Chapter 30: Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac Disorders
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for developing infective endocarditis. What information in the
patient’s history caused the nurse to have this concern?
1) 70 years of age
2) Treatment for osteoarthritis
3) Sister being treated for chronic renal failure
4) Diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia
2. A patient is admitted for treatment of pericarditis. For which additional health problem should the nurse
expect the patient to be evaluated?
1) Asthma
2) Myocardial infarction
3) Infective endocarditis
4) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
3. A patient is demonstrating manifestations of valvular disease. Which valve should the nurse expect to be
affected with this disorder?
1) Aortic
2) Mitral
3) Pulmonic
4) Tricuspid
4. The nurse is explaining the development of atherosclerosis to a patient. What should the nurse emphasize as
beginning this process?
1) Oxidation
2) Inflammatory process
3) Injury to the vessel wall
4) Trapping of low-density lipoproteins
5. The nurse explains about the development of tissue clumps within the innermost layer of the heart to a patient
with infective endocarditis. What aspect of the disease process is the nurse describing?
1) Vegetation
2) Oxidation
3) Foam cells
4) Fatty streaks
6. A patient with pericarditis asks the nurse to explain the health problem. Which phrase should the nurse use
when responding to this patient?
1) Heart cell dysfunction
2) Plaque buildup in vessels
3) Infection of the innermost layer of the heart
4) Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart
7. After completing a physical assessment the nurse anticipates the health-care provider to prescribe diagnostic
testing for valvular disease. What did the nurse assess to come to this conclusion?
1) Heart murmur
Page 1 of 21
, 2) Carotid artery bruit
3) Bounding peripheral pulses
4) Displaced point of maximum impulse
8. During an assessment a patient describes experiencing chest pain with exercise that disappears with rest. For
which health problem should the nurse plan care for this client?
1) Stable angina
2) Variant angina
3) Unstable angina
4) Prinzmetal’s angina
9. After an assessment the nurse concludes that a patient is experiencing infective endocarditis. What finding
caused the nurse to make this decision?
1) Friction rub
2) Chest pain at rest
3) Jugular vein distention
4) Painless spots on the palms and soles
10. The nurse notes that a newly admitted patient has an elevated sedimentation rate. For which health problem
should the nurse plan care for this patient?
1) Pericarditis
2) Heart failure
3) Pericardial effusion
4) Coronary artery disease
11. A patient with heart failure is having a B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level drawn. What is the purpose of
this laboratory test?
1) Predict life expectancy
2) Rule out an ischemic event
3) Differentiate right from left heart failure
4) Evaluate effectiveness of medication therapy
12. The nurse is preparing teaching for a patient being treated for coronary artery disease. What dietary
information should the nurse emphasize?
1) Restrict carbohydrate intake
2) Limit calorie intake to under 1000/day
3) Reduce saturated fat and sodium intake
4) Have the biggest meal of the day for lunch
13. A patient with infective endocarditis is being started on intravenous antibiotics. What should the nurse include
when teaching about this medication?
1) “The medication may be changed every few days.”
2) “The typical course of this medication is 7 to 10 days.”
3) “Expect to continue this medication for four to six weeks at home.”
4) “Since this infection is resilient, you might be taking antibiotics for life.”
14. A patient is recovering from mechanical valve replacement surgery for valvular disease. What medication
teaching should medication teaching should the nurse prepare for this patient?
1) Long-term use of diuretics
2) Anticoagulant therapy for life
3) Antibiotic therapy for four to six weeks
Page 2 of 21
, 4) Episodic use of antiarrhythmic medications
15. A patient with heart failure is prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. What should the nurse
explain as being the purpose of this medication?
1) Reduce afterload
2) Decrease preload
3) Increase contractility
4) Control sympathetic nervous system response to decreased cardiac output
16. The nurse applies oxygen two liters via nasal cannula on a patient with coronary artery disease. What should
the nurse explain as being the purpose of the oxygen?
1) Ensures vessel dilation
2) Ensures perfusion to cerebral tissues
3) Supports myocardial oxygen demand
4) Facilitates the metabolism of medications
17. The nurse is caring for a patient with infective endocarditis. For which reason would a referral to social
services be needed?
1) Lives with parents
2) Uses intravenous drugs
3) Taking a leave of absence from work
4) Has two terms of college to complete
18. The nurse is caring for a patient with pericardial effusion. Which action should the nurse use to relieve
shortness of breath and pain?
1) Elevate the head of the bed
2) Encourage ambulation in the room
3) Place in the left side-lying position
4) Coach in deep breathing and coughing
19. The nurse is concerned that a patient with heart failure is decompensating. What assessment finding supports
the nurse’s clinical decision?
1) Dyspnea on exertion
2) Dry persistent cough
3) Weak peripheral pulses
4) Increased urine output
20. The nurse is evaluating teaching provided to a patient with coronary artery disease. Which patient statement
indicates that additional teaching is required?
1) “I will adhere to my smoking cessation plan.”
2) “I am to reduce my daily intake of saturated fat.”
3) “I can take up to three doses of nitroglycerin 15 minutes apart.”
4) “I am to follow the exercise plan for 30 minutes, five days a week.”
21. During a home visit the nurse determines that teaching provided to a patient recovering from infective
endocarditis has been effective. What did the nurse observe to make this clinical determination?
1) Drinking skim milk
2) Measuring radial pulse
3) Using a soft toothbrush
4) Taking anticoagulant daily
Page 3 of 21
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for developing infective endocarditis. What information in the
patient’s history caused the nurse to have this concern?
1) 70 years of age
2) Treatment for osteoarthritis
3) Sister being treated for chronic renal failure
4) Diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia
2. A patient is admitted for treatment of pericarditis. For which additional health problem should the nurse
expect the patient to be evaluated?
1) Asthma
2) Myocardial infarction
3) Infective endocarditis
4) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
3. A patient is demonstrating manifestations of valvular disease. Which valve should the nurse expect to be
affected with this disorder?
1) Aortic
2) Mitral
3) Pulmonic
4) Tricuspid
4. The nurse is explaining the development of atherosclerosis to a patient. What should the nurse emphasize as
beginning this process?
1) Oxidation
2) Inflammatory process
3) Injury to the vessel wall
4) Trapping of low-density lipoproteins
5. The nurse explains about the development of tissue clumps within the innermost layer of the heart to a patient
with infective endocarditis. What aspect of the disease process is the nurse describing?
1) Vegetation
2) Oxidation
3) Foam cells
4) Fatty streaks
6. A patient with pericarditis asks the nurse to explain the health problem. Which phrase should the nurse use
when responding to this patient?
1) Heart cell dysfunction
2) Plaque buildup in vessels
3) Infection of the innermost layer of the heart
4) Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart
7. After completing a physical assessment the nurse anticipates the health-care provider to prescribe diagnostic
testing for valvular disease. What did the nurse assess to come to this conclusion?
1) Heart murmur
Page 1 of 21
, 2) Carotid artery bruit
3) Bounding peripheral pulses
4) Displaced point of maximum impulse
8. During an assessment a patient describes experiencing chest pain with exercise that disappears with rest. For
which health problem should the nurse plan care for this client?
1) Stable angina
2) Variant angina
3) Unstable angina
4) Prinzmetal’s angina
9. After an assessment the nurse concludes that a patient is experiencing infective endocarditis. What finding
caused the nurse to make this decision?
1) Friction rub
2) Chest pain at rest
3) Jugular vein distention
4) Painless spots on the palms and soles
10. The nurse notes that a newly admitted patient has an elevated sedimentation rate. For which health problem
should the nurse plan care for this patient?
1) Pericarditis
2) Heart failure
3) Pericardial effusion
4) Coronary artery disease
11. A patient with heart failure is having a B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level drawn. What is the purpose of
this laboratory test?
1) Predict life expectancy
2) Rule out an ischemic event
3) Differentiate right from left heart failure
4) Evaluate effectiveness of medication therapy
12. The nurse is preparing teaching for a patient being treated for coronary artery disease. What dietary
information should the nurse emphasize?
1) Restrict carbohydrate intake
2) Limit calorie intake to under 1000/day
3) Reduce saturated fat and sodium intake
4) Have the biggest meal of the day for lunch
13. A patient with infective endocarditis is being started on intravenous antibiotics. What should the nurse include
when teaching about this medication?
1) “The medication may be changed every few days.”
2) “The typical course of this medication is 7 to 10 days.”
3) “Expect to continue this medication for four to six weeks at home.”
4) “Since this infection is resilient, you might be taking antibiotics for life.”
14. A patient is recovering from mechanical valve replacement surgery for valvular disease. What medication
teaching should medication teaching should the nurse prepare for this patient?
1) Long-term use of diuretics
2) Anticoagulant therapy for life
3) Antibiotic therapy for four to six weeks
Page 2 of 21
, 4) Episodic use of antiarrhythmic medications
15. A patient with heart failure is prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. What should the nurse
explain as being the purpose of this medication?
1) Reduce afterload
2) Decrease preload
3) Increase contractility
4) Control sympathetic nervous system response to decreased cardiac output
16. The nurse applies oxygen two liters via nasal cannula on a patient with coronary artery disease. What should
the nurse explain as being the purpose of the oxygen?
1) Ensures vessel dilation
2) Ensures perfusion to cerebral tissues
3) Supports myocardial oxygen demand
4) Facilitates the metabolism of medications
17. The nurse is caring for a patient with infective endocarditis. For which reason would a referral to social
services be needed?
1) Lives with parents
2) Uses intravenous drugs
3) Taking a leave of absence from work
4) Has two terms of college to complete
18. The nurse is caring for a patient with pericardial effusion. Which action should the nurse use to relieve
shortness of breath and pain?
1) Elevate the head of the bed
2) Encourage ambulation in the room
3) Place in the left side-lying position
4) Coach in deep breathing and coughing
19. The nurse is concerned that a patient with heart failure is decompensating. What assessment finding supports
the nurse’s clinical decision?
1) Dyspnea on exertion
2) Dry persistent cough
3) Weak peripheral pulses
4) Increased urine output
20. The nurse is evaluating teaching provided to a patient with coronary artery disease. Which patient statement
indicates that additional teaching is required?
1) “I will adhere to my smoking cessation plan.”
2) “I am to reduce my daily intake of saturated fat.”
3) “I can take up to three doses of nitroglycerin 15 minutes apart.”
4) “I am to follow the exercise plan for 30 minutes, five days a week.”
21. During a home visit the nurse determines that teaching provided to a patient recovering from infective
endocarditis has been effective. What did the nurse observe to make this clinical determination?
1) Drinking skim milk
2) Measuring radial pulse
3) Using a soft toothbrush
4) Taking anticoagulant daily
Page 3 of 21
