Critical Care: Cardiac
Practice Exam Questions with
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,True or False: The left anterior descending coronary artery provides blood supply to the right ventricle
and to the front of the septum - Correct Answer: False
Which coronary artery provides blood to the left atrium and left ventricle:
A. Right marginal artery
B. Posterior descending artery
C. Left circumflex artery
D. Right coronary artery - Correct Answer: C
Which patient(s) are most at risk for developing coronary artery disease? Select-all-that-apply:
A. A 25 year old patient who exercises 3 times per week for 30 minutes a day and has a history of
cervical cancer.
B. A 35 year old male with a BMI of 30 and reports smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
C. A 45 year old female that reports her father died at the age of 42 from a myocardial infraction.
D. A 29 year old that has type I diabetes. - Correct Answer: B, C, D
A patient reports during a routine check-up that he is experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath
while performing activities. He states the pain goes away when he rests. This is known as:
A. Unstable angina
B. Variant angina
,C. Stable angina
D. Prinzmetal angina - Correct Answer: c
Keeping the patient in question 4 in mind: What type of diagnostic tests will the physician most likely
order (at first) for this patient to evaluate the cause of the patient's symptoms? Select-all-that-apply:
A. EKG
B. Stress test
C. Heart catheterization
D. Balloon angioplasty - Correct Answer: A, B,
You're providing education to a patient who will be undergoing a heart catheterization. Which
statement by the patient requires you to re-educate the patient about this procedure?
A. "The brachial artery is most commonly used for this procedure."
B. "A dye is injected into the coronary arteries to assess for blockages."
C. "Not all patients who have a heart catheterization will need a stent placement."
D. "I will not be completely asleep and will be able to breathe on my own during the procedure." -
Correct Answer: A
, A patient reports having crushing chest pain that radiates to the jaw. You administer sublingual
nitroglycerin and obtain a 12 lead EKG. Which of the following EKG findings confirms your suspicion of a
possible myocardial infraction?
A. absent Q wave
B. QRS widening
C. absent P-wave
D. ST segment elevation - Correct Answer: D
A patient is receiving treatment for stable coronary artery disease. The doctor prescribes the patient
Plavix. What important information will you include in the patient's teaching? Select-all-that-apply:
A. If you are scheduled for any planned surgical procedures, let your doctor know you are taking Plavix
because this medication will need to be discontinued 5-7 days prior to the procedure.
B. A normal side effect of this medication is a dry cough.
C. Avoid green leafy vegetables while taking Plavix.
D. Notify the doctor, immediately, if you develop bruising, problems urinating, or fever. - Correct
Answer: A, D
A patient calls the cardiac clinic you are working at and reports that they have taken 3 sublingual doses
of nitroglycerin as prescribed for chest pain, but the chest pain is not relieved. What do you educate the
patient to do next?
Practice Exam Questions with
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,True or False: The left anterior descending coronary artery provides blood supply to the right ventricle
and to the front of the septum - Correct Answer: False
Which coronary artery provides blood to the left atrium and left ventricle:
A. Right marginal artery
B. Posterior descending artery
C. Left circumflex artery
D. Right coronary artery - Correct Answer: C
Which patient(s) are most at risk for developing coronary artery disease? Select-all-that-apply:
A. A 25 year old patient who exercises 3 times per week for 30 minutes a day and has a history of
cervical cancer.
B. A 35 year old male with a BMI of 30 and reports smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
C. A 45 year old female that reports her father died at the age of 42 from a myocardial infraction.
D. A 29 year old that has type I diabetes. - Correct Answer: B, C, D
A patient reports during a routine check-up that he is experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath
while performing activities. He states the pain goes away when he rests. This is known as:
A. Unstable angina
B. Variant angina
,C. Stable angina
D. Prinzmetal angina - Correct Answer: c
Keeping the patient in question 4 in mind: What type of diagnostic tests will the physician most likely
order (at first) for this patient to evaluate the cause of the patient's symptoms? Select-all-that-apply:
A. EKG
B. Stress test
C. Heart catheterization
D. Balloon angioplasty - Correct Answer: A, B,
You're providing education to a patient who will be undergoing a heart catheterization. Which
statement by the patient requires you to re-educate the patient about this procedure?
A. "The brachial artery is most commonly used for this procedure."
B. "A dye is injected into the coronary arteries to assess for blockages."
C. "Not all patients who have a heart catheterization will need a stent placement."
D. "I will not be completely asleep and will be able to breathe on my own during the procedure." -
Correct Answer: A
, A patient reports having crushing chest pain that radiates to the jaw. You administer sublingual
nitroglycerin and obtain a 12 lead EKG. Which of the following EKG findings confirms your suspicion of a
possible myocardial infraction?
A. absent Q wave
B. QRS widening
C. absent P-wave
D. ST segment elevation - Correct Answer: D
A patient is receiving treatment for stable coronary artery disease. The doctor prescribes the patient
Plavix. What important information will you include in the patient's teaching? Select-all-that-apply:
A. If you are scheduled for any planned surgical procedures, let your doctor know you are taking Plavix
because this medication will need to be discontinued 5-7 days prior to the procedure.
B. A normal side effect of this medication is a dry cough.
C. Avoid green leafy vegetables while taking Plavix.
D. Notify the doctor, immediately, if you develop bruising, problems urinating, or fever. - Correct
Answer: A, D
A patient calls the cardiac clinic you are working at and reports that they have taken 3 sublingual doses
of nitroglycerin as prescribed for chest pain, but the chest pain is not relieved. What do you educate the
patient to do next?
