ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
Adult Health- Cardiovascular
1. A client admitted to the hospital with chest pain and a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus
is scheduled for cardiac catheterization. Which medication would need to be withheld for
24 hours before the procedure and for 48 hours after the procedure?
1. Regular insulin
2. Glipizide (Glucotrol)
3. Repaglinide (Prandin)
4. Metformin (Glucophage)
4. Metformin (Glucophage)
2. The nurse is reviewing an electrocardiogram rhythm strip. The P waves and QRS
complexes are regular. The PR interval is 0.16 second, and QRS complexes measure 0.06
second. The overall heart rate is 64 beats/minute. Which would be a correct interpretation
based on these characteristics?
1. Sinus bradycardia
2. Sick sinus syndrome
3. Normal sinus rhythm
4. First-degree heart block
3. Normal sinus rhythm
3. A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which begins to sound its alarm. A
nurse sees no electrocardiographic complexes on the screen. Which is the priority action
of the nurse?
1. Call a code.
2. Call the health care provider.
3. Check the client's status and lead placement.
4. Press the recorder button on the electrocardiogram console.
3. Check the client's status and lead placement.
4. A client is having frequent premature ventricular contractions. The nurse should
place priority on assessment of which item?
1. Sensation of palpitations
2. Causative factors, such as caffeine
3. Precipitating factors, such as infection
4. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation
4. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation
5. The nurse is evaluating a client's response to cardioversion. Which observation would be
of highest priority to the nurse?
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
1. Blood pressure
2. Status of airway
3. Oxygen flow rate
4. Level of consciousness
2. Status of airway
6. The nurse is caring for a client who has just had implantation of an automatic internal
cardioverter-defibrillator. The nurse immediately would assess which item based
on priority?
1. Anxiety level of the client and family
2. Presence of a Medic-Alert card for the client to carry
3. Knowledge of restrictions of postdischarge physical activity
4. Activation status of the device, heart rate cutoff, and number of shocks it is
programmed to deliver
4. Activation status of the device, heart rate cutoff, and number of shocks it is
programmed to deliver
7. A client's electrocardiogram strip shows atrial and ventricular rates of 110 beats/minute.
The PR interval is 0.14 second, the QRS complex measures 0.08 second, and the PP and
RR intervals are regular. How should the nurse correctly interpret this rhythm?
1. Sinus dysrhythmia
2. Sinus tachycardia
3. Sinus bradycardia
4. Normal sinus rhythm
2. Sinus tachycardia
8. The nurse is assessing the neurovascular status of a client who returned to the surgical
nursing unit 4 hours ago after undergoing aortoiliac bypass graft. The affected leg is
warm, and the nurse notes redness and edema. The pedal pulse is palpable and unchanged
from admission. How should the nurse correctly interpret the client's neurovascular
status?
1. The neurovascular status is normal because of increased blood flow through the leg.
2. The neurovascular status is moderately impaired, and the surgeon should be called.
3. The neurovascular status is slightly deteriorating and should be monitored for another
hour.
4. The neurovascular status is adequate from an arterial approach, but venous
complications are arising.
1. The neurovascular status is normal because of increased blood flow through the leg.
9. The nurse is evaluating the condition of a client after pericardiocentesis performed to
treat cardiac tamponade. Which observation would indicate that the procedure was
unsuccessful?
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
1. Rising blood pressure
2. Clearly audible heart sounds
3. Client expressions of relief
4. Rising central venous pressure
4. Rising central venous pressure
10. A client with angina complains that the anginal pain is prolonged and severe and occurs
at the same time each day, most often at rest in the absence of precipitating factors. How
would the nurse best describe this type of anginal pain?
1. Stable angina
2. Variant angina
3. Unstable angina
4. Nonanginal pain
2. Variant angina
11. The nurse is monitoring a client with acute pericarditis for signs of cardiac tamponade.
Which assessment finding indicates the presence of this complication?
1. Flat neck veins
2. A pulse rate of 60 beats/min
3. Muffled or distant heart sounds
4. Wheezing on auscultation of the lungs
3. Muffled or distant heart sounds
12. The home care nurse is providing instructions to a client with an arterial ischemic leg
ulcer about home care management and self-care management. Which statement, if made
by the client, indicates a need for further instruction?
1. "I need to be sure not to go barefoot around the house."
2. "If I cut my toenails, I need to be sure that I cut them straight across."
3. "It is all right to apply lanolin to my feet, but I shouldn't place it between my toes."
4. "I need to be sure that I elevate my leg above my heart level for at least an hour every
day."
4. "I need to be sure that I elevate my leg above my heart level for at least an hour every
day."
13. The nurse is providing instructions to a client with a diagnosis of hypertension regarding
high-sodium items to be avoided. The nurse instructs the client to avoid consuming which
item?
1. Bananas
2. Broccoli
3. Antacids
4. Cantaloupe
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
3. Antacids
14. The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client with Raynaud's disease. The
nurse should plan to provide which instruction to the client?
1. Use nail polish to protect the nail beds from injury.
2. Stop smoking because it causes cutaneous vasospasm.
3. Wear gloves for all activities involving use of both hands.
4. Always wear warm clothing even in warm climates to prevent vasoconstriction.
2. Stop smoking because it causes cutaneous vasospasm.
15. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client with varicose veins in whom skin
breakdown occurred over the varicosities as a result of secondary infection. Which is a
priority intervention?
1. Keep the legs aligned with the heart.
2. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
3. Clean the skin with alcohol every hour.
4. Position the client onto the side every shift.
2. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
16. The nurse in the medical unit is reviewing the laboratory test results for a client who has
been transferred from the intensive care unit. The nurse notes that a cardiac troponin T
level assay was performed while the client was in the intensive care unit. The nurse
determines that this test was performed to assist in diagnosing which condition?
1. Heart failure
2. Atrial fibrillation
3. Myocardial infarction
4. Ventricular tachycardia
3. Myocardial infarction
17. The nurse is caring for a client with cardiac disease who has been placed on a cardiac
monitor. The nurse notes that the client has developed atrial fibrillation and has a
ventricular rate of 150 beats/min. The nurse should next assess the client for which
finding?
1. Hypotension
2. Flat neck veins
3. Complaints of nausea
4. Complaints of headache
1. Hypotension
18. The nurse is performing an assessment on a client with a diagnosis of left-sided heart
failure. Which assessment component would elicit specific information regarding the
client's left-sided heart function?
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
Adult Health- Cardiovascular
1. A client admitted to the hospital with chest pain and a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus
is scheduled for cardiac catheterization. Which medication would need to be withheld for
24 hours before the procedure and for 48 hours after the procedure?
1. Regular insulin
2. Glipizide (Glucotrol)
3. Repaglinide (Prandin)
4. Metformin (Glucophage)
4. Metformin (Glucophage)
2. The nurse is reviewing an electrocardiogram rhythm strip. The P waves and QRS
complexes are regular. The PR interval is 0.16 second, and QRS complexes measure 0.06
second. The overall heart rate is 64 beats/minute. Which would be a correct interpretation
based on these characteristics?
1. Sinus bradycardia
2. Sick sinus syndrome
3. Normal sinus rhythm
4. First-degree heart block
3. Normal sinus rhythm
3. A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which begins to sound its alarm. A
nurse sees no electrocardiographic complexes on the screen. Which is the priority action
of the nurse?
1. Call a code.
2. Call the health care provider.
3. Check the client's status and lead placement.
4. Press the recorder button on the electrocardiogram console.
3. Check the client's status and lead placement.
4. A client is having frequent premature ventricular contractions. The nurse should
place priority on assessment of which item?
1. Sensation of palpitations
2. Causative factors, such as caffeine
3. Precipitating factors, such as infection
4. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation
4. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation
5. The nurse is evaluating a client's response to cardioversion. Which observation would be
of highest priority to the nurse?
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
1. Blood pressure
2. Status of airway
3. Oxygen flow rate
4. Level of consciousness
2. Status of airway
6. The nurse is caring for a client who has just had implantation of an automatic internal
cardioverter-defibrillator. The nurse immediately would assess which item based
on priority?
1. Anxiety level of the client and family
2. Presence of a Medic-Alert card for the client to carry
3. Knowledge of restrictions of postdischarge physical activity
4. Activation status of the device, heart rate cutoff, and number of shocks it is
programmed to deliver
4. Activation status of the device, heart rate cutoff, and number of shocks it is
programmed to deliver
7. A client's electrocardiogram strip shows atrial and ventricular rates of 110 beats/minute.
The PR interval is 0.14 second, the QRS complex measures 0.08 second, and the PP and
RR intervals are regular. How should the nurse correctly interpret this rhythm?
1. Sinus dysrhythmia
2. Sinus tachycardia
3. Sinus bradycardia
4. Normal sinus rhythm
2. Sinus tachycardia
8. The nurse is assessing the neurovascular status of a client who returned to the surgical
nursing unit 4 hours ago after undergoing aortoiliac bypass graft. The affected leg is
warm, and the nurse notes redness and edema. The pedal pulse is palpable and unchanged
from admission. How should the nurse correctly interpret the client's neurovascular
status?
1. The neurovascular status is normal because of increased blood flow through the leg.
2. The neurovascular status is moderately impaired, and the surgeon should be called.
3. The neurovascular status is slightly deteriorating and should be monitored for another
hour.
4. The neurovascular status is adequate from an arterial approach, but venous
complications are arising.
1. The neurovascular status is normal because of increased blood flow through the leg.
9. The nurse is evaluating the condition of a client after pericardiocentesis performed to
treat cardiac tamponade. Which observation would indicate that the procedure was
unsuccessful?
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
1. Rising blood pressure
2. Clearly audible heart sounds
3. Client expressions of relief
4. Rising central venous pressure
4. Rising central venous pressure
10. A client with angina complains that the anginal pain is prolonged and severe and occurs
at the same time each day, most often at rest in the absence of precipitating factors. How
would the nurse best describe this type of anginal pain?
1. Stable angina
2. Variant angina
3. Unstable angina
4. Nonanginal pain
2. Variant angina
11. The nurse is monitoring a client with acute pericarditis for signs of cardiac tamponade.
Which assessment finding indicates the presence of this complication?
1. Flat neck veins
2. A pulse rate of 60 beats/min
3. Muffled or distant heart sounds
4. Wheezing on auscultation of the lungs
3. Muffled or distant heart sounds
12. The home care nurse is providing instructions to a client with an arterial ischemic leg
ulcer about home care management and self-care management. Which statement, if made
by the client, indicates a need for further instruction?
1. "I need to be sure not to go barefoot around the house."
2. "If I cut my toenails, I need to be sure that I cut them straight across."
3. "It is all right to apply lanolin to my feet, but I shouldn't place it between my toes."
4. "I need to be sure that I elevate my leg above my heart level for at least an hour every
day."
4. "I need to be sure that I elevate my leg above my heart level for at least an hour every
day."
13. The nurse is providing instructions to a client with a diagnosis of hypertension regarding
high-sodium items to be avoided. The nurse instructs the client to avoid consuming which
item?
1. Bananas
2. Broccoli
3. Antacids
4. Cantaloupe
, ATI MEDSURG REVISION STUDY GUIDE
(CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
3. Antacids
14. The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client with Raynaud's disease. The
nurse should plan to provide which instruction to the client?
1. Use nail polish to protect the nail beds from injury.
2. Stop smoking because it causes cutaneous vasospasm.
3. Wear gloves for all activities involving use of both hands.
4. Always wear warm clothing even in warm climates to prevent vasoconstriction.
2. Stop smoking because it causes cutaneous vasospasm.
15. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client with varicose veins in whom skin
breakdown occurred over the varicosities as a result of secondary infection. Which is a
priority intervention?
1. Keep the legs aligned with the heart.
2. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
3. Clean the skin with alcohol every hour.
4. Position the client onto the side every shift.
2. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
16. The nurse in the medical unit is reviewing the laboratory test results for a client who has
been transferred from the intensive care unit. The nurse notes that a cardiac troponin T
level assay was performed while the client was in the intensive care unit. The nurse
determines that this test was performed to assist in diagnosing which condition?
1. Heart failure
2. Atrial fibrillation
3. Myocardial infarction
4. Ventricular tachycardia
3. Myocardial infarction
17. The nurse is caring for a client with cardiac disease who has been placed on a cardiac
monitor. The nurse notes that the client has developed atrial fibrillation and has a
ventricular rate of 150 beats/min. The nurse should next assess the client for which
finding?
1. Hypotension
2. Flat neck veins
3. Complaints of nausea
4. Complaints of headache
1. Hypotension
18. The nurse is performing an assessment on a client with a diagnosis of left-sided heart
failure. Which assessment component would elicit specific information regarding the
client's left-sided heart function?
