FREE CMSRN Cardiac Vascular Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real CMSRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FREE CMSRN Cardiac Vascular Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) reports intermittent claudication in the left calf. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect?
Answer: Diminished or absent pedal pulses in the affected extremity
Intermittent claudication from PAD results from arterial insufficiency, which presents with diminished or absent peripheral pulses distal to the occlusion.
A nurse is caring for a patient 6 hours after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the right femoral artery. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Expanding ecchymosis and firmness at the access site
Expanding ecchymosis with firmness at the femoral access site suggests retroperitoneal bleeding or hematoma formation, requiring urgent evaluation.
Which laboratory value is most critical for the nurse to monitor in a patient receiving a continuous heparin infusion for deep vein thrombosis?
Answer: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
The aPTT is the primary lab value used to monitor therapeutic effectiveness and dosing of unfractionated heparin infusions.
A patient with a new diagnosis of heart failure has a B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of 1,200 pg/mL. How should the nurse interpret this result?
Answer: The elevation indicates significant ventricular volume overload and myocardial wall stress
A BNP level of 1,200 pg/mL is markedly elevated (normal <100 pg/mL) and reflects significant ventricular wall stress consistent with heart failure.
A patient with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) suddenly develops severe, tearing back pain and hypotension. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: Prepare the patient for emergent surgical intervention
Sudden severe back pain with hypotension in a patient with AAA strongly suggests rupture, which is a surgical emergency requiring immediate intervention.
A nurse is teaching a patient about warfarin therapy after mechanical valve replacement. Which patient statement indicates correct understanding?
Answer: I need to have my INR checked regularly and maintain consistent vitamin K intake
Patients on warfarin require regular INR monitoring and consistent dietary vitamin K intake to maintain stable anticoagulation levels.