LVN Cardiovascular & Respiratory Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with heart failure is experiencing dyspnea and orthopnea. What position should the LVN place the patient in?
- Supine
- Trendelenburg
- High Fowler's or Semi-Fowler's (Correct answer)
- Prone
Correct answer: High Fowler's or Semi-Fowler's
High Fowler's or Semi-Fowler's position uses gravity to reduce venous return and pulmonary congestion, relieving dyspnea.
Question 2: Which assessment finding is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
- Peripheral edema
- Ascites
- Jugular vein distension
- Pulmonary crackles (rales) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Pulmonary crackles (rales)
Left-sided heart failure causes fluid backup into the pulmonary circulation, producing crackles heard on auscultation.
Question 3: Before administering digoxin, the LVN's priority assessment is to:
- Check blood pressure
- Assess the apical pulse for one full minute (Correct answer)
- Monitor respiratory rate
- Check body temperature
Correct answer: Assess the apical pulse for one full minute
Digoxin is held if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm due to its negative chronotropic effects on the heart.
Question 4: Which cluster of findings is most consistent with digoxin toxicity?
- Tachycardia and hypertension
- Nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia (Correct answer)
- Fever and increased urine output
- Peripheral edema and weight gain
Correct answer: Nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia
Classic digoxin toxicity presents with GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting) and cardiac effects such as bradycardia or arrhythmias.
Question 5: A patient with COPD is receiving supplemental oxygen. What flow rate prevents suppression of the hypoxic drive?
- 8–10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
- 1–2 L/min via nasal cannula (Correct answer)
- 5–6 L/min via simple face mask
- 10–15 L/min via Venturi mask
Correct answer: 1–2 L/min via nasal cannula
Low-flow oxygen (1–2 L/min) maintains oxygenation in COPD without suppressing the hypoxic respiratory drive.
Question 6: Which breath sound is most commonly associated with bronchospasm and asthma?
- Crackles (rales)
- Stridor
- Wheezing (Correct answer)
- Pleural friction rub
Correct answer: Wheezing
Wheezing is produced by airflow through narrowed bronchioles, a hallmark finding in asthma and bronchospasm.
Question 7: After thoracentesis, the LVN should monitor the patient most closely for which priority complication?
- Hypoglycemia
- Pneumothorax (Correct answer)
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Urinary retention
Correct answer: Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is the most serious complication of thoracentesis, resulting from accidental puncture of the lung.
LVN Cardiovascular & Respiratory Care 1
A patient with heart failure is experiencing dyspnea and orthopnea.
What position should the LVN place the patient in?