ATI MED-SURG CARDIAC PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS: 25 NCLEX-STYLE REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
RATIONALES
Topics include heart failure, dysrhythmias, ACS/MI, hypertension, cardiac medications, and
nursing priorities.
1. A nurse is caring for a client with left-sided heart failure.
Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion leading to crackles, dyspnea,
and orthopnea. Right-sided failure causes JVD, hepatomegaly, and peripheral edema.
2. A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which
laboratory value is most important to monitor?
A. Calcium
B. Potassium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia, increasing risk for
dysrhythmias.
, 3. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing chest pain. Which a
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ction should the nurse take first?
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A. Obtain vital signs
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B. Administer nitroglycerin
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C. Apply oxygen
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D. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
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Answer: A. Obtain vital signs
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Rationale: Assessment comes first to determine hemodynamic stability before interventions.
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4. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
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A. Hypertension
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B. Blurred yellow vision
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C. Tachycardia
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D. Weight gain
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Answer: B. Blurred yellow vision
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Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly causes visual disturbances, nausea, bradycardia, and dysrh
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ythmias.
5. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which
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lab value should the nurse monitor?
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A. aPTT
sw
B. Platelets
sw
C. INR
sw
D. Troponin
sw
Answer: C. INR sw sw
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored using INR; therapeutic range is usually 2–3.
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ANSWERS: 25 NCLEX-STYLE REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
RATIONALES
Topics include heart failure, dysrhythmias, ACS/MI, hypertension, cardiac medications, and
nursing priorities.
1. A nurse is caring for a client with left-sided heart failure.
Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion leading to crackles, dyspnea,
and orthopnea. Right-sided failure causes JVD, hepatomegaly, and peripheral edema.
2. A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which
laboratory value is most important to monitor?
A. Calcium
B. Potassium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia, increasing risk for
dysrhythmias.
, 3. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing chest pain. Which a
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ction should the nurse take first?
sw sw sw sw sw
A. Obtain vital signs
sw sw sw
B. Administer nitroglycerin
sw sw
C. Apply oxygen
sw sw
D. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
sw sw sw sw
Answer: A. Obtain vital signs
sw sw sw sw
Rationale: Assessment comes first to determine hemodynamic stability before interventions.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
4. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
sw sw sw sw sw
A. Hypertension
sw
B. Blurred yellow vision
sw sw sw
C. Tachycardia
sw
D. Weight gain
sw sw
Answer: B. Blurred yellow vision
sw sw sw sw
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly causes visual disturbances, nausea, bradycardia, and dysrh
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ythmias.
5. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
lab value should the nurse monitor?
sw sw sw sw sw
A. aPTT
sw
B. Platelets
sw
C. INR
sw
D. Troponin
sw
Answer: C. INR sw sw
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored using INR; therapeutic range is usually 2–3.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
