Free Cardiovascular Nursing MCQs with Answers
50 Cardiovascular Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Covers assessment and nursing care for hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, valvular disease and dysrhythmias. It includes interpreting vital signs and ECG findings, managing chest pain, monitoring cardiac medicines, recognizing complications and distinguishing left-sided from right-sided heart failure.
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50 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Ask the patient to walk slowly in the corridor
- B. Instruct the patient to take the next prescribed dose
- C. Notify the emergency response team and provider
- D. Offer oral fluids and reassess after 30 minutes
Explanation: Chest pain that persists after the first nitroglycerin dose may indicate myocardial infarction and requires urgent assessment.
Correct answer: Notify the emergency response team and provider- A. An early wide QRS complex without a preceding P wave
- B. A delayed narrow QRS complex after every normal beat
- C. A prolonged PR interval before each normal QRS complex
- D. A regular saw-toothed baseline between each QRS complex
Explanation: A premature ventricular contraction arises in the ventricle, producing an early, wide and abnormal QRS complex that is usually not…
Correct answer: An early wide QRS complex without a preceding P wave- A. I will weigh myself once a week after breakfast
- B. I will weigh myself daily after urinating
- C. I will check my weight whenever my ankles swell
- D. I will compare my weight before each evening meal
Explanation: Daily weighing under similar conditions, preferably after urination and before breakfast, helps detect fluid retention early.
Correct answer: I will weigh myself daily after urinating- A. It suggests acute myocardial injury in a specific region
- B. It confirms a harmless variation in ventricular recovery
- C. It indicates delayed conduction through the atrioventricular node
- D. It demonstrates chronic enlargement of the left atrium
Explanation: ST-segment elevation in contiguous leads supports acute myocardial injury affecting the area supplied by related coronary vessels.
Correct answer: It suggests acute myocardial injury in a specific region- A. Heart rate of 52 beats per minute with dizziness
- B. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute without distress
- C. Blood pressure of 138/82 mmHg with warm skin
- D. Apical pulse of 76 beats per minute with mild fatigue
Explanation: Metoprolol slows the heart rate and can worsen symptomatic bradycardia.
Correct answer: Heart rate of 52 beats per minute with dizziness- A. International normalised ratio
- B. Activated partial thromboplastin time
- C. Serum creatinine concentration
- D. Platelet aggregation time
Explanation: The activated partial thromboplastin time is commonly used to monitor unfractionated heparin therapy and guide dose adjustment.
Correct answer: Activated partial thromboplastin time- A. Administer it slowly through a small peripheral vein
- B. Give it as a rapid intravenous bolus followed by a flush
- C. Mix it with dextrose and infuse it over 30 minutes
- D. Ask the patient to take it orally with a full glass of water
Explanation: Adenosine has an extremely short half-life, so it is administered rapidly through an intravenous line followed immediately by a flush.
Correct answer: Give it as a rapid intravenous bolus followed by a flush- A. Atrial fibrillation with reduced cardiac output
- B. Complete heart block with fixed ventricular rhythm
- C. Acute aortic regurgitation with bounding pulses
- D. Ventricular fibrillation with immediate cardiac arrest
Explanation: Mitral stenosis enlarges the left atrium and increases the risk of atrial fibrillation.
Correct answer: Atrial fibrillation with reduced cardiac output- A. Flat supine with the legs elevated
- B. High Fowler position with the legs dependent
- C. Prone position with the head turned sideways
- D. Left lateral position with the knees flexed
Explanation: High Fowler position improves lung expansion, while dependent legs reduce venous return to the heart and may lessen pulmonary congestion.
Correct answer: High Fowler position with the legs dependent- A. Administer the next dose with food
- B. Assess the patient and notify the provider promptly
- C. Encourage vigorous tooth brushing to remove blood
- D. Give aspirin to reduce the risk of embolism
Explanation: Gum bleeding and melena suggest clinically important anticoagulant-related bleeding and require prompt assessment, including vital signs…
Correct answer: Assess the patient and notify the provider promptly- A. It is falsely lower than the true pressure
- B. It is falsely higher than the true pressure
- C. It causes an inaccurate pulse pressure only
- D. It has no meaningful effect on the reading
Explanation: A cuff that is too small requires greater pressure to compress the artery, producing a falsely high blood pressure reading.
Correct answer: It is falsely higher than the true pressure- A. Serum alanine aminotransferase level
- B. Serum potassium level
- C. Activated partial thromboplastin time
- D. White blood cell count
Explanation: Atorvastatin can cause liver injury, so liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase are monitored when clinically indicated.
Correct answer: Serum alanine aminotransferase level- A. Ventricular septal rupture
- B. Uncomplicated sinus bradycardia
- C. Stable coronary artery spasm
- D. Chronic peripheral oedema
Explanation: A new harsh systolic murmur with sudden heart failure after myocardial infarction suggests ventricular septal rupture.
Correct answer: Ventricular septal rupture34. A patient with heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. Which instruction is most appropriate?
- A. Use salt substitutes freely with meals
- B. Report muscle weakness or irregular heartbeat
- C. Increase potassium-rich foods every day
- D. Take an extra dose after missed urination
Explanation: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, so hyperkalaemia may cause weakness or dysrhythmias.
Correct answer: Report muscle weakness or irregular heartbeat- A. Obtain prescribed blood cultures before antibiotics
- B. Encourage vigorous ambulation to lower fever
- C. Give aspirin and reassess the murmur later
- D. Restrict all fluids until the fever resolves
Explanation: Fever, chills and a new murmur in a patient with a prosthetic valve suggest infective endocarditis.
Correct answer: Obtain prescribed blood cultures before antibiotics- A. Sinus bradycardia
- B. Complete heart block
- C. Atrial fibrillation
- D. Ventricular fibrillation
Explanation: A slow but regular rhythm with one consistent P wave before every QRS complex is sinus bradycardia.
Correct answer: Sinus bradycardia- A. Respiratory rate and level of consciousness
- B. Bowel sounds and abdominal tenderness
- C. Skin turgor and oral temperature
- D. Visual acuity and pupil colour
Explanation: Morphine can depress respirations and consciousness, so airway and breathing assessment takes priority.
Correct answer: Respiratory rate and level of consciousness- A. A wide pulse pressure
- B. A fixed split second heart sound
- C. A slow, weak peripheral pulse
- D. A loud opening snap after S2
Explanation: Aortic regurgitation allows blood to flow back into the left ventricle during diastole, producing a widened pulse pressure.
Correct answer: A wide pulse pressure- A. Rise slowly and sit at the bedside first
- B. Stop the medicine whenever dizziness occurs
- C. Take the medicine only when the pulse is rapid
- D. Drink extra fluids before every dose
Explanation: Carvedilol can lower blood pressure and contribute to orthostatic dizziness.
Correct answer: Rise slowly and sit at the bedside first- A. Synchronized cardioversion
- B. Routine oral antihypertensive therapy
- C. Unsupervised carotid massage
- D. Delayed treatment after a meal
Explanation: The patient is unstable because the tachycardia is accompanied by hypotension and chest discomfort.
Correct answer: Synchronized cardioversion