Chapter 17: The Cardiovascular System

Chapter 17: The Cardiovascular System

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The nurse is educating a female patient with a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) about risk factors and prevention of heart disease in women. Which information is most important for the nurse to include?

a.	Women should maintain a body mass index (BMI) of less than 28.
b.	Women should utilize estrogen supplementation to decrease risk of heart disease.
c.	Women should drink one alcoholic beverage daily.
d.	Women should incorporate stress reduction techniques into their daily lifestyle.

 

 

ANS:  D

Increased stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially in women. Women should incorporate stress reduction techniques into their daily lifestyle. Women should maintain a BMI of less than 25. Women should discontinue use of estrogen contraception/supplementation as soon as possible. Women should not consume more than one alcoholic drink per day, and abstaining from alcohol is beneficial.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   372-373

OBJ:   2 (theory)       TOP:   Heart Disease in Women

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance

 

2. In a blood pressure of 120/80, what does the “80” indicate?

a.	Pulse pressure
b.	Pressure in the relaxed ventricles
c.	Relative ejection factor
d.	Stroke volume

 

 

ANS:  B

The diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg is the reading of the pressure during ventricular relaxation.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Knowledge            REF:   371

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Diastolic Pressure: Definition

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

 

3. The nurse is caring for a patient on lisinopril (Zestril). The patient asks how this medication affects blood pressure. Which response best explains the medication’s effects?

a.	“This medication blocks epinephrine and lowers the heart rate, which impacts blood pressure.”
b.	“This medication stimulates the release of sodium and water to be excreted.”
c.	“This medication lowers blood pressure by blocking an enzyme that causes blood vessels to constrict.”
d.	“This medication decreases cardiac output.”

 

 

ANS:  C

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are antihypertensive medications, or medications that lower blood pressure. ACE-inhibitors block angiotensin I from converting to angiotensin II and cause vasoconstriction. This action prevents blood pressure from increasing.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   371

OBJ:   1 (theory)       TOP:   Angiotensin: Effect on Circulatory System

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

 

4. The 85-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed heart murmur expresses concern that he has never been notified of this finding before. What is the most likely cause of this patient’s heart murmur?

a.	Hypertension
b.	Atherosclerosis
c.	Insufficient valves
d.	Weakened pacemaker

 

 

ANS:  C

Systolic murmurs commonly appear in people over the age of 80. These murmurs are usually related to valvular dysfunction caused by thickening of the valves, especially the mitral and aortic valves.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   372

OBJ:   2 (theory)       TOP:   Murmur in the Older Adult

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection of Disease

 

5. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient. While auscultating the patient’s apical pulse, the nurse notices an irregular rhythm. The nurse suspects which causative factor for the patient’s dysrhythmia?

a.	Loss of cells in the sinoatrial (SA) nodes
b.	Increased peripheral resistance
c.	Hypertension
d.	Atherosclerosis

 

 

ANS:  A

Loss of cells in the SA nodes via age-related changes is the most common cause of dysrhythmias in the older adult. This nurse should, however, document these findings and report the findings to the primary care provider.

 

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   372

OBJ:   2 (clinical)      TOP:   Dysrhythmia in the Older Adult

KEY:  Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation