Question 1

Which of the following is the most accurate information to tell a patient about how artificial pacemakers work?

Accepted Answer

A)  Artificial pacemakers generate electricity
B)  Artificial pacemakers provide electrical stimulation to the heart when its own pacemaker cannot meet the metabolic needs of the body
C)  Artificial pacemakers help the heart muscles to contract
D)  Artificial pacemakers increase the cardiac output B

Question 2

The nurse enters the room of a patient who has otosclerosis and significant hearing loss. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Speak loudly immediately after entering the room
B)  Speak to the patient directly in a simple language
C)  Announce his/her presence in a normal voice and explain what he/she is doing
D)  Sit/stand close to the patient and speak slowly and clearly D

Question 3

A cardiac care nurse is explaining a triple bypass surgery and obtaining consent for the surgery. Which of the following should the nurse ensure have been explained to the patient and the family?

Accepted Answer

A)  Risk involved in the surgery
B)  Benefits of the surgery
C)  Serious complications of surgery like stroke, myocardial infarction, or death
D)  All of above D

Question 4

The nurse is evaluating the arterial blood oxygenation level on a patient who had a myocardial infarction 2 days ago. What would be the minimal oxygenation saturation level that would reflect adequate oxygen supply to the tissues?

Accepted Answer

A)  88%
B)  90%
C)  92%
D)  95%

Question 5

According to current guidelines, to which of the following patients should the nurse explain the routine screening for aneurysms?

Accepted Answer

A)  70-year-old non-smoker male patient
B)  62-year-old male patient whose father died of aneurysmal rupture
C)  65-year-old diabetic female patient
D)  55-year-old male patient with family history of aneurysm

Question 6

After undergoing aortic valve replacement, a 70-year-old male complains of palpitations and dizziness. The nurse records his blood pressure as 110/70 mm Hg. The nurse also records an EKG. Which of the following EKG findings would prompt the nurse to consider a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Presence of abnormal P waves with irregular R-R intervals
B)  Absent P waves with regular R-R interval
C)  Absent P waves, irregular R-R interval, and fibrillatory waves
D)  Inverted P waves, regular R-R interval

Question 7

A nurse is counseling a patient who has had balloon valvuloplasty of the mitral valve. Which of the following is the correct post-operative follow-up interval and post-operative test?

Accepted Answer

A)  Consult the clinician 1 month post-procedure: an echocardiogram 3 to 6 months post-procedure
B)  Consult the clinician 1 week post-procedure: an echocardiogram 3 to 6 months post-procedure
C)  Consult the clinician 1 week post-procedure: an echocardiogram 1 month post-procedure
D)  Consult the clinician 1 month post-procedure: an echocardiogram 1 month post-procedure

Question 8

What medications should the nurse give to a patient being prepared for PCTA of the carotid artery?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heparin, atropine, nifedipine
B)  Heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel
C)  Heparin, warfarin, aspirin
D)  Heparin, clopidogrel, warfarin

Question 9

A nurse is taking care of a 50-year-old patient who has undergone mitral valve replacement surgery. The patient develops a perioperative myocardial infarction, and the doctor orders a continuous IV infusion of nitroglycerin. Which of the following is the most important action to be taken by this nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Start the medication using an infusion pump
B)  Frequent monitoring of urine output
C)  Frequent monitoring of blood pressure
D)  Measure the patient's serum potassium

Question 10

The nurse is recording blood pressure and counting pulse rate of a patient who uses cocaine. What is the expected finding in this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hypertension and decreased heart rate
B)  Hypertension and increased heart rate
C)  Hypotension and increased heart rate
D)  Hypotension and decreased heart rate

Question 11

Which of the following is true as per the code of ethics for nurses?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nurses are moral agents when providing care
B)  Nurses keep person receiving care, families, and employers informed about potential and actual change to delivery of care
C)  Nurses respect the wishes of capable persons to decline to receive information about their health condition
D)  All of the above

Question 12

A patient who has undergone mitral valve replacement surgery complains of bleeding from the surgical incision. Which of the following medications should the attending nurse be prepared to administer to the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vitamin K
B)  Vitamin C
C)  Protamine Sulfate
D)  Coumadin

Question 13

A patient is scheduled to undergo CABG surgery. Which of the following tests would the nurse not order as a part of pre-operative assessment?

Accepted Answer

A)  CBC, PTT, INR, electrolytes, glucose, BUN, creatinine
B)  Stool for occult blood
C)  PA and lateral CXR
D)  ECG to diagnose heart rhythm abnormalities and myocardial ischemia

Question 14

The 3 domains of adult learning include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cognitive learning, sensory learning, motor learning,
B)  Cognitive learning, psychomotor learning, affective learning
C)  Psychomotor learning, psychosocial learning, behavioral learning
D)  Cognitive learning, psychosocial learning, motor learning

Question 15

A patient presents with post-operative hemorrhage after cardiac surgery. What initial steps should the attending nurse take?

Accepted Answer

A)  Measure clotting factors stat: INR, PTT, fibrinogen, platelet count, activated clotting time
B)  Correct with fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelets, DDAVP
C)  Administer protamine to reverse heparinization
D)  Give tranexamic acid bolus (50 mg/kg)

Question 16

A patient presents with post-operative hemorrhage after undergoing cardiac surgery. Which of the following should prompt the attending nurse to consult the cardiothoracic surgeon for surgical exploration?

Accepted Answer

A)  A pulse rate > 100
B)  Excess mediastinal tube drainage
C)  Patient with history of bleeding disorders
D)  Patient who has undergone multiple surgeries

Question 17

A patient of peripheral arterial disease is being released from hospital. What advice should the nurse give to the patient about foot care?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wash and moisturize feet daily; wear thick socks and comfortable shoes
B)  Clean the foot by rubbing with pumice stone
C)  Clean feet using soft scrubber and keep dry
D)  Clean feet and regularly walk barefoot in morning

Question 18

What are the investigations a nurse should order/perform for a patient who recently had implantation of a pacemaker?

Accepted Answer

A)  Exercise ECG testing, echocardiogram, CT scan of chest
B)  Echocardiogram, coronary angiography, chest x-ray
C)  Exercise ECG testing, stress echocardiogram, chest x-ray
D)  Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, look for swelling, physical assessment

Question 19

A patient is has been diagnosed as having DVT. Which of the following set of investigations should the nurse order to establish the cause of his condition?

Accepted Answer

A)  CT angiogram, impedance plethysmography
B)  Platelet count, bleeding and clotting time, prothrombin time
C)  Antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, factor V Leiden, prothrombin 2020a mutation, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies
D)  Tests for endothelial dysfunction, venous doppler

Question 20

What tests should be performed to evaluate a patient after PCTA?

Accepted Answer

A)  Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, hematocrit, serum creatinine
B)  Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac enzymes
C)  Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, physical assessment, monitoring of peripheral blood flow
D)  Physical assessment and evaluation of cardiac pain

Exam 1: Intervention