Question 1

Compared to white adults, which of the following statements about cultural groups is true regarding heart disease?

Accepted Answer

African Americans have a higher rate of high blood pressure than white adults, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease.

Question 2

You are palpating the apical pulse on a slightly overweight male patient but cannot feel the pulsation of the apical pulse. What will be your next step?

Accepted Answer

Asking the patient to turn slightly on his left side (left lateral decubitus position) can bring the heart closer to the chest wall, making it easier to palpate the apical pulse, especially in patients where it may be difficult to feel due to body habitus or other factors.

Question 3

An 86-year-old female patient comes to the emergency room complaining of chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. You take her vital signs: blood pressure 160/100, apical pulse 92, carotid pulse 104, respiratory rate 24, tympanic temperature 100.4°F. What is the pulse deficit?

Accepted Answer

The pulse deficit is calculated by subtracting the apical pulse from the carotid pulse: 104 - 92 = 12.

Question 4

While interpreting heart sounds it is essential to understand from which part of the cardiac cycle heart sounds are being generated. Which technique will assist you to interpret the cardiac cycle as you auscultate heart sounds?

Accepted Answer

Palpating the carotid artery while auscultating the heart helps in timing the heart sounds with the cardiac cycle. The carotid pulse is closely synchronized with ventricular systole, allowing the clinician to distinguish between the first heart sound (S1) and the second heart sound (S2).

Question 5

You are auscultating heart sounds using the bell of the stethoscope. You hear a "swooshing" sound at Erb's point. Identify the area where you hear this heart murmur.

Accepted Answer

The answer of  You are auscultating heart sounds using...

Question 6

Place the following steps to assess the anterior chest for a cardiovascular assessment in order (1-7). (Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence. Do not use punctuation or spaces. Example: 1234.)
____1. Adjust the head of the examining table so that the patient is supine with head and chest elevated at 30 degrees.
____2. Document your findings.
____3. Drape the patient so only the chest area is exposed.
____4. Palpate the precordium for vibrations.
____5. Palpate the apical pulse.
____6. Inspect the symmetry of the chest.
____7. Auscultate heart sounds

Accepted Answer

The answer of Place the following steps to assess the...

Question 7

Electrical impulses are initiated in the right atrium. Put the route that the impulses travel from the base of the heart to the apex of the heart in the correct sequence (1-4). (Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence. Do not use punctuation or spaces. Example: 1234.)
1. Bundle of His
2. Sinoatrial node
3. Purkinje fibers
4. Atrioventricular node

Accepted Answer

The answer of Electrical impulses are initiated in the right...

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about the chambers of the heart? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The right atrium pumps deoxygenated blood, the left ventricle pumps blood out to the aorta, and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood.

Question 9

The nurse is assessing the patient and suspects that the patient has developed congestive heart failure. What signs or symptoms help to validate the nurse's suspicions? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A faint, low-pitched S3 heart sound, orthopnea (use of multiple pillows to sleep), and peripheral edema are indicative of congestive heart failure.

Question 10

The nurse is attempting to assess the patient's apical pulse and cannot palpate it. In which of the following patients would it be difficult to palpate the patient's apical pulse? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

It can be difficult to palpate the apical pulse in patients with enlarged pectoral muscles (B), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (C), or fluid around the heart (E) due to physical barriers or changes in the position of the heart.

Question 11

The nurse is teaching the patient about modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. Which factors would the nurse include in the teaching plan? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking are modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease, meaning they can be changed or managed through lifestyle changes or medical treatment. Family history and gender are non-modifiable risk factors.

Question 12

Which of the following is true regarding heart murmurs? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Murmurs are caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves. They can be innocent (not caused by a heart defect) or pathological (caused by a heart defect). Babies are born with murmurs because their heart valves are still developing.

Question 13

Which of the following is typically a cause of a heart murmur? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is typically a...

Question 14

The nurse suspects the patient has an aortic valve murmur. How would the nurse assess the patient? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The nurse should instruct the patient to sit up and lean forward to bring the heart closer to the chest wall and place the stethoscope on the 2nd right intercostal space, which is the location for auscultating the aortic valve.

Question 15

You are performing a cardiac assessment and inspecting the anterior chest. The purpose of inspecting the anterior chest is to assess for which of the following? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Inspecting the anterior chest assesses for symmetry, pulsations, and heaves.

Question 16

You are auscultating a patient's heart sounds at the 2nd left intercostal space. You hear a split S₂[dub] sound. This is a normal heart sound that is affected by ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are auscultating a patient's heart sounds...

Question 17

You are performing a cardiovascular assessment and are palpating the precordium. Using the ____________________ surface of your right hand, you will gently palpate the five landmarks.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are performing a cardiovascular assessment and...

Question 18

____________________ is an electrical current moving from cell to cell that produces a positively charged wave through the myocardium. The interior of the cell becomes positively charged and initiates a contraction of the resting myocytes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is an electrical current moving from...

Question 19

Identify the configuration of the following heart murmur: ___________________ starts loud and then gradually fades away.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the configuration of the following heart...

Quiz 13: Assessing the Cardiovascular System