Cardiovascular and Hematological Care Flashcards
7 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 7 Cardiovascular and Hematological Care flashcards as text
A patient with heart failure has a BNP level of 900 pg/mL. What does this finding indicate?
Answer: Severe ventricular wall stress and volume overload
Elevated BNP (>100 pg/mL) reflects ventricular wall stress due to volume or pressure overload, commonly seen in decompensated heart failure.
A patient on heparin therapy develops sudden thrombocytopenia and a new arterial clot on day 8. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
Answer: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
HIT typically presents 5–10 days after heparin initiation with paradoxical thrombosis and a platelet drop, requiring immediate discontinuation of heparin.
Which assessment finding best indicates right-sided heart failure?
Answer: Jugular venous distension and peripheral edema
Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, manifesting as JVD, hepatomegaly, and dependent edema.
A patient with sickle cell disease is admitted in vaso-occlusive crisis. What is the priority nursing intervention?
Answer: Provide IV fluids and analgesics
Hydration reverses sickling by diluting the blood and analgesics address the severe pain caused by microvascular occlusion.
A patient receiving a blood transfusion develops sudden flank pain, hemoglobinuria, and fever within 15 minutes. What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Stop the transfusion and infuse normal saline
Signs of acute hemolytic reaction require immediate transfusion cessation and IV saline to maintain renal perfusion and prevent acute kidney injury.
Which ECG change is most characteristic of hyperkalemia?
Answer: Tall, peaked T waves
Hyperkalemia first produces tall, peaked T waves, progressing to widened QRS and sine-wave pattern as potassium rises further.
A patient with peripheral arterial disease reports calf pain that occurs during walking and resolves with rest. This symptom is best described as:
Answer: Intermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication is ischemic muscle pain triggered by exercise and relieved by rest, caused by inadequate arterial blood flow.