PCCN EXAM TEST BANK|VERIFIED 200 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED
A+|PCCN EXAM 2025|PASS GUARANTEE
Coronary artery diffusion is dependent upon:
a) diastolic pressure
b) systolic pressure
c) afterload
d) systemic vascular resistance (SVR) <<Answer>> a) diastolic pressure
A post-STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patient is started on an angiotensin-
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor during his hospital stay. Which of the following is the most
common serious side effect that may occur?
A. a nonproductive cough
B. pedal edema
C. swelling of the tongue and face
D. rhinorrhea <<Answer>> c) Swelling of the tongue and face
Which of the following best describes the fourth heart sound (S4)
a) It occurs after ventricular contraction
b) It is best heard with the diaphragm of the stethoscope
c) It is a normal finding in children
d) It occurs during late diastole when the atria contracts <<Answer>> d) It occurs during late
diatole when the atria contracts
Which pathologic changes found on the 12-lead ECG indicate myocardial ischemia?
a) ST-segment elevation
b) ST-segment depression and T-wave elevation
c) Q-wave formation
d) ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion <<Answer>> d) ST-segment depressiomn and T-
wave inversion
Positive inotropic agents are used to:
a) improve cardiac output and tissue profusion
b) decrease water loss through the kidneys
c) increase heart rate
4) vasodilate vessels <<Answer>> a) improve cardiac output and tissue profusion
,A patient in the ED is now being admitted to telemetry with complaint of chest pain and has
been judged to be a possible candidate for therapy with alteplase (Activase). Which of the
following is not considered a contraindication for the use of this medication?
A. current antibiotic use
B. recent abdominal surgery
C. recent gastrointestinal bleed
D. recent intracranial bleed <<Answer>> a) current antibiotic use
The two major components that determine blood pressure are:
a) systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (afterload) and cardiac output
b) contractility and SVR (afterload)
c) preload and SVR (afterload)
d) contractility and SVR (afterload) <<Answer>> c) preload and SVR (afterload)
The layer of the arterial vessel wall responsible for changes in the diameter of the artery is the
a) media
b) intima
c) eterna
d) adventitia <<Answer>> a) media
A patient presents in acute distress with rales halfway up bilaterally; cool and clammy
extremities: elevated jugular venous distention (JVD); oxygen saturations at 95%, down from
99%; and complaints of shortness of breath. Which of the following findings correspond to the
patient's cardiac status?
a) no pulmonary congestion, normal perfusion
b) no pulmonary congestion, low perfusion
c) pulmonary congestion, normal perfusion
d) pulmonary congestion, low perfusion <<Answer>> d) pulmonary congestion, low perfusion
When listening to heart sounds, S1 signifies which of the following?
a) the beginning of ventricular systole
b) the beginning of ventricular diastole
c) the propulsion of blood into a non-complaint ventricle
d) the blood going in the wrong direction <<Answer>> a) the beginning of ventricular systole
A patient with pulmonary edema has impaired diffusion due to:
a) increased thickness of the alveolar capillary membrane
b) retaining CO2
c) an elevated body temperature associated with pulmonary edema
d) low barometric pressure <<Answer>> a) increased thickness of the alveolar capillary
membrane
,A patient with an anterior-wall STEMI is in cardiogenic shock. What would the hemodynamic
profile assessment?
a) decreased cardiac index, increased preload, increased afterload
b) decreased cardiac index, decreased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased cardiac index, decreased preload, decreased afterload
d) increased cardiac index, decreased preload, decreased afterload
a) decreased cardiac index, increased preload, increased afterload
A patient is discharged with the diagnosis of severe peripheral vascular disease (PVD). In
addition to medication and a walking regime, if applicable, which of the following is essential
educationat time of discharge?
a) nutritional counseling
b) smoking cessation counseling
c) social work consult
d) speech therapy consult
b) smoking cessation counseling
A medication that dilates both the venous and arterial beds will cause which of the following
results?
a) increased preload, decreased afterload
b) increased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased preload, decreased afterload
d) decreased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased preload, decreased afterload
Stable angina is best defined as:
a) pain that increases in severity
b) pain that is new
c) pain that occurs at rest
d) pain that has a predictable pattern overtime
d) pain that has a predictable pattern overtime
The gold standard diagnostic tool for the identification, location of disease and severity of
coronary artery disease is:
a) a stress test
b) an echocardiography
c) cardiac catheterization
d) a spiral computer tomography (CT scan)
, c) cardiac catheterization
The most common complication after a STEMI is:
a) heart failure
b) dysrhythmia
c) ventricular septal rupture
d) ventricular wall rupture
b) dysrhythmia
The most common cause of heart failure is:
a) valvular disease
b) ischemic heart disease
c) renal failure
d) hepatitis
b) ischemic heart disease
Systolic left ventricular dysfunction is best defined as:
A. the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood
B. the impaired ability of the left ventricle to fill and relax
C. heart failure with an elevated systolic blood pressure
D. heart failure in which the heart stops beating
a) the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood
Neurohormonal response in heart failure with long-term consequences include:
a) increased liver release of glycogen stores
b) increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system
c) increased production of hemoglobin
d) increased production of cholesterol to make more hormones
b) increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system
Medications commonly used in the reatment of heart failure include:
a) ACE inhibitors, beta blockers
b) calcium channel blockers
c) nitrates
d) calcium channel blockers and digoxin (Lanoxicaps)
a) ACE inhibitors, beta blockers
The heart's primary compensatory response to chronic aortic stenosis includes:
a) left atrial hypertrophy
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED
A+|PCCN EXAM 2025|PASS GUARANTEE
Coronary artery diffusion is dependent upon:
a) diastolic pressure
b) systolic pressure
c) afterload
d) systemic vascular resistance (SVR) <<Answer>> a) diastolic pressure
A post-STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patient is started on an angiotensin-
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor during his hospital stay. Which of the following is the most
common serious side effect that may occur?
A. a nonproductive cough
B. pedal edema
C. swelling of the tongue and face
D. rhinorrhea <<Answer>> c) Swelling of the tongue and face
Which of the following best describes the fourth heart sound (S4)
a) It occurs after ventricular contraction
b) It is best heard with the diaphragm of the stethoscope
c) It is a normal finding in children
d) It occurs during late diastole when the atria contracts <<Answer>> d) It occurs during late
diatole when the atria contracts
Which pathologic changes found on the 12-lead ECG indicate myocardial ischemia?
a) ST-segment elevation
b) ST-segment depression and T-wave elevation
c) Q-wave formation
d) ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion <<Answer>> d) ST-segment depressiomn and T-
wave inversion
Positive inotropic agents are used to:
a) improve cardiac output and tissue profusion
b) decrease water loss through the kidneys
c) increase heart rate
4) vasodilate vessels <<Answer>> a) improve cardiac output and tissue profusion
,A patient in the ED is now being admitted to telemetry with complaint of chest pain and has
been judged to be a possible candidate for therapy with alteplase (Activase). Which of the
following is not considered a contraindication for the use of this medication?
A. current antibiotic use
B. recent abdominal surgery
C. recent gastrointestinal bleed
D. recent intracranial bleed <<Answer>> a) current antibiotic use
The two major components that determine blood pressure are:
a) systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (afterload) and cardiac output
b) contractility and SVR (afterload)
c) preload and SVR (afterload)
d) contractility and SVR (afterload) <<Answer>> c) preload and SVR (afterload)
The layer of the arterial vessel wall responsible for changes in the diameter of the artery is the
a) media
b) intima
c) eterna
d) adventitia <<Answer>> a) media
A patient presents in acute distress with rales halfway up bilaterally; cool and clammy
extremities: elevated jugular venous distention (JVD); oxygen saturations at 95%, down from
99%; and complaints of shortness of breath. Which of the following findings correspond to the
patient's cardiac status?
a) no pulmonary congestion, normal perfusion
b) no pulmonary congestion, low perfusion
c) pulmonary congestion, normal perfusion
d) pulmonary congestion, low perfusion <<Answer>> d) pulmonary congestion, low perfusion
When listening to heart sounds, S1 signifies which of the following?
a) the beginning of ventricular systole
b) the beginning of ventricular diastole
c) the propulsion of blood into a non-complaint ventricle
d) the blood going in the wrong direction <<Answer>> a) the beginning of ventricular systole
A patient with pulmonary edema has impaired diffusion due to:
a) increased thickness of the alveolar capillary membrane
b) retaining CO2
c) an elevated body temperature associated with pulmonary edema
d) low barometric pressure <<Answer>> a) increased thickness of the alveolar capillary
membrane
,A patient with an anterior-wall STEMI is in cardiogenic shock. What would the hemodynamic
profile assessment?
a) decreased cardiac index, increased preload, increased afterload
b) decreased cardiac index, decreased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased cardiac index, decreased preload, decreased afterload
d) increased cardiac index, decreased preload, decreased afterload
a) decreased cardiac index, increased preload, increased afterload
A patient is discharged with the diagnosis of severe peripheral vascular disease (PVD). In
addition to medication and a walking regime, if applicable, which of the following is essential
educationat time of discharge?
a) nutritional counseling
b) smoking cessation counseling
c) social work consult
d) speech therapy consult
b) smoking cessation counseling
A medication that dilates both the venous and arterial beds will cause which of the following
results?
a) increased preload, decreased afterload
b) increased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased preload, decreased afterload
d) decreased preload, increased afterload
c) decreased preload, decreased afterload
Stable angina is best defined as:
a) pain that increases in severity
b) pain that is new
c) pain that occurs at rest
d) pain that has a predictable pattern overtime
d) pain that has a predictable pattern overtime
The gold standard diagnostic tool for the identification, location of disease and severity of
coronary artery disease is:
a) a stress test
b) an echocardiography
c) cardiac catheterization
d) a spiral computer tomography (CT scan)
, c) cardiac catheterization
The most common complication after a STEMI is:
a) heart failure
b) dysrhythmia
c) ventricular septal rupture
d) ventricular wall rupture
b) dysrhythmia
The most common cause of heart failure is:
a) valvular disease
b) ischemic heart disease
c) renal failure
d) hepatitis
b) ischemic heart disease
Systolic left ventricular dysfunction is best defined as:
A. the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood
B. the impaired ability of the left ventricle to fill and relax
C. heart failure with an elevated systolic blood pressure
D. heart failure in which the heart stops beating
a) the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract and effectively eject blood
Neurohormonal response in heart failure with long-term consequences include:
a) increased liver release of glycogen stores
b) increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system
c) increased production of hemoglobin
d) increased production of cholesterol to make more hormones
b) increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system
Medications commonly used in the reatment of heart failure include:
a) ACE inhibitors, beta blockers
b) calcium channel blockers
c) nitrates
d) calcium channel blockers and digoxin (Lanoxicaps)
a) ACE inhibitors, beta blockers
The heart's primary compensatory response to chronic aortic stenosis includes:
a) left atrial hypertrophy
