NURS 320 CARDIOVASCULAR EMERGENCY STUDY GUIDE+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS
&ANSWERS 2024
Which tests can the nurse anticipate will be ordered for the patient admitted with chest
pain and dyspnea? Select all that apply.
a. Troponin
b. D-Dimer
c. Electrolytes
d. Albumin - answers-a, b, and c
Which diagnostic test can the nurse expect the health care provider will order first for
the patient with a heart murmur?
a. Echocardiogram
b. Holter monitor
c. Cardiac catheterization
d. Stress test - answers-a. Echocardiogram
The nurse is conducting a patient assessment. The patient tells the nurse that he has
smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 27 years. Which assessment can the nurse
expect to find in this patient?
a. Bounding pulse
b. Night blindness
c. Pupil dilate
d. Elevated blood pressure - answers-d. Elevated blood pressure
The nurse is evaluating a patient's knowledge about cholesterol maintenance. Which
statement by the patient requires correction?
a. "I need to keep my LDL cholesterol higher than 100 mg/dL."
b. "My HDL cholesterol is good and should be as high as possible."
,c. "It is good if my total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL."
d. "My triglyceride levels should be less than 150 mg/dL." - answers-a. "I need to keep
my LDL cholesterol higher than 100 mg/dL."
Which statement by the nursing student warrants intervention by the instructor? Central
Perfusion....
a. begins when the heart is stimulated by an electrical impulse
b. involves the body's ability to maintain cardiac output
c. involves blood flowing through arteries and capillaries to the target organs
d. is impacted by preload and afterload - answers-c. involves blood flowing through
arteries and capillaries to the target organs
Which assessment findings are considered modifiable risk factors for cardiac disease?
Select all that apply.
a. obesity
b. smoking
c. parent dies of heart attack at 55 years of age
d. diabetes mellitus
e. female 60 years of age - answers-a, b, and d
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to complete immediately following a
transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)?
a. Check pedal pulses
b. Monitor urine output
c. Check gag reflex
d. Complete a neuro assessment - answers-c. Check gag reflex
Which instruction should the nurse provide to a patient who is scheduled to have an
exercise electrocardiography test?
a. Have nothing to drink or eat after midnight
b. Avoid smoking or drinking for at least 2 weeks before the test
c. Wear comfortable, loose clothing and supportive rubber soled shoes
d. Someone must drive you home because of the medication side effects. - answers-c.
Wear comfortable, loose clothing and supportive rubber soled shoes
The patient is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. Which interventions are
appropriate by the nurse? Select all that apply
a. Instruction the patient that a warm sensation may be felt during the procedure
b. Inform patient to report pain while the catheter is being inserted
c. Instruct the patient that medications will be given to induce sleep
d. Check the patient for allergies to shellfish - answers-a, b, and d
,The instructor is monitoring a student who is caring for a patient returning to the unit
from a cardiac catheterization(femoral vein used). Which student action requires the
nursing instructor to intervene? The student...
a. Instructs the patient to remain in bed for 24 hours
b. Assesses the pedal pulses and skin for temperature and color
c. Monitors the intake and output
d. Checks the patient's groin pressure dressing - answers-a. Instructs the patient to
remain in bed for 24 hours
The CT scan may involve which types of contrast material. Select all that apply.
a. oral solution
b. injectable material
c. barium enema
d. suppository medication - answers-a, b, and c
Which patients may require a CT scan? Select all that apply
a. Patient with suspected abdominal bleeding
b. Patient with suspected pulmonary embolism
c. Patient with fever and a bladder infection
d. A pregnant female with a fracture femur - answers-a and b
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to ask the patient prior to an MRI
procedure?
a. Do you take any sedative medications?
b. Do you have a history of headaches?
c. Do you have any hearing issues?
d. Do you have any metal or implants in your body? - answers-d. Do you have any
metal or implants in your body?
The patient is returning to the floor after a cardiac catheterization. Two hours later, the
patient complains of numbness and pain in the right foot. Which action should the nurse
take next?
a. Call physician
b. Check the pedal pulse
c. Take the blood pressure
d. Inform the patient this is expected
e. Continue to monitor - answers-b. Check the pedal pulse
Which patient scheduled for an MRI with contrast requires immediate action by the
nurse?
, a. 18-year-old who has a suspected muscle tear in the right thigh muscle and in severe
pain is scheduled for MRI of leg
b. 30-year-old with chronic renal failure and lower back pain is scheduled for MRI of the
spine
c. 40-year-old with a history of migraines that are getting worse is scheduled for MRI of
the head
d. 75-year-old with right side and leg pain and has difficulty walking is scheduled for
MRI of the hip - answers-b. 30-year-old with chronic renal failure and lower back pain is
scheduled for MRI of the spine
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to make following a bronchoscopy?
a. Check level of consciousness
b. Check gag reflex
c. Check neuromuscular function
d. Check pedal pulses - answers-b. Check gag reflex
Rationale: Remember reflex was numbed to allow passage of scope. Need to verify
reflex has returned prior any fluids given to prevent aspiration
The student nurse is reviewing care of patients post bronchoscopy. Which statement by
the student warrants action by the instructor?
a. "I will check the pulse ox frequently."
b. "I will encourage fluids to flush out the dye."
c. "I will check the sputum for blood."
d. "I will monitor for any stridor or wheezing." - answers-b. "I will encourage fluids to
flush out the dye."
The nurse is teaching a client about a thoracentesis. How would the nurse best describe
this procedure?
a. You will be asleep when they make the incision
b. Fluid will be drawn off the area around your lung
c. It involves lying very still in a large noisy machine
d. Your doctor will be able to see inside the lung - answers-b. Fluid will be drawn off the
area around your lung
For a patient with a thoracentesis, which assessment would be of concern?
a. Decrease in accessory muscles
b. Decreased breath sounds
c. Pain at the puncture site
d. Increased appetite - answers-b. Decreased breath sounds
&ANSWERS 2024
Which tests can the nurse anticipate will be ordered for the patient admitted with chest
pain and dyspnea? Select all that apply.
a. Troponin
b. D-Dimer
c. Electrolytes
d. Albumin - answers-a, b, and c
Which diagnostic test can the nurse expect the health care provider will order first for
the patient with a heart murmur?
a. Echocardiogram
b. Holter monitor
c. Cardiac catheterization
d. Stress test - answers-a. Echocardiogram
The nurse is conducting a patient assessment. The patient tells the nurse that he has
smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 27 years. Which assessment can the nurse
expect to find in this patient?
a. Bounding pulse
b. Night blindness
c. Pupil dilate
d. Elevated blood pressure - answers-d. Elevated blood pressure
The nurse is evaluating a patient's knowledge about cholesterol maintenance. Which
statement by the patient requires correction?
a. "I need to keep my LDL cholesterol higher than 100 mg/dL."
b. "My HDL cholesterol is good and should be as high as possible."
,c. "It is good if my total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL."
d. "My triglyceride levels should be less than 150 mg/dL." - answers-a. "I need to keep
my LDL cholesterol higher than 100 mg/dL."
Which statement by the nursing student warrants intervention by the instructor? Central
Perfusion....
a. begins when the heart is stimulated by an electrical impulse
b. involves the body's ability to maintain cardiac output
c. involves blood flowing through arteries and capillaries to the target organs
d. is impacted by preload and afterload - answers-c. involves blood flowing through
arteries and capillaries to the target organs
Which assessment findings are considered modifiable risk factors for cardiac disease?
Select all that apply.
a. obesity
b. smoking
c. parent dies of heart attack at 55 years of age
d. diabetes mellitus
e. female 60 years of age - answers-a, b, and d
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to complete immediately following a
transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)?
a. Check pedal pulses
b. Monitor urine output
c. Check gag reflex
d. Complete a neuro assessment - answers-c. Check gag reflex
Which instruction should the nurse provide to a patient who is scheduled to have an
exercise electrocardiography test?
a. Have nothing to drink or eat after midnight
b. Avoid smoking or drinking for at least 2 weeks before the test
c. Wear comfortable, loose clothing and supportive rubber soled shoes
d. Someone must drive you home because of the medication side effects. - answers-c.
Wear comfortable, loose clothing and supportive rubber soled shoes
The patient is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. Which interventions are
appropriate by the nurse? Select all that apply
a. Instruction the patient that a warm sensation may be felt during the procedure
b. Inform patient to report pain while the catheter is being inserted
c. Instruct the patient that medications will be given to induce sleep
d. Check the patient for allergies to shellfish - answers-a, b, and d
,The instructor is monitoring a student who is caring for a patient returning to the unit
from a cardiac catheterization(femoral vein used). Which student action requires the
nursing instructor to intervene? The student...
a. Instructs the patient to remain in bed for 24 hours
b. Assesses the pedal pulses and skin for temperature and color
c. Monitors the intake and output
d. Checks the patient's groin pressure dressing - answers-a. Instructs the patient to
remain in bed for 24 hours
The CT scan may involve which types of contrast material. Select all that apply.
a. oral solution
b. injectable material
c. barium enema
d. suppository medication - answers-a, b, and c
Which patients may require a CT scan? Select all that apply
a. Patient with suspected abdominal bleeding
b. Patient with suspected pulmonary embolism
c. Patient with fever and a bladder infection
d. A pregnant female with a fracture femur - answers-a and b
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to ask the patient prior to an MRI
procedure?
a. Do you take any sedative medications?
b. Do you have a history of headaches?
c. Do you have any hearing issues?
d. Do you have any metal or implants in your body? - answers-d. Do you have any
metal or implants in your body?
The patient is returning to the floor after a cardiac catheterization. Two hours later, the
patient complains of numbness and pain in the right foot. Which action should the nurse
take next?
a. Call physician
b. Check the pedal pulse
c. Take the blood pressure
d. Inform the patient this is expected
e. Continue to monitor - answers-b. Check the pedal pulse
Which patient scheduled for an MRI with contrast requires immediate action by the
nurse?
, a. 18-year-old who has a suspected muscle tear in the right thigh muscle and in severe
pain is scheduled for MRI of leg
b. 30-year-old with chronic renal failure and lower back pain is scheduled for MRI of the
spine
c. 40-year-old with a history of migraines that are getting worse is scheduled for MRI of
the head
d. 75-year-old with right side and leg pain and has difficulty walking is scheduled for
MRI of the hip - answers-b. 30-year-old with chronic renal failure and lower back pain is
scheduled for MRI of the spine
Which assessment is essential for the nurse to make following a bronchoscopy?
a. Check level of consciousness
b. Check gag reflex
c. Check neuromuscular function
d. Check pedal pulses - answers-b. Check gag reflex
Rationale: Remember reflex was numbed to allow passage of scope. Need to verify
reflex has returned prior any fluids given to prevent aspiration
The student nurse is reviewing care of patients post bronchoscopy. Which statement by
the student warrants action by the instructor?
a. "I will check the pulse ox frequently."
b. "I will encourage fluids to flush out the dye."
c. "I will check the sputum for blood."
d. "I will monitor for any stridor or wheezing." - answers-b. "I will encourage fluids to
flush out the dye."
The nurse is teaching a client about a thoracentesis. How would the nurse best describe
this procedure?
a. You will be asleep when they make the incision
b. Fluid will be drawn off the area around your lung
c. It involves lying very still in a large noisy machine
d. Your doctor will be able to see inside the lung - answers-b. Fluid will be drawn off the
area around your lung
For a patient with a thoracentesis, which assessment would be of concern?
a. Decrease in accessory muscles
b. Decreased breath sounds
c. Pain at the puncture site
d. Increased appetite - answers-b. Decreased breath sounds
