Cardiovascular content appears throughout the NCLEX-RN. These free questions cover heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac assessment, each with a detailed rationale.
A client with left-sided heart failure is most likely to present with which finding?
RATIONALE
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs, producing pulmonary congestion — crackles, dyspnea, and orthopnea. JVD, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly are signs of right-sided failure.
Which is the priority nursing action for a client reporting crushing substernal chest pain?
RATIONALE
For suspected myocardial infarction, the priority is oxygenation and rapid provider notification (part of the MONA approach and time-sensitive perfusion). An ECG and enzymes follow, but immediate oxygen and escalation come first.
A client's cardiac monitor shows ventricular fibrillation. What is the nurse's first action?
RATIONALE
Ventricular fibrillation is a lethal rhythm with no effective cardiac output. Immediately begin CPR and call for help/defibrillator. Defibrillation is performed as soon as the device is available.
These are just a few samples. NCA's full platform runs a real Computer Adaptive Testing engine with detailed rationales for every question.
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