NCLEX Pharmacology: Cardiovascular Medications

Question 1

A patient is prescribed metoprolol succinate. Which condition is this medication primarily used to treat?

Accepted Answer

Heart failure and hypertension

Answer

Atrial fibrillation

Answer

Pulmonary hypertension

Answer

Deep vein thrombosis

Question 2

The nurse is administering digoxin. Which assessment finding requires holding the medication and notifying the provider?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate of 54 bpm

Answer

Heart rate of 68 bpm

Answer

Blood pressure of 128/80 mmHg

Answer

Potassium level of 4.0 mEq/L

Question 3

A patient taking warfarin has an INR of 4.8. Which action should the nurse take first?

Accepted Answer

Hold the warfarin and notify the provider

Answer

Administer the next scheduled dose

Answer

Give vitamin K immediately without an order

Answer

Increase the warfarin dose to stabilize the INR

Question 4

Which electrolyte imbalance most increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Hypokalemia

Answer

Hypernatremia

Answer

Hypermagnesemia

Answer

Hypercalcemia

Question 5

A patient is starting lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse include in patient teaching?

Accepted Answer

Dry, persistent cough

Answer

Hypertrichosis

Answer

Increased urination

Answer

Weight gain

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving IV heparin. Which lab value is used to monitor heparin therapy?

Accepted Answer

aPTT

Answer

PT/INR

Answer

Platelet count only

Answer

Bleeding time

Question 7

A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed amiodarone. Which finding requires immediate provider notification?

Accepted Answer

QTc interval of 520 milliseconds

Answer

Heart rate of 72 bpm

Answer

Blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg

Answer

Potassium of 4.2 mEq/L

Question 8

Which teaching point is most important for a patient prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for angina?

Accepted Answer

Take up to 3 tablets every 5 minutes; call 911 if pain persists after the third tablet

Answer

Take the tablet with a full glass of water

Answer

Store the tablets in a plastic weekly pill organizer

Answer

Take the tablet with food to avoid GI upset

Question 9

The nurse is administering amlodipine (Norvasc) to a patient. Which food should the nurse advise the patient to avoid?

Accepted Answer

Grapefruit juice

Answer

Dairy products

Answer

Leafy green vegetables

Answer

Bananas

Question 10

A nurse is educating a patient about taking atorvastatin (Lipitor). Which instruction is most important?

Accepted Answer

Report unexplained muscle pain or weakness immediately

Answer

Take the medication with antacids to prevent GI upset

Answer

Avoid taking the medication if fasting cholesterol is normal

Answer

The medication can be stopped once cholesterol levels normalize