Deck 28: Assessment of Cardiovascular Function

Question 1

An older patient is being evaluated for a cardiac click audible upon auscultation.Which age-related change should the nurse realize might be causing this heart sound?

A) Hypertension
B) Valve stenosis
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Congestive heart failure

Answer 1

Valve stenosis

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing data collected during the assessment of an older patient.Which finding should the nurse consider as being an age-related change of the cardiovascular system?

A) First heart sound louder
B) Friction rub auscultated
C) Heart rate 64 and regular
D) Blood pressure 168/96 mm Hg

Answer 2

Blood pressure 168/96 mm Hg

Question 3

A patient with a blood pressure of 88/50 mm Hg has a heart rate of 112 beats per minute.Which mechanism should the nurse realize is occurring in this patient?

A) Positive chronotropic effect
B) Negative chronotropic effect
C) Force of the mechanical contraction
D) Reaction to ventricular volume at the end of diastole

Answer 3

Positive chronotropic effect

Question 4

After palpating a patient's radial pulses,the nurse proceeds to palpate the brachial,carotid,femoral,popliteal,and posterior tibial pulses.What condition caused the nurse to make this more thorough physical assessment?

A) Skin warm and dry
B) Various skin temperatures
C) Edema of the left lower extremity
D) Respiratory rate of 24 and labored

Question 5

The nurse is reviewing the anatomy of the heart with a patient scheduled for cardiac surgery.Which patient statement indicates additional teaching is required?

A) "Oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary vein."
B) "The right atrium receives blood from the superior and inferior vena cava."
C) "Blood leaves the right ventricle and travels through the pulmonary vein to the lungs."
D) "Blood leaves the right ventricle and travels through the pulmonary artery to the lungs."

Question 6

The nurse notes that an older patient's point of maximum impulse is displaced to the left.What age-related change should the nurse suspect as causing this assessment finding?

A) Valvular stenosis
B) Left ventricular atrophy
C) Arterial wall narrowing
D) Fibrosis of heart chambers

Question 7

A patient is scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).What information should the nurse expect to be provided from this test?

A) Cardiac filling pressures
B) Integrity of cardiac arteries
C) Heart function during stress
D) Presence of clots in the atria

Question 8

A patient's blood pressure is 174/98 mm Hg.Which aspect of cardiac output is most affected by this elevated reading?

A) Preload
B) Heart rate
C) Afterload
D) Contractility

Question 9

The nurse notes that a patient is scheduled for a brain natriuretic peptide level to be drawn.What patient teaching should the nurse prepare for this patient?

A) Low-fat diet
B) Signs of heart failure
C) Symptoms of a heart attack
D) Lung versus heart problems

Question 10

The nurse is preparing to auscultate the heart sounds of a patient with mitral valve regurgitation.Which sound should the nurse expect to hear?

A) Rub
B) Click
C) Murmur
D) Atrial gallop

Question 11

A patient is being assessed for heart disease.For which laboratory test should the nurse instruct to avoid eating and drinking fluids for 12 hours?

A) Lipid panel
B) Homocysteine
C) C-reactive protein
D) Partial thromboplastin time

Question 12

A patient's QRS complex is becoming increasingly wider.What is occurring within the heart muscle that is reflected on this tracing?

A) The ventricles are repolarizing.
B) Atrial repolarization is occurring.
C) Ventricular depolarization is prolonged.
D) The atria depolarize and the impulse at the AV node is delayed.

Question 13

The nurse suspects that a patient is experiencing a release of norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla.Which assessment finding did the nurse use to make this clinical decision?

A) Blood pressure 94/48 mm Hg
B) Heart rate 68 beats per minute
C) Heart rate 120 beats per minute
D) Blood pressure 180/100 mm Hg

Question 14

The nurse is preparing teaching about the coronary arteries for a group of patients scheduled for heart surgery.Which information should the nurse include in this teaching?

A) The coronary arteries originate in the cusps of the aortic valve.
B) The coronary arteries prevent the backflow of blood into the atria.
C) The coronary arteries respond to changes in pressure within the heart.
D) The coronary arteries prevent the backflow of blood into the ventricles.

Question 15

A patient is recovering from a cardiac catheterization.For which finding should the nurse notify the health-care provider?

A) Warm right foot
B) Urine output 250 mL/2 hours
C) Discomfort lying flat for six hours
D) Hematoma formation at puncture site

Question 16

While auscultating a patient's heart rate the nurse hears scratching sounds.What is most likely causing this sound?

A) Epicardium adhering to the heart surface
B) Low level of fluid in the pericardial cavity
C) Parietal pericardium adhering to the sternum
D) Endocardium adhering to the heart chambers

Question 17

The nurse notes that a patient has bilateral lower extremity edema.For which health problem should the nurse assess further?

A) Pericarditis
B) Cardiac tamponade
C) Lymph obstruction
D) Venous insufficiency

Question 18

A patient is prescribed to have capillary blood glucose readings every four hours.What should the nurse include when explaining capillaries to the patient?

A) It is a low-pressure vascular circuit.
B) Capillaries are the largest vessel within the arterial system.
C) The real work of the vascular system occurs at the capillary level.
D) They are flexible to adapt to changes in volume without large changes in pressure.

Question 19

The nurse notes that a patient has a low serum potassium level.Which phase of the cardiac action potential will be most affected by this blood level?

A) Phase 0
B) Phase 1
C) Phase 3
D) Phase 4

Question 20

The nurse is preparing to determine a patient's cardiac output.Which measurement should be used for preload?

A) Heart rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Oxygen saturation
D) Central venous pressure