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DHA Cardiovascular Nursing Practice Questions

What this topic covers

Heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, dysrhythmias, hypertension, anticoagulation, peripheral vascular disease and cardiac emergencies.

Free DHA cardiovascular nursing questions

1. A patient is being discharged on long-term oral amiodarone. Which symptom should the patient be taught to report promptly?
  1. Mild constipation during the first week
  2. A new dry cough or increasing breathlessness
  3. An occasional mild headache that settles with rest
  4. A resting pulse of 64 beats/min
Show answer and rationale

Answer: B. A new dry cough or increasing breathlessness

Pulmonary toxicity (pneumonitis or fibrosis) is a serious adverse effect of amiodarone, so a new cough or dyspnoea must be reported. Patients are also taught sun protection and the need for regular thyroid and liver function tests.

Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – amiodarone

2. A patient has a confirmed deep vein thrombosis in the left calf. Which action should the nurse avoid?
  1. Assessing for signs of pulmonary embolism
  2. Measuring calf circumference
  3. Giving prescribed anticoagulants
  4. Massaging the affected leg
Show answer and rationale

Answer: D. Massaging the affected leg

Massaging the leg could dislodge the clot and cause a pulmonary embolism. Monitoring limb size, giving anticoagulants and watching for PE are appropriate.

Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – venous thromboembolism

3. A patient describes cramping calf pain that comes on after walking a certain distance and goes away after a few minutes of rest. What is this symptom called?
  1. Restless legs
  2. Rest pain
  3. Phantom pain
  4. Intermittent claudication
Show answer and rationale

Answer: D. Intermittent claudication

Intermittent claudication is ischaemic muscle pain caused by peripheral arterial disease; it is reproducible with exercise and relieved by rest.

Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – peripheral artery disease

4. For a patient arriving at the emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome, within what time should a 12-lead ECG be obtained?
  1. 10 minutes
  2. 60 minutes
  3. 2 hours
  4. 30 minutes
Show answer and rationale

Answer: A. 10 minutes

Guidelines recommend a 12-lead ECG within 10 minutes of arrival so that ST-elevation myocardial infarction can be identified and reperfusion started quickly.

Reference: AHA ACLS 2020 – acute coronary syndromes

5. A patient with suspected acute coronary syndrome has no allergies or bleeding risk. Which medicine should the nurse expect to give early, and how?
  1. Aspirin, chewed
  2. Ibuprofen, taken with food
  3. Paracetamol, swallowed with water
  4. Aspirin, enteric-coated and swallowed whole
Show answer and rationale

Answer: A. Aspirin, chewed

Non-enteric-coated aspirin chewed early reduces platelet aggregation and mortality in ACS; chewing speeds absorption. Enteric coating delays absorption, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen are avoided in ACS.

Reference: AHA ACLS 2020 – acute coronary syndromes

Questions are written with AI assistance. About 10% (150+) have been reviewed by a licensed nurse so far, and more are reviewed every month. Practice questions are for study only and may contain mistakes; verify with official study guides from your destination country. Report a question

Study tip

Know the normal ranges for potassium, INR and aPTT, and when to hold digoxin, beta-blockers and anticoagulants.

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Cardiovascular questions for other Gulf exams

SNLE CardiovascularQatar DHP CardiovascularDOH CardiovascularKuwait MOH CardiovascularOMSB Cardiovascular