LPN Medical-Surgical Nursing: Cardiovascular Disorders 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) complains of leg pain when walking that resolves with rest. This symptom is called:
- Rest pain
- Intermittent claudication (Correct answer)
- Venous insufficiency
- Raynaud's phenomenon
Correct answer: Intermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication is muscle pain caused by inadequate arterial blood flow during exercise that is relieved by rest.
Question 2: A patient is admitted with an acute MI. Which enzyme is the MOST specific cardiac biomarker the LPN should expect to be ordered?
- LDH
- AST
- Troponin I (Correct answer)
- CK (total)
Correct answer: Troponin I
Troponin I is highly specific to cardiac muscle and is the preferred biomarker for diagnosing myocardial infarction.
Question 3: A patient is receiving IV heparin therapy. Which antidote should the LPN know is available in case of heparin overdose?
- Vitamin K
- Protamine sulfate (Correct answer)
- Phytonadione
- Fresh frozen plasma
Correct answer: Protamine sulfate
Protamine sulfate is the specific antidote for heparin overdose, binding to heparin and neutralizing its anticoagulant effect.
Question 4: When caring for a patient post-cardiac catheterization via the femoral artery, which assessment is the LPN's highest priority?
- Monitoring urine output
- Checking the puncture site for bleeding or hematoma (Correct answer)
- Encouraging oral fluid intake
- Monitoring blood glucose levels
Correct answer: Checking the puncture site for bleeding or hematoma
The femoral artery puncture site must be assessed frequently for bleeding or hematoma formation, as hemorrhage is a serious complication.
Question 5: A patient with chronic heart failure has a fluid restriction of 1,500 mL/day. Which action helps the patient manage thirst?
- Sucking on ice chips or hard candy (Correct answer)
- Drinking large amounts of cold water in the morning
- Increasing sodium intake to retain fluid
- Taking extra diuretics to compensate
Correct answer: Sucking on ice chips or hard candy
Sucking on ice chips or hard candy stimulates saliva and relieves thirst without significantly contributing to fluid intake.
Question 6: A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril. Which side effect should the LPN teach the patient to report?
- Increased urination
- Persistent dry cough (Correct answer)
- Weight gain
- Blurred vision
Correct answer: Persistent dry cough
ACE inhibitors like lisinopril commonly cause a persistent dry cough due to bradykinin accumulation in the airways.
Question 7: A patient with heart failure has been prescribed a low-sodium diet. Which food choice indicates the patient needs further teaching?
- Fresh baked chicken breast
- Canned vegetable soup (Correct answer)
- Fresh steamed broccoli
- Homemade oatmeal
Correct answer: Canned vegetable soup
Canned soups are high in sodium and are not appropriate for a low-sodium diet without selecting a low-sodium variety.
LPN Medical-Surgical Nursing: Cardiovascular Disorders 3
A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) complains of leg pain when walking that resolves with rest.
This symptom is called: