Cardiovascular Assessment & Monitoring Flashcards
7 cards from real ABPANC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Cardiovascular Assessment & Monitoring flashcards as text
Which of the following represents the normal range for mean arterial pressure (MAP) in adult patients?
Answer: 70–100 mmHg
Normal MAP in adults is 70–100 mmHg, reflecting the average perfusion pressure throughout the cardiac cycle needed to maintain adequate organ perfusion.
A post-operative patient develops symptomatic bradycardia (HR 38 bpm) with hypotension. Which medication should the perianesthesia nurse anticipate administering FIRST?
Answer: Atropine 0.5 mg IV
Atropine is the first-line pharmacological treatment for symptomatic bradycardia, as it blocks vagal tone and increases sinus node firing rate to restore adequate heart rate.
On cardiac monitoring, the perianesthesia nurse observes a rate of 160 bpm, regular rhythm, narrow QRS complexes, and no visible P waves. This pattern is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
SVT presents with rates typically 150–250 bpm, regular narrow QRS complexes, and absent or hidden P waves due to rapid electrical firing originating above the ventricles.
Which post-operative finding requires the MOST IMMEDIATE intervention by the perianesthesia nurse?
Answer: ST segment elevation on the cardiac monitor
ST segment elevation signals acute myocardial injury or infarction, requiring immediate physician notification, 12-lead ECG acquisition, and emergency intervention.
The perianesthesia nurse calculates cardiac output using which formula?
Answer: CO = HR × SV
Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume (CO = HR × SV), representing the total volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
A patient in the PACU has BP 86/52 mmHg, HR 126 bpm, and cold clammy skin after major abdominal surgery. The PRIORITY nursing intervention is:
Answer: Notify the physician immediately and prepare to administer an IV fluid bolus
Signs of hypovolemic shock require immediate physician notification and fluid resuscitation to restore intravascular volume and hemodynamic stability before the patient deteriorates further.
A central venous pressure (CVP) reading of 1 mmHg in a post-operative patient MOST likely indicates:
Answer: Hypovolemia or markedly decreased venous return
A very low CVP (normal 2–8 mmHg) reflects reduced venous return to the right heart, most commonly from hypovolemia due to blood loss or inadequate fluid replacement post-operatively.