1. A 36-year-old cardiac patient presents with Beck’s triad. What does this triad consist of?
Options:
A. Flushing, pruritus, and urticaria
B. Tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypoxia
C. Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous distension ✅
D. Swelling of lips and tongue, shortness of breath, and laryngeal edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Beck’s triad indicates cardiac tamponade: low BP, distant heart sounds, and JVD.
2. A nurse analyzes a cardiac rhythm strip and determines it is life-threatening. What is the likely rhythm?
Options:
A. Transient
B. Normal
C. Digitalis effect
D. Life-threatening ✅
Answer: D
Rationale: In the context of cardiac tamponade, dysrhythmias like PEA are life-threatening.
3. A 48-year-old with crushing chest pain is diagnosed with acute MI. What causes decreased cardiac output?
Options:
A. Structural factors
B. Impaired ventricular expansion
C. Impaired contractility ✅
D. Fluid volume deficit
Answer: C
Rationale: MI damages heart muscle, reducing contractility and cardiac output.
4. A critically ill patient with a long-standing colostomy uses regular irrigation. What is the best nursing action?
Options:
A. Continue the irrigation schedule ✅
B. Avoid irrigation
C. Manually remove feces
D. Give stimulant laxatives
Answer: A
Rationale: Maintaining the established irrigation routine promotes bowel regularity.
5. A post-CABG patient remains intubated. Which temperature route is most accurate?
Options:
A. Skin strip
B. Axillary
C. Tympanic
D. Rectal ✅
Answer: D
Rationale: Rectal temperature gives the most accurate core reading in critical patients.
6. Before collecting an ABG from the radial artery, which test must the nurse perform?
Options:
A. Allen test ✅
B. Prothrombin time
C. Partial CO₂
D. Arterial O₂ pressure
Answer: A
Rationale: The Allen test checks collateral blood flow to ensure safe arterial sampling.
7. Which test confirms a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism?
Options:
A. CT scan
B. MRI
C. Pulmonary angiography ✅
D. Pulmonary function test
Answer: C
Rationale: Pulmonary angiography directly visualizes emboli in pulmonary arteries.
8. A central line was placed in the subclavian vein. What should be verified before use?
Options:
A. X-ray ✅
B. Blood return
C. Patency
D. Catheter length
Answer: A
Rationale: X-ray confirms proper catheter placement and rules out pneumothorax.
9. What rhythm is identified by a sawtooth pattern of flutter waves?
Options:
A. Atrial flutter ✅
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Ventricular tachycardia
D. Sinus bradycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrial flutter shows characteristic F waves and regular ventricular response.
10. What GCS score feature reflects the highest level of responsiveness?
Options:
A. Confused, obeys commands ✅
B. Eye opening to speech, confused
C. Localizes pain, abnormal extension
D. Eye opening to pain, no verbalization
Answer: A
Rationale: Obeying commands is the highest motor score; confused speech adds verbal score.
11. One hour after IV furosemide, a heart failure patient shows PVCs. What is the likely cause?
Options:
A. Hypokalemia ✅
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, leading to arrhythmias like PVCs.
12. A patient post-MI with stents shows which finding as a sign of stability?
Options:
A. HR >106 bpm
B. O₂ sat >92% on room air ✅
C. Chest pain <7/10
D. RR >15 breaths/min
Answer: B
Rationale: O₂ >92% indicates good perfusion and recovery in post-MI patients.
13. A woman with atrial fibrillation and dyspnea needs help toileting. What is the best nursing action?
Options:
A. Right side-lying position
B. Encourage visits
C. Promote independent hygiene
D. Provide bedside commode ✅
Answer: D
Rationale: A bedside commode limits exertion, reducing oxygen demand.
14. Atrial fibrillation and right ventricular hypertrophy are likely caused by:
Options:
A. Hypertension ✅
B. Rheumatic fever
C. Atherosclerosis
D. Genetic predisposition
Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases cardiac workload, causing heart remodeling.
15. A man with chest pain and ST elevation needs which test to confirm MI?
Options:
A. Cardiac catheterization
B. Myoglobin
C. Troponin levels ✅
D. Echocardiogram
Answer: C
Rationale: Troponin is the most specific and sensitive marker for myocardial infarction.
