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NR324: Cardiovascular Disorders Questions
and Answers Latest Update
What is the heart composed of? Ans: Four chambers
Composed of three layers:
Endocardium
Myocardium
Epicardium
Pericardium
Left ventricular wall 2-3 times thicker than right.
What is the difference between arteries and veins? Ans: Arteries, arterioles -
Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Veins, venules - Carry deoxygenated blood to the heart.
What is a normal blood pressure? Ans: Systolic blood pressure (SBP): < 120
mm Hg
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP): < 80 mm Hg
BP = CO x SVR
What is the pulse pressure? Ans: Difference between the systolic and
diastolic blood pressure.
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, 2 | Page
What is the mean arterial pressure? Ans: Average pressure in the arteries
during the cardiac cycle.
Used to titrate fluid and medications.
What are age-related changes in the cardiovascular system? Ans: Increased
collagen, decreased elastin.
Decreased response to stress.
Heart valves become thick and stiff.
Number of pacemaker cells decrease.
Decreased number and function of β-adrenergic receptors.
Blood vessels thicken and less elastic.
Increase in SBP and decrease or no change in DBP.
Incompetent venous valves
Orthostatic hypotension
What would be included in the history for a cardiac patient? Ans: Past
medical history: Surgeries, medications, diet, exercise, elimination patterns,
sleep (pillows).
Genetic links (coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, HTN)
Modifiable risk factors: Exercise, diet, smoking, stress, ETOH, HTN, DM, high
cholesterol.
Non-modifiable risk factors: Age, race, gender, family history.
What would you assess for a cardiac patient? Ans: Vitals: BP/HR/RR
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, 3 | Page
Pulse strength:
0 = Absent
1+ = Weak
2+ = Normal
3+ = Increased, full, bounding
Skin color and temperature, capillary refill
Edema: Pitting vs nonpitting (+ grading)
Jugular vein distention
Auscultation of heart and lungs for murmurs (1-6 scale) and adventitious
lung sounds.
What are examples of cardiac nursing diagnoses? Ans: Decreased cardiac
perfusion
Activity intolerance
Knowledge deficit
What is a serum lipids (CAD) diagnostic test? Ans: Triglycerides normal
<150
Cholesterol:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) "bad" <130 mg/dL
High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) "good" >60 mg/dL (Low risk CAD)
Males >45 mg/dL
© 2025 All rights reserved
NR324: Cardiovascular Disorders Questions
and Answers Latest Update
What is the heart composed of? Ans: Four chambers
Composed of three layers:
Endocardium
Myocardium
Epicardium
Pericardium
Left ventricular wall 2-3 times thicker than right.
What is the difference between arteries and veins? Ans: Arteries, arterioles -
Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Veins, venules - Carry deoxygenated blood to the heart.
What is a normal blood pressure? Ans: Systolic blood pressure (SBP): < 120
mm Hg
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP): < 80 mm Hg
BP = CO x SVR
What is the pulse pressure? Ans: Difference between the systolic and
diastolic blood pressure.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What is the mean arterial pressure? Ans: Average pressure in the arteries
during the cardiac cycle.
Used to titrate fluid and medications.
What are age-related changes in the cardiovascular system? Ans: Increased
collagen, decreased elastin.
Decreased response to stress.
Heart valves become thick and stiff.
Number of pacemaker cells decrease.
Decreased number and function of β-adrenergic receptors.
Blood vessels thicken and less elastic.
Increase in SBP and decrease or no change in DBP.
Incompetent venous valves
Orthostatic hypotension
What would be included in the history for a cardiac patient? Ans: Past
medical history: Surgeries, medications, diet, exercise, elimination patterns,
sleep (pillows).
Genetic links (coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, HTN)
Modifiable risk factors: Exercise, diet, smoking, stress, ETOH, HTN, DM, high
cholesterol.
Non-modifiable risk factors: Age, race, gender, family history.
What would you assess for a cardiac patient? Ans: Vitals: BP/HR/RR
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Pulse strength:
0 = Absent
1+ = Weak
2+ = Normal
3+ = Increased, full, bounding
Skin color and temperature, capillary refill
Edema: Pitting vs nonpitting (+ grading)
Jugular vein distention
Auscultation of heart and lungs for murmurs (1-6 scale) and adventitious
lung sounds.
What are examples of cardiac nursing diagnoses? Ans: Decreased cardiac
perfusion
Activity intolerance
Knowledge deficit
What is a serum lipids (CAD) diagnostic test? Ans: Triglycerides normal
<150
Cholesterol:
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) "bad" <130 mg/dL
High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) "good" >60 mg/dL (Low risk CAD)
Males >45 mg/dL
© 2025 All rights reserved
