CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDER PRACTICE
EXAMINATION (2025/2026)
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT IN CARDIAC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY,
DIAGNOSIS, AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
FOCUSED ON HEMODYNAMICS • ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG) •
PHARMACOLOGY • EMERGENCY CARDIAC CARE
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM 2026
1. The nurse explains that a ventricular septal defect will allow:
a. blood to shunt left to right, causing increased pulmonary flow and no cyanosis.
b. blood to shunt right to left, causing decreased pulmonary flow and cyanosis.
c. no shunting because of high pressure in the left ventricle.
d. increased pressure in the left atrium, impeding circulation of oxygenated blood in the
circulating volume.
ANS: A
Pulmonary blood flow is increased when a ventricular septal defect exists. The blood shifts from
left to right because of the higher pressure in the left ventricle. This particular shift does not
cause cyanosis.
2. The assessment that would lead the nurse to suspect that a newborn infant has a ventricular
septal defect is:
a. a loud, harsh murmur with a systolic tremor.
b. cyanosis when crying.
c. blood pressure higher in the arms than in the legs.
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d. a machinery-like murmur.
, ANS: A
A loud, harsh murmur combined with a systolic thrill is characteristic of a ventricular septal
defect.
3. The finding the nurse would expect when measuring blood pressure on all four extremities of
a child with coarctation of the aorta is blood pressure that is:
a. higher on the right side.
b. higher on the left side.
c. lower in the arms than in the legs.
d. lower in the legs than in the arms.
ANS: D
The characteristic symptoms of coarctation of the aorta are a marked difference in blood
pressure and pulses between the upper and lower extremities. Pressure is increased proximal to
the defect and decreased distal to the coarctation.
4. When a father asks why his child with tetralogy of Fallot seems to favor a squatting position,
the nurse would explain that squatting:
a. increases the return of venous blood back to the heart.
b. decreases arterial blood flow away from the heart.
c. is a common resting position when a child is tachycardic.
d. increases the workload of the heart.
ANS: A
The squatting position allows the child to breathe more easily because systemic venous return is
increased.
5. An infant is experiencing dyspnea related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The nurse
understands dyspnea occurs because blood is:
a. circulated through the lungs again, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion.
b. shunted past the pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary hypoxia.
c. shunted past cardiac arteries, causing myocardial hypoxia.
d. circulated through the ductus from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the left side
2
of the heart.
Page
EXAMINATION (2025/2026)
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT IN CARDIAC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY,
DIAGNOSIS, AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
FOCUSED ON HEMODYNAMICS • ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG) •
PHARMACOLOGY • EMERGENCY CARDIAC CARE
SPRING SEMESTER EXAM 2026
1. The nurse explains that a ventricular septal defect will allow:
a. blood to shunt left to right, causing increased pulmonary flow and no cyanosis.
b. blood to shunt right to left, causing decreased pulmonary flow and cyanosis.
c. no shunting because of high pressure in the left ventricle.
d. increased pressure in the left atrium, impeding circulation of oxygenated blood in the
circulating volume.
ANS: A
Pulmonary blood flow is increased when a ventricular septal defect exists. The blood shifts from
left to right because of the higher pressure in the left ventricle. This particular shift does not
cause cyanosis.
2. The assessment that would lead the nurse to suspect that a newborn infant has a ventricular
septal defect is:
a. a loud, harsh murmur with a systolic tremor.
b. cyanosis when crying.
c. blood pressure higher in the arms than in the legs.
1
Page
d. a machinery-like murmur.
, ANS: A
A loud, harsh murmur combined with a systolic thrill is characteristic of a ventricular septal
defect.
3. The finding the nurse would expect when measuring blood pressure on all four extremities of
a child with coarctation of the aorta is blood pressure that is:
a. higher on the right side.
b. higher on the left side.
c. lower in the arms than in the legs.
d. lower in the legs than in the arms.
ANS: D
The characteristic symptoms of coarctation of the aorta are a marked difference in blood
pressure and pulses between the upper and lower extremities. Pressure is increased proximal to
the defect and decreased distal to the coarctation.
4. When a father asks why his child with tetralogy of Fallot seems to favor a squatting position,
the nurse would explain that squatting:
a. increases the return of venous blood back to the heart.
b. decreases arterial blood flow away from the heart.
c. is a common resting position when a child is tachycardic.
d. increases the workload of the heart.
ANS: A
The squatting position allows the child to breathe more easily because systemic venous return is
increased.
5. An infant is experiencing dyspnea related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The nurse
understands dyspnea occurs because blood is:
a. circulated through the lungs again, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion.
b. shunted past the pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary hypoxia.
c. shunted past cardiac arteries, causing myocardial hypoxia.
d. circulated through the ductus from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the left side
2
of the heart.
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