Cardiac Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real MSNCB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cardiac Nursing flashcards as text
A patient with heart failure has a BNP level of 850 pg/mL. What does this value indicate?
Answer: Severe ventricular wall stress and volume overload
BNP above 400 pg/mL indicates significant ventricular wall stress and volume overload consistent with decompensated heart failure.
A patient presents with ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which coronary artery is most likely occluded?
Answer: Right coronary artery
ST elevation in II, III, and aVF indicates an inferior wall MI, which is most commonly caused by occlusion of the right coronary artery.
A nurse is administering IV furosemide to a patient with acute decompensated heart failure. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L
A serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which increases the risk of life-threatening dysrhythmias in cardiac patients receiving diuretics.
Which rhythm is characterized by an irregular R-R interval, absence of distinct P waves, and an irregularly irregular ventricular rate?
Answer: Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by absent distinct P waves, a chaotic atrial baseline, and an irregularly irregular ventricular response.
A patient with stable angina asks about the difference between their condition and unstable angina. The nurse correctly explains that unstable angina:
Answer: Occurs at rest or with minimal exertion and is unpredictable
Unstable angina occurs at rest or with minimal exertion, is unpredictable, and represents worsening coronary perfusion without myocardial necrosis.
A patient is prescribed carvedilol for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The nurse knows this medication works primarily by:
Answer: Blocking both alpha-1 and beta-adrenergic receptors
Carvedilol is a non-selective beta-blocker with alpha-1 blocking activity, reducing afterload and heart rate while blocking catecholamine effects on the heart.
During post-cardiac catheterization care, a patient develops sudden severe chest pain, hypotension, and distended neck veins. The nurse should suspect:
Answer: Cardiac tamponade
The triad of chest pain, hypotension, and distended neck veins (Beck's triad) following a cardiac procedure is classic for cardiac tamponade.