Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet with answers

Free printable Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which sound is typical of a pleural friction rub?

  1. AA high-pitched musical sound on expiration
  2. BA harsh sound on breathing in from the throat
  3. CA creaking, grating sound with each breath
  4. DFine bubbling sounds that clear with coughing
2.Easy

What is the main cause of varicose veins?

  1. AInflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin
  2. BNarrowing of the leg arteries by plaque
  3. CA clot blocking a deep vein in the calf
  4. DFaulty valves in the superficial leg veins
3.Easy

What is a pneumothorax?

  1. APus collecting in the pleural space
  2. BAir in the pleural space causing the lung to collapse
  3. CFluid in the alveoli caused by heart failure
  4. DInflammation of the lung tissue caused by infection
4.Medium

Which emergency equipment should be kept at the bedside of a patient with a tracheostomy?

  1. AA nasogastric tube and a feeding pump
  2. BA urinary catheter set, a blood glucose meter and a thermometer
  3. CSpare tubes (same size and one smaller), suction and oxygen
  4. DOnly a spare oxygen mask, since the tube rarely causes problems
5.Medium

What is the ejection fraction?

  1. AThe pressure in the left ventricle at the end of diastolic filling
  2. BThe volume of blood pumped out with each heartbeat
  3. CThe volume of blood the heart pumps out every minute
  4. DThe percentage of ventricular blood ejected with each beat
6.Medium

Which patient is most typical of a primary spontaneous pneumothorax?

  1. AAn older woman with long-standing heart failure
  2. BA middle-aged woman with high blood pressure
  3. CA tall, thin young man who smokes
  4. DA child with a viral sore throat
7.Hard

As the defibrillator charges, a nurse sees a colleague still holding the patient's bed rail. What should the nurse do?

  1. AAsk the colleague to hold the patient's hand instead
  2. BCall clearly for everyone to stand clear and check before the shock
  3. CTurn off the defibrillator and start a new cycle of CPR
  4. DDeliver the shock now, as the bed rail is not part of the patient
8.Hard

A patient with end-stage COPD has severe breathlessness at rest despite optimal treatment and wants comfort-focused care. Which measure is recognised to help?

  1. AA low-dose opioid with a hand-held fan and calm positioning
  2. BEncouraging long walks to build fitness
  3. CHigh-flow oxygen at 15 L/min whatever the oxygen saturation is
  4. DStopping all medicines, including inhalers

Answer key

  1. 1. C · A creaking, grating sound with each breath
  2. 2. D · Faulty valves in the superficial leg veins
  3. 3. B · Air in the pleural space causing the lung to collapse
  4. 4. C · Spare tubes (same size and one smaller), suction and oxygen
  5. 5. D · The percentage of ventricular blood ejected with each beat
  6. 6. C · A tall, thin young man who smokes
  7. 7. B · Call clearly for everyone to stand clear and check before the shock
  8. 8. A · A low-dose opioid with a hand-held fan and calm positioning

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