NR511 CEA EXAM (2026 UPDATE) WITH QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
RATIONALIZED ANSWERS, EXAMS OF NURSING
NR511 CEA Exam Questions (2025/2026 Update)
SECTION 1: CARDIOLOGY & VASCULAR (Questions 1-30)
Q1. During a post-hospital discharge visit, you notice your 71-year-old female
patient has a "new murmur" found during a recent CHF exacerbation. During
which phase of the cardiac cycle would you anticipate auscultation of an S3 or S4
heart sound?
A) Systole
B) Diastole
C) Mid-systole
D) Late systole
Answer: B) Diastole
,Rationale: S3 and S4 heart sounds are diastolic sounds. A patient with CHF
exacerbation has increased blood volume and pressure in the ventricles, leading
to increased ventricular filling during diastole, which generates these extra heart
sounds.
Q2. The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is most often palpable in healthy adults
in which location?
A) Left 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line
B) Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C) Right 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
D) Right 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
Answer: B) Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: The PMI corresponds to the apex of the heart, which is typically
positioned toward the left chest wall. In a healthy adult, this is most commonly
palpated in the left 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Q3. Where does the S1 heart sound correlate on the electrocardiogram (EKG)?
,A) Beginning of the P wave
B) Peak of the T wave
C) Peak of the R wave
D) End of the QRS complex
Answer: C) Peak of the R wave
Rationale: The S1 heart sound correlates with the peak of the R wave because the
R wave represents ventricular contraction (systole). The S1 sound coincides with
the start of ventricular contraction as blood is pumped from the atria into the
ventricles.
Q4. A "code blue" is called on your patient. Cardiac monitoring shows normal
sinus rhythm at 80 bpm, but you cannot palpate a pulse over the carotid artery.
What is the name of this cardiac rhythm?
A) Idioventricular rhythm
B) Junctional tachycardia
C) Wandering atrial pacemaker
D) Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
, Answer: D) Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
Rationale: PEA appears as a normal or near-normal rhythm on the monitor
without a palpable pulse. Idioventricular rhythm is very slow (20-40 bpm), and
both junctional tachycardia and WAP without pulses are considered forms of PEA.
Q5. A grade III/VI, low-pitched, diastolic, rumbling murmur heard at the apex,
best heard in the left lateral decubitus position, is most indicative of which valve
problem?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Mitral regurgitation
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Aortic regurgitation
Answer: C) Mitral stenosis
Rationale: Left chest wall murmurs are mitral in etiology; right chest and neck
murmurs are aortic. A diastolic low-pitch mitral murmur represents blood filling
RATIONALIZED ANSWERS, EXAMS OF NURSING
NR511 CEA Exam Questions (2025/2026 Update)
SECTION 1: CARDIOLOGY & VASCULAR (Questions 1-30)
Q1. During a post-hospital discharge visit, you notice your 71-year-old female
patient has a "new murmur" found during a recent CHF exacerbation. During
which phase of the cardiac cycle would you anticipate auscultation of an S3 or S4
heart sound?
A) Systole
B) Diastole
C) Mid-systole
D) Late systole
Answer: B) Diastole
,Rationale: S3 and S4 heart sounds are diastolic sounds. A patient with CHF
exacerbation has increased blood volume and pressure in the ventricles, leading
to increased ventricular filling during diastole, which generates these extra heart
sounds.
Q2. The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is most often palpable in healthy adults
in which location?
A) Left 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line
B) Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C) Right 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
D) Right 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
Answer: B) Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: The PMI corresponds to the apex of the heart, which is typically
positioned toward the left chest wall. In a healthy adult, this is most commonly
palpated in the left 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Q3. Where does the S1 heart sound correlate on the electrocardiogram (EKG)?
,A) Beginning of the P wave
B) Peak of the T wave
C) Peak of the R wave
D) End of the QRS complex
Answer: C) Peak of the R wave
Rationale: The S1 heart sound correlates with the peak of the R wave because the
R wave represents ventricular contraction (systole). The S1 sound coincides with
the start of ventricular contraction as blood is pumped from the atria into the
ventricles.
Q4. A "code blue" is called on your patient. Cardiac monitoring shows normal
sinus rhythm at 80 bpm, but you cannot palpate a pulse over the carotid artery.
What is the name of this cardiac rhythm?
A) Idioventricular rhythm
B) Junctional tachycardia
C) Wandering atrial pacemaker
D) Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
, Answer: D) Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
Rationale: PEA appears as a normal or near-normal rhythm on the monitor
without a palpable pulse. Idioventricular rhythm is very slow (20-40 bpm), and
both junctional tachycardia and WAP without pulses are considered forms of PEA.
Q5. A grade III/VI, low-pitched, diastolic, rumbling murmur heard at the apex,
best heard in the left lateral decubitus position, is most indicative of which valve
problem?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Mitral regurgitation
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Aortic regurgitation
Answer: C) Mitral stenosis
Rationale: Left chest wall murmurs are mitral in etiology; right chest and neck
murmurs are aortic. A diastolic low-pitch mitral murmur represents blood filling
