@PROFDOCDIGITALLIBRARIES
Assessment of Cardiovascular
Function exam with complete solutions
The nurse auscultates the apex beat at which anatomical location?
midsternum
5 cm to the left of the lower end of the sternum
2.5 cm to the left of the xiphoid process
fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line - ANSWER-fifth intercostal space,
PR
midclavicular line
What is the term for the ability of the cardiac muscle to shorten in response to
O
an electrical impulse?
FD
contractility
depolarization
repolarization
O
diastole - ANSWER-contractility
C
Age-related changes associated with the cardiac system include
decreased size of the left atrium.
endocardial fibrosis.
increase in the number of SA node cells.
myocardial thinning. - ANSWER-endocardial fibrosis.
What does decreased pulse pressure reflect?
,@PROFDOCDIGITALLIBRARIES
tachycardia
reduced distensibility of the arteries
reduced stroke volume
elevated stroke volume - ANSWER-reduced stroke volume
Decreased pulse pressure reflects reduced stroke volume and ejection velocity
or obstruction to blood flow during systole. Increased pulse pressure would
indicate reduced distensibility of the arteries, along with bradycardia.
PR
The nurse is administering a stool softener to a client who experienced a
myocardial infarction. The client says, "I had a heart attack; I don't have a
problem with constipation." What explanation will the nurse use to answer the
O
client's question?
FD
"If you strain to have a bowel movement, you can cause a drop in your heart
rate that can be dangerous."
"The heart attack sets you up for limited activity, so constipation is often a
problem for clients after a heart attack."
O
"Please talk this over with your healthcare provider for further information."
C
"The prescribed stool softener will decrease stress with a bowel movement and
protect your heart from further injury." - ANSWER-"If you strain to have a
bowel movement, you can cause a drop in your heart rate that can be
dangerous."
The nurse is reviewing the morning laboratory test results for a client with
cardiac problems. Which finding is a priority to report to the healthcare
provider?\
Na+ 140 mEq/L
Ca++ 9 mg/dL
, @PROFDOCDIGITALLIBRARIES
K+ 3.1 mEq/L
Mg++ 2 mEq/L - ANSWER-K+ 3.1 mEq/L
The nurse prepares to auscultate heart sounds. What nursing intervention will
be most effective to assist with this procedure?
Explain to the client that the nurse will be listening to different areas of the
chest and may listen for a long time, but that does not mean that anything
abnormal is heard.
PR
Ask the client to sit on the edge of the bed and hold breath while the nurse
listens.
O
Insist that the family members leave the room if they must speak to each other
while the nurse is auscultating heart sounds.
FD
Ask the client to take deep breaths through the mouth while the nurse
auscultates heart sounds. - ANSWER-Explain to the client that the nurse will be
listening to different areas of the chest and may listen for a long time, but that
O
does not mean that anything abnormal is heard.
C
The nurse instructor is teaching a group of nursing students about adventitious
heart sounds. The instructor explains that auscultation of the heart requires
familiarization with normal and abnormal heart sounds. What would the
instructor tell these students a ventricular gallop indicates in an adult?
Heart failure
Hypertensive heart disease
Normal functioning
Pericarditis - ANSWER-Heart failure
Assessment of Cardiovascular
Function exam with complete solutions
The nurse auscultates the apex beat at which anatomical location?
midsternum
5 cm to the left of the lower end of the sternum
2.5 cm to the left of the xiphoid process
fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line - ANSWER-fifth intercostal space,
PR
midclavicular line
What is the term for the ability of the cardiac muscle to shorten in response to
O
an electrical impulse?
FD
contractility
depolarization
repolarization
O
diastole - ANSWER-contractility
C
Age-related changes associated with the cardiac system include
decreased size of the left atrium.
endocardial fibrosis.
increase in the number of SA node cells.
myocardial thinning. - ANSWER-endocardial fibrosis.
What does decreased pulse pressure reflect?
,@PROFDOCDIGITALLIBRARIES
tachycardia
reduced distensibility of the arteries
reduced stroke volume
elevated stroke volume - ANSWER-reduced stroke volume
Decreased pulse pressure reflects reduced stroke volume and ejection velocity
or obstruction to blood flow during systole. Increased pulse pressure would
indicate reduced distensibility of the arteries, along with bradycardia.
PR
The nurse is administering a stool softener to a client who experienced a
myocardial infarction. The client says, "I had a heart attack; I don't have a
problem with constipation." What explanation will the nurse use to answer the
O
client's question?
FD
"If you strain to have a bowel movement, you can cause a drop in your heart
rate that can be dangerous."
"The heart attack sets you up for limited activity, so constipation is often a
problem for clients after a heart attack."
O
"Please talk this over with your healthcare provider for further information."
C
"The prescribed stool softener will decrease stress with a bowel movement and
protect your heart from further injury." - ANSWER-"If you strain to have a
bowel movement, you can cause a drop in your heart rate that can be
dangerous."
The nurse is reviewing the morning laboratory test results for a client with
cardiac problems. Which finding is a priority to report to the healthcare
provider?\
Na+ 140 mEq/L
Ca++ 9 mg/dL
, @PROFDOCDIGITALLIBRARIES
K+ 3.1 mEq/L
Mg++ 2 mEq/L - ANSWER-K+ 3.1 mEq/L
The nurse prepares to auscultate heart sounds. What nursing intervention will
be most effective to assist with this procedure?
Explain to the client that the nurse will be listening to different areas of the
chest and may listen for a long time, but that does not mean that anything
abnormal is heard.
PR
Ask the client to sit on the edge of the bed and hold breath while the nurse
listens.
O
Insist that the family members leave the room if they must speak to each other
while the nurse is auscultating heart sounds.
FD
Ask the client to take deep breaths through the mouth while the nurse
auscultates heart sounds. - ANSWER-Explain to the client that the nurse will be
listening to different areas of the chest and may listen for a long time, but that
O
does not mean that anything abnormal is heard.
C
The nurse instructor is teaching a group of nursing students about adventitious
heart sounds. The instructor explains that auscultation of the heart requires
familiarization with normal and abnormal heart sounds. What would the
instructor tell these students a ventricular gallop indicates in an adult?
Heart failure
Hypertensive heart disease
Normal functioning
Pericarditis - ANSWER-Heart failure
