of
sympathetic nervous system influence, unlike other shocks which cause tachycardia.
7. The nurse observes a ‘sawtooth’ pattern on the EKG monitor. Which rhythm
does this represent?
A. Atrial Flutter
B. Atrial Fibrillation
C. Ventricular Fibrillation
D. Third-degree Heart Block
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrial flutter is classically identified by sawtooth-shaped ‘F’ waves.
8. What is the definitive treatment for a patient in Ventricular Fibrillation?
A. CPR only
B. Defibrillation
C. Carotid massage
D. Atropine administration
Answer: B
Rationale: Defibrillation is the only definitive treatment to stop the chaotic electrical
activity of V-Fib and allow the SA node to take over.
