ATI CARDIOVASCULAR EXAM 2026
UPDATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
ACCURATE VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | GET IT
RIGHT
• This ATI Cardiovascular Exam 2026 contains 200 verified questions with accurate,
board-aligned answers designed to prepare you thoroughly for your ATI
assessment.
• Study tip: Read each question carefully, attempt your answer before viewing the
correct option, then reinforce your understanding using the EXPERT RATIONALE
provided beneath each answer.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription
for furosemide. Which of the following findings should the nurse monitor as
an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
E. Hyperphosphatemia
B. Hyponatremia
EXPERT RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes excretion of sodium
along with water, placing the client at risk for hyponatremia. The nurse should also
monitor for hypokalemia, not hyperkalemia, as potassium is lost through the urine.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distension
,C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Hepatomegaly
E. Ascites
C. Crackles in the lungs
EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, resulting in pulmonary congestion and crackles. Right-sided heart failure
causes systemic venous congestion, presenting with peripheral edema, JVD,
hepatomegaly, and ascites.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I can stop my medication once my blood pressure is normal."
B. "I should limit sodium intake to 4,000 mg per day."
C. "I will keep my blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg."
D. "I only need to monitor my blood pressure when I feel symptoms."
E. "Stress has no effect on my blood pressure."
C. "I will keep my blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg."
EXPERT RATIONALE: The target blood pressure for clients with hypertension is less than
130/80 mmHg per current guidelines. Antihypertensive medications should not be
discontinued without provider guidance, and sodium should be limited to 2,300 mg/day
or less.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous heparin infusion.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor?
A. PT/INR
B. Platelet count only
,C. aPTT
D. Serum creatinine
E. Hemoglobin A1C
C. aPTT
EXPERT RATIONALE: The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor
heparin therapy. The therapeutic range is typically 60–100 seconds, or 1.5–2.5 times the
normal value. PT/INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation. The nurse should
identify that which of the following is the priority complication to monitor
for?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Stroke
D. Renal failure
E. Myocardial infarction
C. Stroke
EXPERT RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation causes irregular, chaotic atrial activity leading to
blood pooling and clot formation in the atria. These clots can travel to the brain causing
a stroke. Anticoagulation therapy is essential in management of atrial fibrillation.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which of the following findings should cause the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Heart rate of 68 beats/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
, C. Blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
D. Serum sodium of 138 mEq/L
E. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. A serum
potassium below 3.5 mEq/L should be reported before administering digoxin. The nurse
should also withhold digoxin if the apical pulse is below 60 beats/min.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings is expected?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Pink frothy sputum
C. Orthopnea
D. Dependent edema
E. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Dependent edema
EXPERT RATIONALE: Right-sided heart failure causes fluid to accumulate in the systemic
circulation, resulting in dependent edema, jugular vein distension, hepatomegaly, and
ascites. Pulmonary symptoms are associated with left-sided heart failure.
8. A nurse is caring for a client following a myocardial infarction. Which of the
following laboratory values is the most specific indicator for myocardial
damage?
A. Myoglobin
B. LDH
C. CK-MB
UPDATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
ACCURATE VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | GET IT
RIGHT
• This ATI Cardiovascular Exam 2026 contains 200 verified questions with accurate,
board-aligned answers designed to prepare you thoroughly for your ATI
assessment.
• Study tip: Read each question carefully, attempt your answer before viewing the
correct option, then reinforce your understanding using the EXPERT RATIONALE
provided beneath each answer.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription
for furosemide. Which of the following findings should the nurse monitor as
an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
E. Hyperphosphatemia
B. Hyponatremia
EXPERT RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes excretion of sodium
along with water, placing the client at risk for hyponatremia. The nurse should also
monitor for hypokalemia, not hyperkalemia, as potassium is lost through the urine.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distension
,C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Hepatomegaly
E. Ascites
C. Crackles in the lungs
EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, resulting in pulmonary congestion and crackles. Right-sided heart failure
causes systemic venous congestion, presenting with peripheral edema, JVD,
hepatomegaly, and ascites.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I can stop my medication once my blood pressure is normal."
B. "I should limit sodium intake to 4,000 mg per day."
C. "I will keep my blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg."
D. "I only need to monitor my blood pressure when I feel symptoms."
E. "Stress has no effect on my blood pressure."
C. "I will keep my blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg."
EXPERT RATIONALE: The target blood pressure for clients with hypertension is less than
130/80 mmHg per current guidelines. Antihypertensive medications should not be
discontinued without provider guidance, and sodium should be limited to 2,300 mg/day
or less.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous heparin infusion.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor?
A. PT/INR
B. Platelet count only
,C. aPTT
D. Serum creatinine
E. Hemoglobin A1C
C. aPTT
EXPERT RATIONALE: The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor
heparin therapy. The therapeutic range is typically 60–100 seconds, or 1.5–2.5 times the
normal value. PT/INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation. The nurse should
identify that which of the following is the priority complication to monitor
for?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Stroke
D. Renal failure
E. Myocardial infarction
C. Stroke
EXPERT RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation causes irregular, chaotic atrial activity leading to
blood pooling and clot formation in the atria. These clots can travel to the brain causing
a stroke. Anticoagulation therapy is essential in management of atrial fibrillation.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which of the following findings should cause the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Heart rate of 68 beats/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
, C. Blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
D. Serum sodium of 138 mEq/L
E. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. A serum
potassium below 3.5 mEq/L should be reported before administering digoxin. The nurse
should also withhold digoxin if the apical pulse is below 60 beats/min.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings is expected?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Pink frothy sputum
C. Orthopnea
D. Dependent edema
E. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Dependent edema
EXPERT RATIONALE: Right-sided heart failure causes fluid to accumulate in the systemic
circulation, resulting in dependent edema, jugular vein distension, hepatomegaly, and
ascites. Pulmonary symptoms are associated with left-sided heart failure.
8. A nurse is caring for a client following a myocardial infarction. Which of the
following laboratory values is the most specific indicator for myocardial
damage?
A. Myoglobin
B. LDH
C. CK-MB
