CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE & HYPERTENSION

Text Mode – Text version of the exam

1) Medical treatment of coronary artery disease includes which of the following procedures?

A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Coronary artery bypass surgery
C. Oral medication administration
D. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
2) Atherosclerosis impedes coronary blood flow by which of the following mechanisms?

A. Plaques obstruct the vein

B. Plaques obstruct the artery
C. Blood clots form outside the vessel wall
D. Hardened vessels dilate to allow the blood to flow through
3) A client with pneumonia is receiving supplemental oxygen, 2 L/min via nasal cannula. The
client’s history includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery
disease. Because of these findings, the nurse closely monitors the oxygen flow and the client’s
respiratory status. Which complication may arise if the client receives a high oxygen
concentration?

A. Apnea
B. Anginal pain
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
4) Which of the following risk factors for coronary artery disease cannot be corrected?

A. Cigarette smoking
B. DM
C. Heredity
D. HPN
5) Preventable factors that increase the risk of CAD include:

A. High blood cholesterol levels

B. Use of personal protective equipment
C. Cigarette smoking
D. Obesity
E. Exposure to polyacrylamide
6) There are a number of risk factors associated with coronary artery disease. Which of the
following is a modifiable risk factor?

A. Obesity.
B. Heredity.
C. Gender.
D. Age.
7) A male client admitted to an acute care facility with pneumonia is receiving supplemental
oxygen, 2 L/minute via nasal cannula. The client’s history includes chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease. Because of these history findings, the nurse closely
monitors the oxygen flow and the client’s respiratory status. Which complication may arise if the
client receives a high oxygen concentration?

A. Apnea
B. Anginal pain
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
8) Women in the lower socioeconomic group have the highest contribution to CAD related
events for their gender.

A. True
B. False
9) Prolonged occlusion of the right coronary artery produces an infarction in which of he
following areas of the heart?

A. Anterior
B. Apical
C. Inferior
D. Lateral
10) When teaching a client with coronary artery disease about nutrition, the nurse should
emphasize

A. Eating 3 balanced meals a day

B. Adding complex carbohydrates
C. Avoiding very heavy meals
D. Limiting sodium to 7 gms per day
11) Which is a symptom of coronary artery disease?

A. Headache
B. Sleep problems
C. Pain or discomfort in the chest, arms or lower jaw
D. Diarrhea
12) Which of the following illnesses is the leading cause of death in the US?

A. Cancer
B. Coronary artery disease
C. Liver failure
D. Renal failure
13) Which of the following conditions most commonly results in CAD?

A. Atherosclerosis
B. DM
C. MI
D. Renal failure
14) Which of the following diagnostic tools is most commonly used to determine the location of
myocardial damage?

A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Cardiac enzymes
C. Echocardiogram
D. Electrocardiogram
15) One possible treatment for CAD is coronary angioplasty. What does it involve?

A. A new section of artery replaces the blocked section

B. A tiny balloon is inflated inside an artery
C. Medication is used to expand the artery
D. None of the above
16) Which of the following actions is the first priority care for a client exhibiting signs and
symptoms of coronary artery disease?

A. Decrease anxiety
B. Enhance myocardial oxygenation
C. Administer sublignual nitroglycerin
D. Educate the client about his symptoms
17) Exceeding which of the following serum cholesterol levels significantly increases the risk of
coronary artery disease?

A. 100 mg/dl
B. 150 mg/dl
C. 175 mg/dl
D. 200 mg/dl
18) Which procedure or test is used to diagnose CAD?

A. Electrocardiogram
B. Treadmill stress test
C. Cardiac catheterization
D. All of the above
19) A client is scheduled for a cardiac catherization using a radiopaque dye. Which of the
following assessments is most critical before the procedure?

A. Intake and output

B. Baseline peripheral pulse rates
C. Height and weight
D. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
20) A client with no history of cardiovascular disease comes into the ambulatory clinic with flulike
symptoms. The client suddenly complains of chest pain. Which of the following questions would
best help a nurse to discriminate pain caused by a non-cardiac problem?

A. “Have you ever had this pain before?”

B. “Can you describe the pain to me?”
C. “Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?”
D. “Can you rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst?”
21) A client with myocardial infarction has been transferred from a coronary care unit to a
general medical unit with cardiac monitoring via telemetry. A nurse plans to allow for which of
the following client activities?

A. Strict bed rest for 24 hours after transfer

B. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities
C. Unsupervised hallway ambulation with distances under 200 feet
D. Ad lib activities because the client is monitored.
22) A nurse notes 2+ bilateral edema in the lower extremities of a client with myocardial
infarction who was admitted 2 days ago. The nurse would plan to do which of the following
next?

A. Review the intake and output records for the last 2 days
B. Change the time of diuretic administration from morning to evening
C. Request a sodium restriction of 1 g/day from the physician.
D. Order daily weights starting the following morning.
23) A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which begins to sound its alarm. A nurse
sees no electrocardiogram complexes on the screen. The first action of the nurse is to:

A. Check the client status and lead placement

B. Press the recorder button on the electrocardiogram console.
C. Call the physician
D. Call a code blue
24) A nurse is assessing the blood pressure of a client diagnosed with primary hypertension. The
nurse ensures accurate measurement by avoiding which of the following?

A. Seating the client with arm bared, supported, and at heart level.
B. Measuring the blood pressure after the client has been seated quietly for 5 minutes.
C. Using a cuff with a rubber bladder that encircles at least 80% of the limb.
D. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine ingestion.
25) IV heparin therapy is ordered for a client. While implementing this order, a nurse ensures that
which of the following medications is available on the nursing unit?

A. Vitamin K
B. Aminocaporic acid
C. Potassium chloride
D. Protamine sulfate
26) A client is at risk for pulmonary embolism and is on anticoagulant therapy with warfarin
(Coumadin). The client’s prothrombin time is 20 seconds, with a control of 11 seconds. The nurse
assesses that this result is:

A. The same as the client’s own baseline level

B. Lower than the needed therapeutic level
C. Within the therapeutic range
D. Higher than the therapeutic range
27) A client who has been receiving heparin therapy also is started on warfarin. The client asks a
nurse why both medications are being administered. In formulating a response, the nurse
incorporates the understanding that warfarin:

A. Stimulates the breakdown of specific clotting factors by the liver, and it takes 2-3 days for
this to exert an anticoagulant effect.
B. Inhibits synthesis of specific clotting factors in the liver, and it takes 3-4 days for this
medication to exert an anticoagulant effect.
C. Stimulates production of the body’s own thrombolytic substances, but it takes 2-4 days for
this to begin.
D. Has the same mechanism of action as Heparin, and the crossover time is needed for the
serum level of warfarin to be therapeutic.
28) A 60-year-old male client comes into the emergency department with complaints of
crushing chest pain that radiates to his shoulder and left arm. The admitting diagnosis is acute
myocardial infarction. Immediate admission orders include oxygen by NC at 4L/minute, blood
work, chest x-ray, an ECG, and 2mg of morphine given intravenously. The nurse should first:

A. Administer the morphine

B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C. Obtain the lab work
D. Order the chest x-ray
29) When administered a thrombolytic drug to the client experiencing an MI, the nurse explains
to him that the purpose of this drug is to:

A. Help keep him well hydrated

B. Dissolve clots he may have
C. Prevent kidney failure
D. Treat potential cardiac arrhythmias.
30) When interpreting an ECG, the nurse would keep in mind which of the following about the P
wave? Select all that apply.

A. Reflects electrical impulse beginning at the SA node

B. Indicated electrical impulse beginning at the AV node
C. Reflects atrial muscle depolarization
D. Identifies ventricular muscle depolarization
E. Has duration of normally 0.11 seconds or less.
31) A client has driven himself to the ER. He is 50 years old, has a history of hypertension, and
informs the nurse that his father died of a heart attack at 60 years of age. The client is presently
complaining of indigestion. The nurse connects him to an ECG monitor and begins administering
oxygen at 2 L/minute per NC. The nurse’s next action would be to:

A. Call for the doctor

B. Start an intravenous line
C. Obtain a portable chest radiograph
D. Draw blood for laboratory studies
32) The nurse receives emergency laboratory results for a client with chest pain and
immediately informs the physician. An increased myoglobin level suggests which of the
following?

A. Cancer
B. Hypertension
C. Liver disease
D. Myocardial infarction
33) When teaching a client about propranolol hydrochloride, the nurse should base the
information on the knowledge that propranolol hydrochloride:

A. Blocks beta-adrenergic stimulation and thus causes decreased heart rate, myocardial
contractility, and conduction.
B. Increases norepinephrine secretion and thus decreases blood pressure and heart rate.
C. Is a potent arterial and venous vasodilator that reduces peripheral vascular resistance and
lowers blood pressure.
D. Is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that reduces blood pressure by blocking the
conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
34) The most important long-term goal for a client with hypertension would be to:
 A. Learn how to avoid stress
B. Explore a job change or early retirement
C. Make a commitment to long-term therapy
D. Control high blood pressure
35) Hypertension is known as the silent killer. This phrase is associated with the fact that
hypertension often goes undetected until symptoms of other system failures occur. This may
occur in the form of:

A. Cerebrovascular accident
B. Liver disease
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pulmonary disease
36) During the previous few months, a 56-year-old woman felt brief twinges of chest pain while
working in her garden and has had frequent episodes of indigestion. She comes to the hospital
after experiencing severe anterior chest pain while raking leaves. Her evaluation confirms a
diagnosis of stable angina pectoris. After stabilization and treatment, the client is discharged
from the hospital. At her follow-up appointment, she is discouraged because she is experiencing
pain with increasing frequency. She states that she is visiting an invalid friend twice a week and
now cannot walk up the second flight of steps to the friend’s apartment without pain. Which of
the following measures that the nurse could suggest would most likely help the client deal with
this problem?

A. Visit her friend earlier in the day.

B. Rest for at least an hour before climbing the stairs.
C. Take a nitroglycerin tablet before climbing the stairs.
D. Lie down once she reaches the friend’s apartment.
37) Which of the following symptoms should the nurse teach the client with unstable angina to
report immediately to her physician?

A. A change in the pattern of her pain

B. Pain during sex
C. Pain during an argument with her husband
D. Pain during or after an activity such as lawnmowing
38) The physician refers the client with unstable angina for a cardiac catherization. The nurse
explains to the client that this procedure is being used in this specific case to:

A. Open and dilate the blocked coronary arteries

B. Assess the extent of arterial blockage
C. Bypass obstructed vessels
D. Assess the functional adequacy of the valves and heart muscle.
39) As an initial step in treating a client with angina, the physician prescribes nitroglycerin
tablets, 0.3mg given sublingually. This drug’s principle effects are produced by:

A. Antispasmotic effect on the pericardium

B. Causing an increased mycocardial oxygen demand
C. Vasodilation of peripheral vasculature
D. Improved conductivity in the myocardium
40) The nurse teaches the client with angina about the common expected side effects of
nitroglycerin, including:

A. Headache
 B. High blood pressure
C. Shortness of breath
D. Stomach cramps
41) Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets begin to work within 1 to 2 minutes. How should the nurse
instruct the client to use the drug when chest pain occurs?

A. Take one tablet every 2 to 5 minutes until the pain stops.

B. Take one tablet and rest for 10 minutes. Call the physician if pain persists after 10 minutes.
C. Take one tablet, then an additional tablet every 5 minutes for a total of 3 tablets. Call the
physician if pain persists after three tablets.
D. Take one tablet. If pain persists after 5 minutes, take two tablets. If pain still persists 5 minutes
later, call the physician.
42) Which of the following arteries primarily feeds the anterior wall of the heart?

A. Circumflex artery
B. Internal mammary artery
C. Left anterior descending artery
D. Right coronary artery
43) When do coronary arteries primarily receive blood flow?

A. During inspiration
B. During diastolic
C. During expiration
D. During systole
44) A murmur is heard at the second left intercostal space along the left sternal border. Which
valve is this?

A. Aortic
B. Mitral
C. Pulmonic
D. Tricupsid
45) Which of the following blood tests is most indicative of cardiac damage?

A. Lactate dehydrogenase
B. Complete blood count (CBC)
C. Troponin I
D. Creatine kinase (CK)
46) Which of the following types of pain is most characteristic of angina?

A. Knifelike
B. Sharp
C. Shooting
D. Tightness
47) Which of the following parameters is the major determinate of diastolic blood pressure?

A. Baroreceptors
B. Cardiac output
C. Renal function
D. Vascular resistance
48) Which of the following factors can cause blood pressure to drop to normal levels?
 A. Kidneys’ excretion of sodium only
B. Kidneys’ retention of sodium and water
C. Kidneys’ excretion of sodium and water
D. Kidneys’ retention of sodium and excretion of water
49) Baroreceptors in the carotid artery walls and aorta respond to which of the following
conditions?

A. Changes in blood pressure

B. Changes in arterial oxygen tension
C. Changes in arterial carbon dioxide tension
D. Changes in heart rate
50) Which of the following terms describes the force against which the ventricle must expel
blood?

A. Afterload
B. Cardiac output
C. Overload
D. Preload
51) Which of the following terms is used to describe the amount of stretch on the myocardium
at the end of diastole?

A. Afterload
B. Cardiac index
C. Cardiac output
D. Preload
52) A 57-year-old client with a history of asthma is prescribed propanolol (Inderal) to control
hypertension. Before administered propranolol, which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?

A. Monitor the apical pulse rate

B. Instruct the client to take medication with food
C. Question the physician about the order
D. Caution the client to rise slowly when standing.
53) One hour after administering IV furosemide (Lasix) to a client with heart failure, a short burst
of ventricular tachycardia appears on the cardiac monitor. Which of the following electrolyte
imbalances should the nurse suspect?

A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypernatremia
54) A client is receiving spironolactone to treat hypertension. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse provide?

A. “Eat foods high in potassium.”

B. “Take daily potassium supplements.”
C. “Discontinue sodium restrictions.”
D. “Avoid salt substitutes.”
55) When assessing an ECG, the nurse knows that the P-R interval represents the time it takes for
the:
 A. Impulse to begin atrial contraction
B. Impulse to transverse the atria to the AV node
C. SA node to discharge the impulse to begin atrial depolarization
D. Impulse to travel to the ventricles
56) Following a treadmill test and cardiac catheterization, the client is found to have coronary
artery disease, which is inoperative. He is referred to the cardiac rehabilitation unit. During his first
visit to the unit he says that he doesn’t understand why he needs to be there because there is
nothing that can be done to make him better. The best nursing response is:

A. “Cardiac rehabilitation is not a cure but can help restore you to many of your former
activities.”
B. “Here we teach you to gradually change your lifestyle to accommodate your heart
disease.”
C. “You are probably right but we can gradually increase your activities so that you can live a
more active life.”
D. “Do you feel that you will have to make some changes in your life now?”
57) To evaluate a client’s condition following cardiac catheterization, the nurse will palpate the
pulse:

A. In all extremities
B. At the insertion site
C. Distal to the catheter insertion
D. Above the catheter insertion
58) A client’s physician orders nuclear cardiography and makes an appointment for a thallium
scan. The purpose of injecting radioisotope into the bloodstream is to detect:

A. Normal vs. abnormal tissue

B. Damage in areas of the heart
C. Ventricular function
D. Myocardial scarring and perfusion
59) A client enters the ER complaining of severe chest pain. A myocardial infarction is
suspected. A 12 lead ECG appears normal, but the doctor admits the client for further testing
until cardiac enzyme studies are returned. All of the following will be included in the nursing care
plan. Which activity has the highest priority?

A. Monitoring vital signs

B. Completing a physical assessment
C. Maintaining cardiac monitoring
D. Maintaining at least one IV access site
60) A client is experiencing tachycardia. The nurse’s understanding of the physiological basis for
this symptom is explained by which of the following statements?

A. The demand for oxygen is decreased because of pleural involvement

B. The inflammatory process causes the body to demand more oxygen to meet its needs.
C. The heart has to pump faster to meet the demand for oxygen when there is lowered arterial
oxygen tension.
D. Respirations are labored.
61) A client enters the ER complaining of chest pressure and severe epigastric distress. His VS
are 158/90, 94, 24, and 99*F. The doctor orders cardiac enzymes. If the client were diagnosed
with an MI, the nurse would expect which cardiac enzyme to rise within the next 3 to 8 hours?
 A. Creatine kinase (CK or CPK)
B. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)
C. LDH-1
D. LDH-2
62) A 45-year-old male client with leg ulcers and arterial insufficiency is admitted to the
hospital. The nurse understands that leg ulcers of this nature are usually caused by:

A. Decreased arterial blood flow secondary to vasoconstriction

B. Decreased arterial blood flow leading to hyperemia
C. Atherosclerotic obstruction of the arteries
D. Trauma to the lower extremities
63) Which of the following instructions should be included in the discharge teaching for a
patient discharged with a transdermal nitroglycerin patch?

A. “Apply the patch to a nonhairy, nonfatty area of the upper torso or arms.”
B. “Apply the patch to the same site each day to maintain consistent drug absorption.”
C. “If you get a headache, remove the patch for 4 hours and then reapply.”
D. “If you get chest pain, apply a second patch right next to the first patch.”
64) In order to prevent the development of tolerance, the nurse instructs the patient to:

A. Apply the nitroglycerin patch every other day

B. Switch to sublingual nitroglycerin when the patient’s systolic blood pressure elevates to >140
mm Hg
C. Apply the nitroglycerin patch for 14 hours each and remove for 10 hours at night
D. Use the nitroglycerin patch for acute episodes of angina only
65) Direct-acting vasodilators have which of the following effects on the heart rate?

A. Heart rate decreases

B. Heart rate remains significantly unchanged
C. Heart rate increases
D. Heart rate becomes irregular
66) When teaching a patient why spironolactone (Aldactone) and furosemide (Lasix) are
prescribed together, the nurse bases teaching on the knowledge that:

A. Moderate doses of two different types of diuretics are more effective than a large dose of
one type
B. This combination promotes diuresis but decreases the risk of hypokalemia
C. This combination prevents dehydration and hypovolemia
D. Using two drugs increases osmolality of plasma and the glomerular filtration rate
Answers and Rationales

1. C. Oral medication administration . Oral medication administration is a noninvasive,

medical treatment for coronary artery disease. Cardiac catheterization isn’t a treatment
but a diagnostic tool. Coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal
coronary angioplasty are invasive, surgical treatments.
2. B. Plaques obstruct the artery. Arteries, not veins, supply the coronary arteries with oxygen
and other nutrients. Atherosclerosis is a direct result of plaque formation in the artery.
Hardened vessels can’t dilate properly and, therefore, constrict blood flow.
3. A. Apnea . Hypoxia is the main breathing stimulus for a client with COPD. Excessive oxygen
administration may lead to apnea by removing that stimulus. Anginal pain results from a
reduced myocardial oxygen supply. A client with COPD may have anginal pain from
 generalized vasoconstriction secondary to hypoxia; however, administering oxygen at any
concentration dilates blood vessels, easing anginal pain. Respiratory alkalosis results from
alveolar hyperventilation, not excessive oxygen administration. In a client with COPD, high
oxygen concentrations decrease the ventilatory drive, leading to respiratory acidosis, not
alkalosis. High oxygen concentrations don’t cause metabolic acidosis.
4. C. Heredity . Because “heredity” refers to our genetic makeup, it can’t be changed.
Cigarette smoking cessation is a lifestyle change that involves behavior modification.
Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor that can be controlled with diet, exercise, and medication.
Altering one’s diet, exercise, and medication can correct hypertension.
5. A. High blood cholesterol levels ,C. Cigarette smoking , D. Obesity
6. A. Obesity. Obesity is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease that can be
modified by improved diet and weight loss. Family history of coronary artery disease, male
gender, and advancing age increase risk but cannot be modified.
7. A. Apnea . Hypoxia is the main breathing stimulus for a client with COPD. Excessive oxygen
administration may lead to apnea by removing that stimulus. Anginal pain results from a
reduced myocardial oxygen supply. A client with COPD may have anginal pain from
generalized vasoconstriction secondary to hypoxia; however, administering oxygen at any
concentration dilates blood vessels, easing anginal pain. Respiratory alkalosis results from
alveolar hyperventilation, not excessive oxygen administration. In a client with COPD, high
oxygen concentrations decrease the ventilatory drive, leading to respiratory acidosis, not
alkalosis. High oxygen concentrations don’t cause metabolic acidosis.
8. B. False
9. C. Inferior . The right coronary artery supplies the right ventricle, or the inferior portion of the
heart. Therefore, prolonged occlusion could produce an infarction in that area. The right
coronary artery doesn’t supply the anterior portion ( left ventricle ), lateral portion ( some of
the left ventricle and the left atrium ), or the apical portion ( left ventricle ) of the heart.
10. C. Avoiding very heavy meals . Avoiding very heavy meals eating large, heavy meals can
pull blood away from the heart for digestion and is dangerous for the client with coronary
artery disease.
11. C. Pain or discomfort in the chest, arms or lower jaw . Healthy arteries are smooth and
flexible. In a person with CAD, the arteries are narrowed with a buildup of plaque. Blood
cannot flow as easily through diseased arteries. When blood flow is restricted to the heart,
the heart muscle cannot get enough oxygen and pain or discomfort occurs. This pain or
discomfort, which can be felt in the chest, arms or lower jaw, is called angina. Sometimes,
the blood flow in the narrowed arteries is blocked completely by a clot. If this happens, the
heart muscle cannot get oxygen and the person suffers a heart attack. The area of the
heart affected by the blockage dies and becomes scar tissue.
12. B. Coronary artery disease . Coronary artery disease accounts for over 50% of all deaths in
the US. Cancer accounts for approximately 20%. Liver failure and renal failure account for
less than 10% of all deaths in the US.
13. A. Atherosclerosis . Atherosclerosis, or plaque formation, is the leading cause of CAD. DM is
a risk factor for CAD but isn’t the most common cause. Renal failure doesn’t cause CAD,
but the two conditions are related. Myocardial infarction is commonly a result of CAD.
14. D. Electrocardiogram . The ECG is the quickest, most accurate, and most widely used tool
to determine the location of myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes are used to diagnose
MI but can’t determine the location. An echocardiogram is used most widely to view
myocardial wall function after an MI has been diagnosed. Cardiac catheterization is an
invasive study for determining coronary artery disease and may also indicate the location
of myocardial damage, but the study may not be performed immediately.
15. B. A tiny balloon is inflated inside an artery . It is also called balloon angioplasty. The balloon
is placed in the artery by means of a fine tube called a catheter. The catheter usually is
inserted into a blood vessel in an elbow or groin and travels to the heart. Once the end of
 the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated and deflated several times to
push the plaque against the artery wall and open and stretch the artery, the NHLBI says. This
stretching helps improve the flow of blood through the artery. A variation on this procedure
uses a laser instead of a balloon. The laser vaporizes plaque in an artery. Laser angioplasty
has been used alone and along with balloon angioplasty. Because of advances in other
techniques, however, it is not used as often. Angioplasty also can be used to open an
artery in an arm, leg or neck. There are several benefits to angioplasty. It opens up an artery
without the risks associated with major surgery. It retains the original artery instead of
replacing it, as is done in bypass surgery. And it does not require general anesthesia.
16. B. Enhance myocardial oxygenation . Enhancing mocardial oxygenation is always the first
priority when a client exhibits signs and symptoms of cardiac compromise. Without
adequate oxygen, the myocardium suffers damage. Sublingual nitorglycerin is administered
to treat acute angina, but its administration isn’t the first priority. Although educating the
client and decreasing anxiety are important in care delivery, nether are priorities when a
client is compromised.
17. D. 200 mg/dl . Cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl are considered excessive. They require
dietary restriction and perhaps medication. Exercise also helps reduce cholesterol levels.
The other levels listed are all below the nationally accepted levels for cholesterol and carry
a lesser risk for CAD.
18. D. All of the above . An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows the heart’s electrical activity. An
ECG is used to find out if a heart attack has occurred. It also shows which parts of the heart
muscle may not be getting enough blood. The treadmill stress test also helps determine how
blood is flowing through your arteries. It shows how your heart and body respond electrically
during exercise. A radioactive dye may be injected into your bloodstream so that an X-ray
camera can see the blood flow during the test. The main tool for diagnosing coronary
artery disease, however, is cardiac catheterization and angiography. A dye is injected
through a catheter placed in the coronary arteries and an X-ray is taken of the outline of
the artery. This test can pinpoint where the arteries are narrowed or even blocked. CAD
may be diagnosed using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cardiac
computed tomography, which uses an X-ray machine to take detailed pictures of the
heart.
19. D. This procedure requires an informed consent because it involves injection of a
radiopaque dye into the blood vessel. The risk of allergic reaction and possible anaphylaxis
is serious and must be assessed before the procedure.
20. C. Chest pain is assessed by using the standard pain assessment parameters. All other
answer choices may or may not help discriminate the origin of pain. Pain of
pleuropulmonary origin usually worsens on inspiration.
21. B. On transfer from the CCU, the client is allowed self-care activities and bathroom
privileges. Supervised ambulation for brief distances are encouraged, with distances
gradually increased (50, 100, 200 feet).
22. A. Edema, the accumulation of excess fluid in the interstitial spaces, can be measured by
intake greater than output and by a sudden increase in weight. Diuretics should be given in
the morning whenever possible to avoid nocturia. Strict sodium restrictions are reserved for
clients with severe symptoms.
23. A. Sudden loss of electrocardiogram complexes indicates ventricular asystole or possible
electrode displacement. Accurate assessment of the client and equipment is necessary to
determine the cause and identify the appropriate intervention.
24. D. BP should be taken with the client seated with the arm bared, positioned with support
and at heart level. The client should sit with the legs on the floor, feet uncrossed, and not
speak during the recording. The client should not have smoked tobacco or taken in
caffeine in the 30 minutes preceding the measurement. The client should rest quietly for 5
minutes before the reading is taken. The cuff bladder should encircle at least 80% of the
 limb being measured. Gauges other than a mercury sphygmomanometer should be
calibrated every 6 months to ensure accuracy.
25. D. The antidote to heparin is protamine sulfate and should be readily available for use if
excessive bleeding or hemorrhage should occur. Vitamin K is an antidote for warfarin.
26. C. The therapeutic range for prothrombin time is 1.5 to 2 times the control for clients at risk
for thrombus. Based on the client’s control value, the therapeutic range for this individual
would be 16.5 to 22 seconds. Therefore the result is within therapeutic range.
27. B. Warfarin works in the liver and inhibits synthesis of four vitamin K-dependent clotting
factors (X, IX, VII, and II), but it takes 3 to 4 days before the therapeutic effect of warfarin is
exhibited.
28. A. Although obtaining the ECG, chest x-ray, and blood work are all important, the nurse’s
priority action would be to relieve the crushing chest pain.
29. B. Thrombolytic drugs are administered within the first 6 hours after onset of a MI to lyse clots
and reduce the extent of myocardial damage.
30. A, C, E. In a client who has had an ECG, the P wave represents the activation of the
electrical impulse in the SA node, which is then transmitted to the AV node. In addition, the
P wave represents atrial muscle depolarization, not ventricular depolarization. The normal
duration of the P wave is 0.11 seconds or less in duration and 2.5 mm or more in height.
31. B. Advanced cardiac life support recommends that at least one or two intravenous lines be
inserted in one or both of the antecubital spaces. Calling the physician, obtaining a
portable chest radiograph, and drawing blood are important but secondary to starting the
intravenous line.
32. D. Detection of myoglobin is one diagnostic tool to determine whether myocardial
damage has occurred. Myoglobin is generally detected about one hour after a heart
attack is experienced and peaks within 4 to 6 hours after infarction (Remember, less than 90
mg/L is normal).
33. A. Propranolol hydrochloride is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. Actions of propranolol
hydrochloride include reducing heart rate, decreasing myocardial contractility, and
slowing conduction.
34. C. Compliance is the most critical element of hypertensive therapy. In most cases,
hypertensive clients require lifelong treatment and their hypertension cannot be managed
successfully without drug therapy. Stress management and weight management are
important components of hypertension therapy, but the priority goal is related to
compliance.
35. A. Hypertension is referred to as the silent killer for adults, because until the adult has
significant damage to other systems, the hypertension may go undetected. CVA’s can be
related to long-term hypertension. Liver or pulmonary disease is generally not associated
with hypertension. Myocardial infarction is generally related to coronary artery disease.
36. C. Nitroglycerin may be used prophylactically before stressful physical activities such as stair
climbing to help the client remain pain free. Visiting her friend early in the day would have
no impact on decreasing pain episodes. Resting before or after an activity is not as likely to
help prevent an activity-related pain episode.
37. A. The client should report a change in the pattern of chest pain. It may indicate increasing
severity of CAD.
38. B. Cardiac catherization is done in clients with angina primarily to assess the extent and
severity of the coronary artery blockage, A decision about medical management,
angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery will be based on the catherization results.
39. C. Nitroglycerin produces peripheral vasodilation, which reduces myocardial oxygen
consumption and demand. Vasodilation in coronary arteries and collateral vessels may also
increase blood flow to the ischemic areas of the heart. Nitroglycerin decreases myocardial
oxygen demand. Nitroglycerin does not have an effect on pericardial spasticity or
conductivity in the myocardium.
40. A. Because of the widespread vasodilating effects, nitroglycerin often produces such side
effects as headache, hypotension, and dizziness. The client should lie or shit down to avoid
fainting. Nitro does not cause shortness of breath or stomach cramps.
41. C. The correct protocol for nitroglycerin used involves immediate administration, with
subsequent doses taken at 5-minute intervals as needed, for a total dose of 3 tablets.
Sublingual nitroglycerin appears in the blood stream within 2 to 3 minutes and is
metabolized within about 10 minutes.
42. C. The left anterior descending artery is the primary source of blood flow for the anterior wall
of the heart. The circumflex artery supplies the lateral wall, the internal mammary supplies
the mammary, and the right coronary artery supplies the inferior wall of the heart.
43. B. Although the coronary arteries may receive a minute portion of blood during systole,
most of the blood flow to coronary arteries is supplied during diastole. Breathing patterns
are irrelevant to blood flow.
44. C. Abnormalities of the pulmonic valve are auscultated at the second left intercostal space
along the left sternal border. Aortic valve abnormalities are heard at the second intercostal
space, to the right of the sternum. Mitral valve abnormalities are heard at the fifth
intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Tricupsid valve abnormalities are heard at the
3rd and 4th intercostal spaces along the sternal border.
45. C. Troponin I levels rise rapidly and are detectable within 1 hour of myocardial injury.
Troponin levels aren’t detectable in people without cardiac injury.
46. D. The ECG is the quickest, most accurate, and most widely used tool to determine the
location of myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes are used to diagnose MI but can’t
determine the location. An echocardiogram is used most widely to view myocardial wall
function after an MI has been diagnosed. Cardiac catherization is an invasive study for
determining coronary artery disease and may also indicate the location of myocardial
damage, but the study may not be performed immediately.
47. D. Vascular resistance is the impedance of blood flow by the arterioles that most
predominantly affects the diastolic pressure. Cardiac output determines systolic blood
pressure.
48. C. The kidneys respond to a rise in blood pressure by excreting sodium and excess water.
This response ultimately affects systolic pressure by regulating blood volume.
49. A. Baroreceptors located in the carotid arteries and aorta sense pulsatile pressure.
Decreases in pulsatile pressure cause a reflex increase in heart rate. Chemoreceptors in the
medulla are primarily stimulated by carbon dioxide. Peripheral chemoreceptors in the aorta
and carotid arteries are primarily stimulated by oxygen.
50. A. Afterload refers to the resistance normally maintained by the aortic and pulmonic valves,
the condition and tone of the aorta, and the resistance offered by the systemic and
pulmonary arterioles. Cardiac output is the amount of blood expelled from the heart per
minute. Overload refers to an abundance of circulating volume. Preload is the volume of
blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole.
51. D. Preload is the amount of stretch of the cardiac muscle fibers at the end of diastole. The
volume of blood in the ventricle at the end of diastole determines the preload. Afterload is
the force against which the ventricle must expel blood. Cardiac index is the individualized
measurement of cardiac output, based on the client’s body surface area. Cardiac output
is the amount of blood the heart is expelling per minute.
52. C. Propranolol and other beta-adrenergic blockers are contraindicated in a client with
asthma, so the nurse should question the physician before giving the dose. The other
responses are appropriate actions for a client receiving propranolol, but questioning the
physician takes priority. The client’s apical pulse should always be checked before giving
propranolol; if the pulse rate is extremely low, the nurse should withhold the drug and notify
the physician.
53. C. Furosemide is a potassium-depleting diuretic than can cause hypokalemia. In turn,
hypokalemia increases myocardial excitability, leading to ventricular tachycardia.
54. D. Because spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, the client should avoid salt
substitutes because of their high potassium content. The client should also avoid potassium-
rich foods and potassium supplements. To reduce fluid-volume overload, sodium restrictions
should continue.
55. D. The P-R interval is measured on the ECG strip from the beginning of the P wave to the
beginning of the QRS complex. It is the time it takes for the impulse to travel to the ventricle.
56. A. Such a response does not have false hope to the client but is positive and realistic. The
answer tells the client what cardiac rehabilitation is and does not dwell upon his negativity
about it.
57. C. Palpating pulses distal to the insertion site is important to evaluate for thrombophlebitis
and vessel occlusion. They should be bilateral and strong.
58. D. This scan detects myocardial damage and perfusion, an acute or chronic MI. It is a more
specific answer than (1) or (2). Specific ventricular function is tested by a gated cardiac
blood pool scan.
59. C. Even though initial tests seem to be within normal range, it takes at least 3 hours for the
cardiac enzyme studies to register. In the meantime, the client needs to be watched for
bradycardia, heart block, ventricular irritability, and other arrhythmias. Other activities can
be accomplished around the MI monitoring.
60. C. The arterial oxygen supply is lowered and the demand for oxygen is increased, which
results in the heart’s having to beat faster to meet the body’s needs for oxygen.
61. A. Creatine kinase (CK, formally known as CPK) rises in 3-8 hours if an MI is present. When the
myocardium is damaged, CPK leaks out of the cell membranes and into the blood stream.
Lactic dehydrogenase rises in 24-48 hours, and LDH-1 and LDH-2 rises in 8-24 hours.
62. A. Decreased arterial flow is a result of vasospasm. The etiology is unknown. It is more
problematic in colder climates or when the person is under stress. Hyperemia occurs when
the vasospasm is relieved.
63. A. A nitroglycerin patch should be applied to a nonhairy, nonfatty area for the best and
most consistent absorption rates. Sites should be rotated to prevent skin irritation, and the
drug should be continued if headache occurs because tolerance will develop. Sublingual
nitroglycerin should be used to treat chest pain.
64. C. Tolerance can be prevented by maintaining an 8- to 12-hour nitrate-free period each
day.
65. C. Heart rate increases in response to decreased blood pressure caused by vasodilation.
66. B. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic; furosemide is a potassium-loosing diuretic.
Giving these together minimizes electrolyte imbalance.