Nursing NUR411 Exam 1 – Practice Questions and Answers Study Guide
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with chest pain that has some diagnostic procedures
ordered. The patient's family is concerned because the patient has a very sensitive gag reflex.
The nurse knows that the family needs some further explanation about which of the following
procedures?
A. 12-lead electrocardiogram
B. transesophageal echocardiogram
C. portable chest x-ray
D. cardiac catheterization - ✔✔B. transesophageal echocardiogram
All four are diagnostic procedures, but only 2 are invasive, therefore unlikely that a 12 lead ECG
or CXR would every cause gagging. A TEE goes into the mouth and down the throat and can
illicit gagging and will likely require some medication to help with this. Cardiac catheterization is
invasive but does not do anything specifically in the mouth or throat and would not be a best
answer choice for this question.
The nurse is preparing a faculty in-service about congestive heart failure treatment. Which of
the following statements would require follow-up?
A. Treatment is geared at limiting the progression of the disease
B. Treatment is started at stage 2 of the disease
C. (Carvediol) Coreg and (Furosemide) Lasix are both used
D. (Captopril) Capoten should be held if there is renal insufficiency - ✔✔B. Treatment is started
at stage 2 of the disease
Treatment needs to be started at stage one of the disease to try and limit its progression to later
stages. All other statements are true—treatment is aimed at limiting the progression of the
disease (it also provides symptom relief in many cases). Coreg, Lasix, and Capoten are all
common medications used in CHF treatment. NOTE: ACE inhibitors should be held if there is
renal insufficiency as they can cause hyperkalemia—something to keep in mind if you are about
to administer this medication to your patient.
, The nurse is caring for a patient that had a cardiac stent placed 4 hours ago. The nurse has
identified a complication to this therapy and is preparing to send the patient for a coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG). The nurse knows that which of the following complications has led
to this decision?
A. Retroperitoneal bleeding
B. Hypotension
C. ST segment elevation
D. Multiple premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - ✔✔C. ST segment elevation
Common complications of a stent being placed are: bleeding, hemodynamic instability,
reperfusion complications, and re-occlusion. The only one that would specifically warrant open
heart surgery is the re-occlusion complication. How does one tell that is happening—a new heat
attack—ST elevation would be a signal of this.
The nurse is caring for a patient with both right and left sided congestive heart failure (CHF).
The nurse knows that which of the following of the following statements is true? (select all that
apply).
A. The patient will likely have crackles
B. The patient will likely have decreased CVP
C. The patient will likely have a decreased PA diastolic
D. The patient will likely have an increased cardiac output
E. The patient will likely have increased preload and afterload - ✔✔A. The patient will likely
have crackles and
E. The patient will likely have increased preload and afterload.
In a patient with both left and right sided heart failure there is likely build up of fluid and an
inability to circulate it (pump) it properly. There would be symptoms seen on both sides (lung
and systemic), so likely the patient would have crackles and an elevated CVP. It is also likely that
the preload would be elevated in both the left and right ventricle (supports elevated CVP and
elevated PA diastolic) as they cannot deal with the fluid in their system well. This inability to
pump and eject blood from the heart would likely lead to a decreased CO and likely decreased
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with chest pain that has some diagnostic procedures
ordered. The patient's family is concerned because the patient has a very sensitive gag reflex.
The nurse knows that the family needs some further explanation about which of the following
procedures?
A. 12-lead electrocardiogram
B. transesophageal echocardiogram
C. portable chest x-ray
D. cardiac catheterization - ✔✔B. transesophageal echocardiogram
All four are diagnostic procedures, but only 2 are invasive, therefore unlikely that a 12 lead ECG
or CXR would every cause gagging. A TEE goes into the mouth and down the throat and can
illicit gagging and will likely require some medication to help with this. Cardiac catheterization is
invasive but does not do anything specifically in the mouth or throat and would not be a best
answer choice for this question.
The nurse is preparing a faculty in-service about congestive heart failure treatment. Which of
the following statements would require follow-up?
A. Treatment is geared at limiting the progression of the disease
B. Treatment is started at stage 2 of the disease
C. (Carvediol) Coreg and (Furosemide) Lasix are both used
D. (Captopril) Capoten should be held if there is renal insufficiency - ✔✔B. Treatment is started
at stage 2 of the disease
Treatment needs to be started at stage one of the disease to try and limit its progression to later
stages. All other statements are true—treatment is aimed at limiting the progression of the
disease (it also provides symptom relief in many cases). Coreg, Lasix, and Capoten are all
common medications used in CHF treatment. NOTE: ACE inhibitors should be held if there is
renal insufficiency as they can cause hyperkalemia—something to keep in mind if you are about
to administer this medication to your patient.
, The nurse is caring for a patient that had a cardiac stent placed 4 hours ago. The nurse has
identified a complication to this therapy and is preparing to send the patient for a coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG). The nurse knows that which of the following complications has led
to this decision?
A. Retroperitoneal bleeding
B. Hypotension
C. ST segment elevation
D. Multiple premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - ✔✔C. ST segment elevation
Common complications of a stent being placed are: bleeding, hemodynamic instability,
reperfusion complications, and re-occlusion. The only one that would specifically warrant open
heart surgery is the re-occlusion complication. How does one tell that is happening—a new heat
attack—ST elevation would be a signal of this.
The nurse is caring for a patient with both right and left sided congestive heart failure (CHF).
The nurse knows that which of the following of the following statements is true? (select all that
apply).
A. The patient will likely have crackles
B. The patient will likely have decreased CVP
C. The patient will likely have a decreased PA diastolic
D. The patient will likely have an increased cardiac output
E. The patient will likely have increased preload and afterload - ✔✔A. The patient will likely
have crackles and
E. The patient will likely have increased preload and afterload.
In a patient with both left and right sided heart failure there is likely build up of fluid and an
inability to circulate it (pump) it properly. There would be symptoms seen on both sides (lung
and systemic), so likely the patient would have crackles and an elevated CVP. It is also likely that
the preload would be elevated in both the left and right ventricle (supports elevated CVP and
elevated PA diastolic) as they cannot deal with the fluid in their system well. This inability to
pump and eject blood from the heart would likely lead to a decreased CO and likely decreased
