CMC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of a communication plan in CMC project management? → To define what information is shared, with whom, when, and through which channels
2. Digoxin is used in cardiac care primarily for which two conditions? → Atrial fibrillation and heart failure
3. A nurse practicing in a cardiac ICU suspects a patient lacks decision-making capacity. The MOST appropriate next step is: → Perform a formal capacity evaluation and involve the ethics committee if needed
4. Maintaining CMC certification requires the nurse to: → Complete continuing education and renew the credential every three years
5. In chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3b, how does the estimated GFR impact cardiovascular risk stratification? → CKD stage 3b (eGFR 30–44) is a risk-enhancing factor that raises ASCVD risk
6. When a cardiac patient lacks decision-making capacity and has no advance directive, the legal surrogate decision-maker is typically prioritized in which order? → Spouse, adult child, parent (state law hierarchy)
7. ST elevation in ECG leads II, III, and aVF is most consistent with infarction of which cardiac territory? → Inferior wall (RCA territory)
8. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is contraindicated in patients who exhibit signs and symptoms of → a pneumothorax
9. What is the primary purpose of a code of ethics in CMC practice? → To establish professional standards of conduct and guide ethical decision-making
10. What is a key performance indicator (KPI) in CMC quality management? → A measurable value demonstrating how effectively objectives are being achieved
11. A risk with LOW probability and HIGH impact on a cardiac surgery program should be managed by: → Developing a contingency plan to respond if the risk occurs
12. During a pre-procedure timeout, a nurse notices the site mark is absent. What is the most appropriate action? → Stop the procedure and complete site marking per protocol before proceeding
13. Which hemodynamic parameter is measured by a thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz) that cannot be obtained by echocardiography alone? → Cardiac output measured by thermodilution with cold saline injection
14. Which metric is considered the gold standard for measuring door-to-balloon time in STEMI care? → Time from ED arrival to PCI wire crossing
15. A patient with NSTEMI has a TIMI risk score of 5. What does this score indicate regarding management? → High risk; early invasive strategy is recommended
16. Which of the following CMS programs penalizes hospitals financially for excess risk-adjusted 30-day readmission rates in heart failure? → Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP)
17. Which lipid parameter, beyond LDL-C, is most useful for residual cardiovascular risk assessment in a patient with elevated triglycerides and low HDL? → Non-HDL cholesterol
18. A patient undergoes primary PCI for STEMI. Post-procedure TIMI flow is 3 but has persistent chest pain and ST elevation. What is the most likely explanation? → No-reflow phenomenon
19. What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle in CMC quality management? → An iterative four-step method for continuous improvement of processes and products
20. In a cardiac care project, a 'lessons learned' document is MOST valuable when it is: → Compiled continuously and shared across the organization for future projects
21. What is the most common inherited arrhythmia syndrome causing sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation with a structurally normal heart? → Brugada syndrome
22. A nurse overhears colleagues making derogatory comments about a patient's lifestyle choices in the break room. The most professional response is to: → Immediately ask colleagues to stop and remind them of patient dignity and confidentiality
23. Which quality framework uses 'Aim, Measures, Changes' as its three foundational questions? → The Model for Improvement (Institute for Healthcare Improvement)
24. What is the critical path in CMC project scheduling? → The longest sequence of dependent tasks determining the minimum project duration
25. Which of the following describes diastolic heart failure? → inability of the heart muscle to relax
26. A cardiac care team wants to improve handoff communication between day and night shifts. Which standardized tool is most commonly recommended? → SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
27. Which type of bias occurs when sicker cardiac patients are systematically excluded from a quality improvement study because they are too ill to consent? → Selection bias
28. Which finding on a dobutamine stress echocardiogram is considered a high-risk marker predicting adverse cardiac outcomes? → New wall motion abnormality in ≥ 3 segments at low dose dobutamine
29. On a standard Bruce protocol exercise stress test, what constitutes a positive result for ischemia? → ≥1mm horizontal or downsloping ST depression at 80ms after the J point
30. A hospital's CHF readmission rate is 22%, compared to the national benchmark of 18%. Which next step is most appropriate before implementing changes? → Perform a root cause analysis to identify contributing factors