WorksheetsNCLEX-Style Cardiovascular Questions
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 13mins
John D., a 65-year-old retired mechanic, arrived at the emergency department experiencing sudden, severe chest pain radiating down his left arm. The pain began while he was walking to his mailbox. Which of the following associated symptoms did John also report?
Dizziness and blurred vision
Numbness in his right leg and dry cough
Shortness of breath and a cold, clammy sweat
Headache and ringing in his ears
John D. has several risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Which of the following in his history significantly increases his risk? (Select all that apply)
Mild osteoarthritis in his knees
Inconsistently managed hypertension and type 2 diabetes
Smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for 35 years
Father passed away from a heart attack at age 58
Occasional use of over-the-counter pain relievers
Upon initial assessment, John D.'s vital signs included a blood pressure of 168/92 mmHg, heart rate of 104 bpm (irregular), respiratory rate of 24/min, and O2 saturation of 90%. Which of these findings requires immediate nursing intervention for oxygenation?
BP: 168/92 mmHg
HR: 104 bpm (irregular)
RR: 24/min
O2 Sat: 90%
John D. reported that his chest pain was an 8/10 on a pain scale and radiated to his jaw and left arm. He also stated the pain started when walking to his mailbox and increased in intensity. He took sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) twice without pain reduction. This lack of response to NTG, combined with the pain's duration and severity, is most indicative of which condition?
Chronic Stable Angina (CSA)
Vasospastic Angina
Unstable Angina (UA)
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
John D.'s initial lab results showed a Troponin I level of 2.8 ng/mL (normal: <0.04 ng/mL). This finding is most indicative of which condition?
Chronic Stable Angina (CSA)
Vasospastic Angina
Unstable Angina (UA)
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Which of the following medications is most appropriate for John D. to receive immediately to reduce myocardial oxygen demand and relieve chest pain?
Aspirin
Morphine
Metoprolol
Atorvastatin
John D. is prescribed a beta-blocker as part of his treatment plan. Which of the following is a common side effect of beta-blockers that John should be aware of?
Increased heart rate
Hypotension
Hyperglycemia
Increased appetite
Which of the following lifestyle modifications should John D. implement to reduce his risk of future cardiovascular events? (Select all that apply)
Increase dietary sodium intake
Engage in regular physical activity
Quit smoking
Limit alcohol consumption
Increase intake of saturated fats
John D. is advised to monitor his blood pressure at home. Which of the following is the recommended target blood pressure for patients with cardiovascular disease?
Less than 120/80 mmHg
Less than 130/80 mmHg
Less than 140/90 mmHg
Less than 150/90 mmHg
John D. is prescribed a statin medication. Which of the following lab tests should be regularly monitored to assess for potential side effects of statin therapy?
Liver function tests
Complete blood count
Serum electrolytes
Thyroid function tests
Myocardial Infarction (MI) is differentiated from Unstable Angina (UA) primarily by:
The duration of chest pain
The presence of ST-segment changes on an ECG
The presence of elevated cardiac troponin levels
Relief with rest and nitroglycerin
In the context of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
Insufficient oxygen supplied to meet the requirements of the myocardium, without permanent damage
Atherosclerotic plaque rupture leading to thrombus formation and vasoconstriction, severely reducing blood flow by 80-90%
Chest discomfort during moderate physical activity, relieved by nitroglycerin or rest
ST changes on a 12-lead ECG without changes in troponin levels
For a patient experiencing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), what is the first-line treatment and its target timeframe?
Fibrinolytic therapy within 60 minutes
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) within 90 minutes ("Door to Balloon")
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) within 24 hours
Intensive medical management with heparin and antiplatelets
Following a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with stent placement, a patient with a drug-eluting stent (DES) needs to take antiplatelet therapy for at least how long?
1 month
3 months
6 months
1 year
John D.'s family history of his father having a heart attack at age 58 is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease because it indicates:
Exposure to similar environmental stressors
A genetic predisposition
Shared dietary habits
Similar occupational hazards
Which of the following EKG findings is indicative of myocardial ischemia?
Normal P wave configuration
ST depression and T-wave inversion
A QRS duration less than 0.12 seconds
An isoelectric ST segment
John D. presented with an irregular heart rate of 104 bpm. What common dysrhythmia is characterized by numerous rapid impulses from various atrial sites, leading to chaotic atrial depolarization and an irregularly irregular ventricular rate with an absence of clear P waves?
Sinus Tachycardia
Sinus Bradycardia
Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
What does the P wave on an ECG strip represent?
Ventricular repolarization
Ventricular depolarization
Atrial depolarization
The time between ventricular depolarization and repolarization
Which of the following is a common complication that a nurse should monitor for in a patient who has had a Myocardial Infarction (MI)? (Select all that apply)
Arrhythmias
Heart failure
Reinfarction
Pericardial effusion
Acute pulmonary edema
A patient reports persistent chest pain 5 minutes after taking the first sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) dose. According to patient education guidelines, what is the most appropriate next step?
Take a second NTG and call 9-1-1
Wait another 5 minutes before taking a second NTG
Take two more NTG tablets immediately
Go to the nearest walk-in clinic
Which component of the EKG waveform typically represents the time for ventricular repolarization?
P wave
QRS complex
ST segment
T wave
A patient's lipid profile shows an LDL of 160 mg/dL and an HDL of 32 mg/dL. These values indicate:
Normal lipid levels
Low risk for cardiovascular disease
Dyslipidemia, increasing cardiovascular risk
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) within normal limits
Which of the following is a key component of the "ABCDE Guidelines" for patient education in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?
Avoidance of all medications
Regular physical activity
Consumption of high-sodium foods
Exclusive reliance on alternative therapies
Which of the following conditions is listed as a non-ischemic cardiovascular cause of chest pain?
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Chronic Stable Angina
Aortic dissection
Ischemic heart disease
The PR interval on an EKG strip represents the time taken for an impulse to spread from the sinus node through the AV node into the ventricles. What is the normal duration for a PR interval?
Less than 0.12 seconds
0.12 to 0.20 seconds
Greater than 0.20 seconds
0.06 to 0.12 seconds
