WGU D444 ADULT HEALTH OA EXAM
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
100% GUARANTEED PASS NEWEST
VERSION
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR & RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Q1. What are the classic symptoms of a myocardial infarction (MI)?
A: Persistent chest pain, diaphoresis (sweating), and elevated troponin levels .
Rationale: Troponin is a cardiac enzyme released into the bloodstream when
heart muscle is damaged. It is the most specific biomarker for MI. Chest pain
from an MI is often described as crushing, substernal, and radiating to the left
arm or jaw.
Q2. What is the MONA protocol for initial MI treatment?
A: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin .
Rationale: MONA is the standard initial treatment: Morphine reduces pain and
anxiety (and decreases myocardial oxygen demand); Oxygen corrects
hypoxemia; Nitroglycerin vasodilates coronary arteries; Aspirin provides
antiplatelet effect to prevent further clotting.
Q3. A patient post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) exhibits pitting edema
in lower extremities and jugular venous distention (JVD). Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A: Right-sided heart failure .
Rationale: JVD, peripheral edema, ascites, and hepatomegaly are classic signs
of right-sided heart failure, where blood backs up into the venous system.
Pulmonary symptoms (crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea) would indicate left-sided
failure.
1
, Q4. Which medication reduces heart rate in cardiovascular conditions?
A: Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, carvedilol) .
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-1 receptors in the heart, decreasing heart
rate, contractility, and myocardial oxygen demand. They are used for
hypertension, heart failure, angina, and post-MI.
Q5. Which medication causes vasodilation?
A: Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, nifedipine) .
Rationale: CCBs inhibit calcium entry into vascular smooth muscle cells,
causing relaxation and vasodilation. This reduces peripheral resistance and
blood pressure.
Q6. A patient with heart failure has JVD, 3+ pitting edema, and crackles in lung
bases. Which medication does the nurse expect to administer first?
A: Furosemide (Lasix) .
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that rapidly reduces preload by
promoting fluid excretion, relieving pulmonary congestion and peripheral
edema. This is the priority intervention for acute fluid overload.
Q7. A patient with heart failure reports a 5-pound weight gain in 2 days. What is
the nurse's priority action?
A: Assess for jugular venous distention (JVD) and crackles .
Rationale: Rapid weight gain indicates worsening fluid overload. The nurse
must first assess for other signs of decompensation (JVD, peripheral edema,
crackles) before notifying the provider.
COPD & Asthma
Q8. What is the target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) for a patient with COPD
receiving oxygen therapy?
A: 88-92% .
Rationale: COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia rely on a "hypoxic drive" to
breathe. High oxygen levels can remove this drive, causing respiratory
depression and arrest. Low-flow oxygen (1-2 L/min via nasal cannula) is used to
maintain this target range .
Q9. Which breathing technique improves gas exchange in a patient with
emphysema experiencing dyspnea after ambulation?
2
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
100% GUARANTEED PASS NEWEST
VERSION
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR & RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Q1. What are the classic symptoms of a myocardial infarction (MI)?
A: Persistent chest pain, diaphoresis (sweating), and elevated troponin levels .
Rationale: Troponin is a cardiac enzyme released into the bloodstream when
heart muscle is damaged. It is the most specific biomarker for MI. Chest pain
from an MI is often described as crushing, substernal, and radiating to the left
arm or jaw.
Q2. What is the MONA protocol for initial MI treatment?
A: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin .
Rationale: MONA is the standard initial treatment: Morphine reduces pain and
anxiety (and decreases myocardial oxygen demand); Oxygen corrects
hypoxemia; Nitroglycerin vasodilates coronary arteries; Aspirin provides
antiplatelet effect to prevent further clotting.
Q3. A patient post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) exhibits pitting edema
in lower extremities and jugular venous distention (JVD). Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A: Right-sided heart failure .
Rationale: JVD, peripheral edema, ascites, and hepatomegaly are classic signs
of right-sided heart failure, where blood backs up into the venous system.
Pulmonary symptoms (crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea) would indicate left-sided
failure.
1
, Q4. Which medication reduces heart rate in cardiovascular conditions?
A: Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, carvedilol) .
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-1 receptors in the heart, decreasing heart
rate, contractility, and myocardial oxygen demand. They are used for
hypertension, heart failure, angina, and post-MI.
Q5. Which medication causes vasodilation?
A: Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, nifedipine) .
Rationale: CCBs inhibit calcium entry into vascular smooth muscle cells,
causing relaxation and vasodilation. This reduces peripheral resistance and
blood pressure.
Q6. A patient with heart failure has JVD, 3+ pitting edema, and crackles in lung
bases. Which medication does the nurse expect to administer first?
A: Furosemide (Lasix) .
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that rapidly reduces preload by
promoting fluid excretion, relieving pulmonary congestion and peripheral
edema. This is the priority intervention for acute fluid overload.
Q7. A patient with heart failure reports a 5-pound weight gain in 2 days. What is
the nurse's priority action?
A: Assess for jugular venous distention (JVD) and crackles .
Rationale: Rapid weight gain indicates worsening fluid overload. The nurse
must first assess for other signs of decompensation (JVD, peripheral edema,
crackles) before notifying the provider.
COPD & Asthma
Q8. What is the target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) for a patient with COPD
receiving oxygen therapy?
A: 88-92% .
Rationale: COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia rely on a "hypoxic drive" to
breathe. High oxygen levels can remove this drive, causing respiratory
depression and arrest. Low-flow oxygen (1-2 L/min via nasal cannula) is used to
maintain this target range .
Q9. Which breathing technique improves gas exchange in a patient with
emphysema experiencing dyspnea after ambulation?
2
